1. An individual or agency seeking designation as a qualified service provider shall complete and submit the applicable forms supplied by the department in the form and manner prescribed.

The qualified service provider, including any employees of an agency designated as a qualified service provider, shall meet all licensure, certification, or competency requirements applicable under state or federal law and departmental standards necessary to provide care to eligible individuals whose care is paid by public funds. An application is not complete until the individual or agency submits all required information and required provider verifications to the department.

2. A provider or an individual seeking designation as a qualified service provider:

a. Must have the basic ability to read, write, and verbally communicate;

b. Must not be an individual who has been found guilty of, pled guilty to, or pled no contest to:

(1) An offense described in North Dakota Century Code chapter 12.1-16, homicide; 12.1-18, kidnapping; 12.1-27.2, sexual performances by children; or 12.1-41, Uniform Act on Prevention of and Remedies for Human Trafficking; or North Dakota Century Code section 12.1-17-01, simple assault, if a class C felony under subdivision a of subsection 2 of that section; 12.1-17-01.1, assault; 12.1-17-01.2, domestic violence; 12.1-17-02, aggravated assault; 12.1-17-03, reckless endangerment; 12.1-17-04, terrorizing; 12.1-17-06, criminal coercion; 12.1-17-07.1, stalking; 12.1-17-12, assault or homicide while fleeing peace officer; 12.1-20-03, gross sexual imposition; 12.1-20-03.1, continuous sexual abuse of a child; 12.1-20-04, sexual imposition; 12.1-20-05, corruption or solicitation of minors; 12.1-20-05.1, luring minors by computer or other electronic means; 12.1-20-06, sexual abuse of wards; 12.1-20-06.1, sexual exploitation by therapist; 12.1-20-07, sexual assault; 12.1-20-12.3, sexual extortion; 12.1-21-01, arson; 12.1-22-01, robbery; or 12.1-22-02, burglary, if a class B felony under subdivision b of subsection 2 of that section; 12.1-29-01, promoting prostitution; 12.1-29-02, facilitating prostitution; 12.1-31-05, child procurement; 12.1-31-07, endangering a vulnerable adult; 12.1-31-07.1, exploitation of a vulnerable adult; 14-09-22, abuse of a child; 14-09-22.1, neglect of a child; subsection 1 of section 26.1-02.1-02.1, fraudulent insurance acts; or an offense under the laws of another jurisdiction which requires proof of substantially similar elements as required for conviction under any of the enumerated North Dakota statutes; or

(2) An offense, other than a direct-bearing offense identified in paragraph 1 of subdivision b of subsection 2, if the department determines that the individual has not been sufficiently rehabilitated.

(a) The department may not consider a claim that the individual has been sufficiently rehabilitated until any term of probation, parole, or other form of community corrections or imprisonment has elapsed, unless sufficient evidence is provided of rehabilitation.

(b) An individual's completion of a period of three years after final discharge or release from any term of probation, parole, or other form of community corrections or imprisonment, without subsequent charge or conviction, is prima facie evidence of sufficient rehabilitation;

c. In the case of an offense described in North Dakota Century Code section 12.1-17-01, simple assault, if a felony; 12.1-17-01.1, assault; 12.1-17-01.2, domestic violence, if a misdemeanor; 12.1-17-03, reckless endangerment; 12.1-17-04, terrorizing; 12.1-17-06, criminal coercion; 12.1-17-07.1, stalking; 12.1-18-03, unlawful imprisonment; 12.1-20-05, corruption or solicitation of minors, if a misdemeanor; 12.1-20-07, sexual assault, if a misdemeanor; or equivalent conduct in another jurisdiction which requires proof of

substantially similar elements as required for conviction, the department may determine that the individual has been sufficiently rehabilitated if five years have elapsed after final discharge or release from any term of probation, parole, or other form of community corrections or imprisonment;

