FEA Toolkit for Adult Long-Term Care Provider Enrollment

How to use it

Send monthly via email directly to providers and vendors who have yet to start an enrollment application, based on the reports DHS sends.

Get the email for providers

Copy and paste the content below:

As a <<MCO/FEA Name>> provider <<or vendor>>, you are an important part of getting quality, timely care to Wisconsin adults who are older or have disabilities. We want to remind you about a new requirement for you to enroll with Wisconsin Medicaid through the ForwardHealth Portal by January 1, 2026.

Who should enroll now

If you are any of the following provider types, you should enroll as soon as possible:

• Organizations and agencies
• Sole proprietors
• Individuals who are not self-directed support workers
• Individuals who deliver supportive home care along with other services

While the deadline is January 1, 2026, starting now will allow you to be listed in the public-facing ForwardHealth Provider Directory. You can easily choose the services you want to deliver, and the programs relevant to you.

Who will enroll later this year

If you are any of the following provider types, you should wait to enroll:

• Supportive home care organizations
• Providers with a unique Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) provider agency ID

ForwardHealth will let you know when you can enroll, likely in mid-2025. You’ll have until January 1, 2026, to enroll.

Make sure you get notified—visit www.forwardhealth.wi.gov/WIPortal/Subsystem/KW/Subscriptions.aspx and subscribe to the Adult LTC Waiver Provider email list.

Who does not need to enroll

If you are any of the following provider types, this new requirement does not affect you and you do not need to enroll:

• Participant-hired workers
• Individual self-directed support workers

How to get started enrolling now

First, gather materials

You’ll need the following information to complete your application:

• Tax identification number(s)
• National Provider Identifier (NPI), if you have one
• Address
• Name and address of owners and managing employees
• Any applicable professional license or certification information

Next, start your application

Visit forwardhealth.wi.gov/WIPortal/Subsystem/Certification/EnrollmentCriteria.aspx to start your enrollment application today.

Help is available

Visit forwardhealth.wi.gov/WIPortal/cms/public/ltc/provider_enrollment.htm for information about the requirement and to get key resources, including:

• Recorded trainings
• Adult Long-Term Care Updates
• Questions and answers
• Contacts for assistance

Call Provider Services at 800-947-9627 if you have questions or need help. Representatives are available Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. Central time. When you call, say, “LTC Waiver” at the menu prompt to speak with a representative about LTC provider enrollment.

You can get notifications and reminders sent right to your email by signing up for the Adult LTC Waiver Provider email list at www.forwardhealth.wi.gov/WIPortal/Subsystem/KW/Subscriptions.aspx.

How to use it

Include in regular channels you use to communicate with new and existing providers and vendors, such as:

• Webpages about provider enrollment
• Provider FAQs
• Newsletters, bulletins, or updates

Get the short provider article

Copy and paste the content below:

Our providers <<and vendors>> must enroll with Wisconsin Medicaid through the ForwardHealth Portal

All <<MCO/FEA Name>> providers <<and vendors>> delivering Medicaid waiver authorized services must enroll with Wisconsin Medicaid through the ForwardHealth Portal by January 1, 2026. This new requirement will centralize enrollment for providers of adult long-term care waiver services across the state and make it easier for program members to find providers and vendors.

If you haven’t already, start your Wisconsin Medicaid provider enrollment application today at forwardhealth.wi.gov/WIPortal/Subsystem/Certification/EnrollmentCriteria.aspx. Get started early to:

• Be among the first adult long-term care providers to be listed in the public-facing ForwardHealth Provider Directory. You can easily choose which services you want to deliver and the programs relevant to you.
• Get ahead of the game. We encourage you to start early to allow for application processing time.
• Take advantage of training resources. On-demand trainings are available. Here’s what people have to say about them:
  • “It was well organized and easy to follow.”
  • “It’s nice to be able to get the training at home online.”
  • “Overall good training, and I understand how to add either the waiver services or programs to my enrollment.”

Visit forwardhealth.wi.gov/WIPortal/cms/public/ltc/provider_enrollment.htm for information about the requirement and to get key resources. Make sure to subscribe to the Adult LTC Waiver Provider email list by going to www.forwardhealth.wi.gov/WIPortal/Subsystem/KW/Subscriptions.aspx—you’ll get updates about enrollment and information about upcoming trainings.

Note: Supportive home care organizations and providers with a unique EVV provider agency ID should not enroll yet. Your provider type is not available in the application. ForwardHealth will let you know when you can enroll, likely later this summer. Make sure to subscribe to the email list for adult LTC waiver services providers to get notified when you can enroll.

How to use it

Place prominently on materials and channels your providers and vendors see regularly when filing claims or getting paid, such as:

• Claims portals
• Payment receipts
• Claims-related letters
• Monthly statements

Get the banner message

Copy and paste the content below:

Short banner message

 Have you started your provider enrollment? All providers of Medicaid waiver authorized services must enroll with Wisconsin Medicaid through the ForwardHealth Portal by January 1, 2026. Get started: forwardhealth.wi.gov/WIPortal/cms/public/ltc/provider_enrollment.htm

Long banner message

ATTENTION ALL PROVIDERS: Effective January 1, 2026, all providers must get a Medicaid ID number by enrolling with Wisconsin Medicaid using the ForwardHealth Portal. Some providers may have to enroll for each location where they provide services. If you do not have a Medicaid ID number by January 1, 2026, you cannot provide services or receive payment from managed care organizations (MCOs) or IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct).

Find information and trainings about this new requirement on the ForwardHealth Portal: forwardhealth.wi.gov/WIPortal/cms/public/ltc/provider_enrollment.htm

How to use it

Include in your monthly newsletter for IRIS participants

Get the short IRIS participant article

Copy and paste the content below:

Your providers and vendors need to take action!

Your providers and vendors are an important part of the care you get through IRIS. They are paid by Wisconsin Medicaid for the services they deliver in your home. Many of your providers and vendors have a new requirement to enroll with Wisconsin Medicaid through the ForwardHealth Portal. They need to do this by January 1, 2026.

As your fiscal employer agent (FEA), we know about this new requirement. We’re helping remind your providers and vendors to enroll by the deadline. We need your help too!

Learn about the requirement

Check out the Adult Long-Term Care Provider Enrollment IRIS Tip Sheet at dhs.wi.gov/iris/ltcpm-iris-tip-sheet.pdf. It’s short and gives you all the information you need to know.

Your IRIS consultant should talk with you about this new requirement at your next meeting, too. If you have questions, have them ready for this meeting. They’re there to help you.

Two types of workers aren't enrolling right now

Some providers do not need to do this enrollment:

• Participant-hired workers do not have to enroll with Wisconsin Medicaid. The requirement does not apply to them so they will keep working as usual.
• Supportive home care organizations do not need to enroll yet. Their provider type is not available in the application right now. We will announce when they can start enrolling later this summer. They will have plenty of time to enroll before the deadline.

Tip: You can see what types of providers or vendors you have in your Individual Services and Supports Plan.

Get tools to talk with your providers and vendors about the requirement

You should talk with your providers and vendors to make sure they know how to enroll on the ForwardHealth Portal. This will help make sure they can stay on with you next year.

Get a toolkit to support you in these conversations—head to dhs.wi.gov/iris/participant-ltcpm-toolkit.htm. It has suggestions of what you can say, and resources to help with enrollment that you can share.

Ask questions right away

If you have questions or need help understanding something, talk with your IRIS consultant. They know about this new enrollment requirement and can help you figure out how to make sure your providers and vendors take action.