Integrated Community Supports (ICS)

Online Training: ICS – Master Course Training – $5000

Integrated community supports (ICS) is a new waiver/245D license service as of 2021 under the “waiver reimagine” initiative in Minnesota.

Who qualifies for integrated community supports?

All companies with an approved 245D/Waiver/HCBS license can apply for an unlimited number of integrated community supports (“ICS”) locations.

Integrated Community Supports (ICS) as a service is available to adults who live in an ICS setting. The provider must either own, operate, or lease the living unit(s) or have direct or indirect financial interest in the property or housing where services are delivered.

ICS is available to adults on the following waivers:

Brain Injury (BI)
Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI)
Community Alternative Care (CAC)
Developmental Disabilities (DD)

Integrated Community Supports meets the habilitation requirement for the DD waiver.

What are integrated community supports?

Integrated Community Supports (ICS) are a 245D licensed service for adults 18+ on the BI, CAC, CAID or DD waivers. Providers provide support (e.g. supervision, cuing, and assistance) and training for adults (18+) in a provider-controlled, multifamily housing building (integrated community supports setting). Providers may deliver up to 24 hours of service support in a day. In a way, Integrated Community Supports (ICS) are similar to other “group home” programs.

ICS is not covered if it is delivered in a setting that is licensed or registered under Minn. Stat. Chapter 144D or Minn. Stat. Chapter 144G to deliver customized living or assisted living services and/or is licensed under Minn. Stat. Chapter 245A or Minn. Stat. Chapter 245D to deliver adult foster care, child foster care, community residential services or family residential services.

ICS provides support training in four community living service areas: (1) community participation, (2) health and safety, and wellness, (3) household management, and (4) adaptive skills.

What is an integrated community supports setting?

An integrated community supports setting is a multi-family housing building (tri-plex, four plex, apartment building, etc.) where the service provider has direct or indirect control of the person’s living unit and has an approved setting capacity report.

An integrated community supports setting Is considered a provider-controlled 245D/Waiver/HCBS setting (must comply with all requirements for HCBS settings in 42 CFR 441.301(c)) and it does not meet the requirements of a person’s own home, community residential program or family residential program.

A living unit is a self-contained residential living unit with living, sleeping, eating, cooking and bathroom areas. It cannot be shared, unless the recipient chooses to have a roommate.

A multifamily housing building will have multiple living units.

When a single provider leases or owns more than one living setting located on the same or adjoining property, the lead agency can only authorize services in one of the settings.

What do I need to start?

To start the Integrated Community Supports licensing process, you must first have an active 245D/Waiver/HCBS license, as well as a suitable setting.

ICS settings are considered home and community-based services (HCBS) provider-controlled settings. An ICS setting MUST have a minimum capacity of three or more living units for the delivery of ICS services. The setting cannot be connected to an institution.

Integrated Community Supports can be provided in:

All of the living units in a multi-family housing building that has three or four units
Less than 25% of the living units in a multi-family housing building that has five or more units
25% or more of the living units in a multi-family housing unit that has five or more units when DHS has approved a site-specific review.

What is the process and how long does it take to start?

The process depends upon whether the capacity is below 25%, or 25% and above.

Capacity below 25% (Timeline: 6-7 months, from onboarding with Holt Law to MPSE approval)

For applications with a capacity level of less than 25%, a Setting Capacity report, Master Lease (if you do not own the building), and Residential Lease are required to submit to DHS.

Empty Date

Onboarding (1-2 days)

We send onboarding documents to you 1-2 business days after your initial consultation. Onboarding documents include a Proposal, Rep Agreement, and Invoice.

Empty Date

Questionnaire (1-2 days)

After the onboarding documents are received back, we will send you an ICS questionnaire. The questionnaire generally takes clients 1-2 days to complete. We're available for questions as you navigate through the questions.

Empty Date

ICS documents are prepared (5-7 days)

After we receive your completed Questionnaire, we'll work on your application documents! This can take us between 5-7 business days.

Empty Date

ICS documents are submitted to DHS - wait for their response (up to 120 days)

After we complete your application documents and receive any necessary information/documents from you, we'll send you your completed application for review. With your approval, we then submit the documents to DHS.

Empty Date

DHS Feedback (7 days)

If DHS responds with feedback, documents will be updated within 7 business days then resubmitted.

Empty Date

DHS Approval

Congrats! Once you have received approval from DHS, we'll begin the Provider Enrollment process.

Empty Date

Gather Provider Enrollment items (1-2 days)

Once you receive DHS approval, you're ready for provider enrollment! We'll ask for various items from you and you'll be required to pay the DHS Provider Enrollment fee (not included in the package price).

Empty Date

MPSE Submitted (30-45 days)

Once we have gathered your Provider Enrollment items and you have paid the DHS provider enrollment fee, we will submit to MPSE. This process takes between 30-45 days, but we keep an eye on things to make sure it's moving along.

Empty Date

MPSE Approved

Congrats! You are now an approved and enrolled Integrated Community Supports setting.

*Note this timeline is approximate and is subject to change and dependent upon timely communication and changing DHS policy.

Capacity at 25% or more (Timeline: 7-8 months, from onboarding with Holt Law to MPSE approval)

For applications with a capacity level of 25% or more, a Setting Capacity report, Master Lease (if you do not own the building), Residential Lease are required, in addition to:

Setting-specific provider community integration plan that includes strategies to reduce the potential effects of isolation.
Policies and practices that demonstrate staff training and monitoring of the community integration plan.
Documentation of the community living service category supports and training offered at the setting.
Documentation of how the provider ensures people are given informed choice to receive HCBS from providers who are not the ICS provider who controls the setting.
Description of provider’s continuous quality improvement process, including measures to demonstrate a person’s experience over time.
Identification of any specialized care the provider will deliver and/or populations the provider will serve at the setting.
Input from the lead agency and community where the setting is located, including local perspectives of the setting, with supporting information or strategies to address potential concerns. (Input from lead agencies can take up to 45 days, depending upon the agency).

*Please note that it can be more difficult to get approved when your capacity is much higher than 25% or the building is large. In Hennepin County specifically, the county has internal discussions when an application lists 15 units or more that will be used for ICS and the application will be looked at more closely because Hennepin County believes large settings can be stigmatizing and/or have isolating qualities.

While DHS seems to share this sentiment (one of the requirements for a site-specific review is to demonstrate that the setting does not have the effects of isolation) they do not specify a number of units or otherwise indicate that a specific number of units would require that an application be looked at more closely.

Empty Date