MCO Toolkit for Adult Long-Term Care Provider Enrollment
All providers of home and community-based services under an adult long-term care (LTC) waiver program must enroll with Wisconsin Medicaid through the ForwardHealth Portal by January 1, 2026. Providers who do not enroll by the deadline will not be able to deliver Medicaid services and their Medicaid claims will be denied. Managed care organizations (MCOs) are key partners to communicate this new requirement to providers.
We need your help. MCOs and all partners should help providers feel confident about this process by sharing information in accessible, meaningful ways. As an MCO, DHS is requiring you to share the following resources with your providers using your communications channels.
Who to share these materials with
The following providers and entities should enroll with Wisconsin Medicaid through the ForwardHealth Portal as soon as possible:
- Organizations and agencies
- Sole proprietors
- Individuals who are not self-directed support workers
Two types of workers are not enrolling right now
- Individual self-directed support 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 or providers with a unique EVV provider agency ID 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 in August. They will have plenty of time to enroll before the deadline.
Enrollment progress tracker
Partners across Wisconsin are working together to enroll all adult LTC waiver services providers by the January 1, 2026, deadline. DHS is sharing enrollment progress so everyone knows how close to 100% enrollment the state is. Numbers are updated monthly.
Providers already enrolled: 2,000
Providers not yet enrolled: 6,000 (estimated)
Total providers expected to enroll: 8,000 (estimated)
Are we on track? yes
Materials you're required to share
How to use it
- Add a link to it on your website or provider portal
- Link to it in an automatic response message for email addresses frequently used by providers
- Share it in an email or newsletter
- Include a printed copy when sending direct mail to your providers
How to use it
- Add a link to it on your website or provider portal
- Link to it in an automatic response message for email addresses frequently used by providers
- Share it in an email or newsletter
- Include a printed copy when sending direct mail to your providers
How to use it
Send monthly via email directly to providers 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 the requirement for you to enroll with Wisconsin Medicaid through the ForwardHealth Portal by January 1, 2026.
Enroll now to continue delivering services in 2026
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
The deadline to enroll is January 1, 2026. You will not be able to deliver services to Medicaid members or get reimbursed for delivering those services if you do not enroll with Wisconsin Medicaid through the ForwardHealth Portal by that date. Start your application now so those who depend on your services won’t see a disruption next year.
Who will enroll later this summer
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 August. 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 start your enrollment
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, such as:
- Webpages about provider enrollment
- Provider FAQs
- Newsletters, bulletins, or updates
Get the short provider article
Copy and paste the content below:
Enroll with Medicaid using the ForwardHealth Portal to keep getting paid in 2026
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. Enrolling will allow you to keep delivering services to Medicaid members and get reimbursed for those services in 2026.
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:
- Stay on with the people you serve. Medicaid members depend on service providers like you to get vital care. Make sure you can keep delivering home and community-based services in 2026.
- Make sure you get paid. Your Medicaid claims will be denied starting January 1, 2026, if you don’t enroll.
- 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 in August. 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 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
Keep getting paid in 2026. All providers of Medicaid waiver authorized services must get a Medicaid ID by enrolling 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
Please do not download and save the materials in the table above. Make sure to access these materials using the links above each time you want to use them! DHS will refresh the content throughout the year, so providers are always seeing something new and fresh.
If you have questions, feedback, or other ideas for increasing early enrollment, email us at LTCProviderEnrollment@wisconsin.gov. We also encourage you to sign up for the Adult LTC Waiver Provider email list to get news and resources.