1. d. Shall maintain confidentiality;
2. e. Shall, using applicable forms and providing documentation as required by the department:
3. (1) Revalidate qualified service provider enrollment except as provided in paragraph 3, within the time period as required by the Medicaid state plan option for personal care services or Medicaid waiver program, whichever occurs first; and
4. (2) Provide evidence of competency, except as provided in paragraph 3, at least every sixty months for an agency enrolled as a qualified service provider or at least every thirty months for an individual enrolled as a qualified service provider, and within the time period as required by the Medicaid state plan option for personal care services or Medicaid waiver program, whichever occurs first; or
5. (3) Revalidate qualified service provider enrollment only every sixty months for an individual enrolled as a qualified service provider providing family home care services under the SPED program and expanded service payments for elderly and disabled;
6. f. Must be physically capable of performing the service for which they were contracted with or hired as an independent contractor; and
7. g. Must be at least eighteen years of age.
8. h. A representative of an enrolled qualified service provider agency or an individual qualified service provider shall complete a department-approved qualified service provider orientation prior to initial enrollment.3. If the physical, cognitive, social, or emotional health capabilities of an applicant or provider appear to be questionable, the department may require the applicant or provider to present evidence of the applicant's or provider's ability to provide the required care based on a formal evaluation. The department is not responsible for costs of any required evaluation.4. The offenses enumerated in paragraph 1 of subdivision b of subsection 2 have a direct bearing on an individual's ability to be enrolled as a qualified service provider.- a. An individual enrolled as a qualified service provider prior to January 1, 2009, who has been found guilty of, pled guilty to, or pled no contest to, an offense considered to have a direct bearing on the individual's ability to provide care may be considered rehabilitated and may continue to provide services if the individual has had no other offenses and provides sufficient evidence of rehabilitation to the department.
9. b. The department may not approve, deny, or renew an application for an individual or employee of an agency who is applying to enroll or re-enroll as a qualified service provider and who has been charged with an offense considered to have a direct bearing on the individual's ability to provide care or an offense in which the alleged victim was under the applicant's care, until final disposition of the criminal case against the individual.

5. Evidence of competency for adult foster care providers serving eligible individuals eligible for the developmental disability waiver must be provided in accordance with subdivision b of subsection 2 of section 75-03-21-08.

6. A provider of services for adult day care, adult foster care, community support services, extended personal care, family personal care, nurse assessment, personal care, residential care, respite care, residential habilitation, supervision, and transitional living care shall provide evidence of competency in generally accepted procedures for:

a. Infection control and proper handwashing methods; b. Handling and disposing of body fluids; c. Tub, shower, and bed bathing techniques; d. Hair care techniques, sink shampoo, and shaving; e. Oral hygiene techniques of brushing teeth and cleaning dentures; f. Caring for an eligible individual who is incontinent; g. Feeding or assisting an eligible individual with eating; h. Basic meal planning and preparation; i. Assisting an eligible individual with the self-administration of medications; j. Maintaining a kitchen, bathroom, and other rooms used by an eligible individual in a clean and safe condition, including dusting, vacuuming, floor care, garbage removal, changing linens, and other similar tasks; k. Laundry techniques, including mending, washing, drying, folding, putting away, ironing, and related work; l. Assisting an eligible individual with bill paying and balancing a check book; m. Dressing and undressing an eligible individual; n. Assisting with toileting; o. Routine eye care; p. Proper care of fingernails; q. Caring for skin; r. Turning and positioning an eligible individual in bed; s. Transfer using a belt, standard sit, or bed to wheelchair; t. Assisting an eligible individual with ambulation; and u. Making wrinkle-free beds.

7. An applicant for qualified service provider status for adult foster care, extended personal care, family personal care, nurse assessment, personal care, residential care, supervision, transitional living care, respite care, or adult day care shall secure written verification that the applicant is competent to perform procedures specified in subsection 5 from a physician, chiropractor, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, occupational therapist, physical

therapist, or an individual with a professional degree in specialized areas of health care. Written verification of competency is not required if the individual holds one of the following licenses or certifications in good standing: physician, physician assistant, chiropractor, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, registered physical therapist, registered occupational therapist, or certified nurse assistant. A certificate or another form of acknowledgment of completion of a program with a curriculum that includes the competencies in subsection 5 may be considered evidence of competence.

8. The department may approve global and eligible individual-specific endorsements to provide particular procedures for a provider based on written verification of competence to perform the procedure from a physician, chiropractor, registered nurse, occupational therapist, physical therapist, or other individual with a professional degree in a specialized area of health care or approved within the scope of the individual's health care license or certification.

9. Competence may be demonstrated in the following ways:

a. A demonstration of the procedure being performed;

b. A detailed verbal explanation of the procedure; or

c. A detailed written explanation of the procedure.

10. The department shall notify the individual or the agency of its decision on designation as a qualified service provider.

11. The department shall maintain a list of qualified service providers. Once the eligible individual's need for services has been determined, the eligible individual selects a provider from the list and the department's designee issues an authorization to provide services to the selected qualified service provider.

12. The department may issue a service payment to a qualified service provider that bills the department after the delivery of authorized services.

13. Agency providers who employ nonfamily members shall have a department-approved quality improvement program that includes a process to identify, address, and mitigate harm to the eligible individuals they serve.

14. Agency providers who have accepted an authorization to provide twenty-four-hour supports to an eligible individual shall give a thirty-day written notice before they can involuntarily discharge the eligible individual from their care, unless otherwise approved by the department.

History: Effective June 1, 1995; amended effective March 1, 1997; January 1, 2009; October 1, 2014; April 1, 2016; January 1, 2018; January 1, 2020; January 1, 2022; October 1, 2022; January 1, 2024; January 1, 2025.

General Authority: NDCC 50-06.2-03(6)

Law Implemented: NDCC 50-06.2-03(5)