Department for Aging and Disability Services
Home MenuUnbundling of Day Services
Kansas is modernizing its HCBS IDD waiver to give participants more choice and flexibility in receiving services. A key part of this effort is unbundling day supports, breaking down broad service categories into distinct options that better reflect individual needs. This change is part of Kansas’s Corrective Action Plan (CAP) for the federal HCBS Settings Rule, ensuring that services promote independence, community integration, and person-centered planning.
To support providers in adapting to the new unbundled day service model, KDADS is launching a grant program to assist with program modifications, staff training, and service implementation. These grants will help providers align their services with the updated structure, ensuring participants receive high-quality, person-centered supports. Funding may be used for developing new service models, expanding community partnerships, and enhancing staff capacity. Additional details, including eligibility requirements and application timelines, will be available soon.
What Does This Mean for Providers and Participants?
Right now, the Day Support definition allows for a wide range of activities and experiences. Many providers across the state have built strong, meaningful programs that reflect the unique needs of the individuals they serve. However, the current structure also challenges transparency, consistency, and flexibility, wherein some participants receive highly individualized services while others may have fewer tailored options based on what’s available.
Unbundling is designed to enhance choice and personalization by giving individuals and families a clear menu of day and employment services that they can select based on their person-centered service plan. Some participants may choose to receive only one service, while others may combine multiple services depending on their needs and goals. The flexibility of this model ensures that individuals who prefer a structured, consistent routine can maintain it. At the same time, those who need more targeted supports have the option to select additional services.
This change does not mean existing high-quality programs must be completely restructured or that providers will be required to offer every unbundled service. Providers can choose to continue offering the services that best align with their strengths while ensuring that participants have access to the full range of options available in their communities. The goal is to build on what works while creating a system that better supports individualized outcomes across the state.
Why Is Kansas Making This Change?
The shift to unbundled services is about improving transparency, increasing participant choice, and aligning with federal requirements that mandate employment-related services be billed distinctly. By allowing services to be selected separately, participants can receive more targeted, meaningful support that better reflects their needs—whether that’s skill-building, job training, leisure activities, or increased community engagement.
This model also strengthens provider accountability by ensuring clear expectations for each type of service and allowing organizations to focus on their strengths. The result is a system where participants receive high-quality, person-centered services in the most integrated settings possible.
Timeline and Proposed Services
Unbundling will not take effect until Summer 2026, following the completion of stakeholder engagement efforts. To assist with this transition, grant funding will be available starting in 2025 to help day service providers modify their programming, train staff, and adapt to the new service structure. These funds will support providers in making the necessary adjustments to ensure a smooth rollout of the new service model.
Below are the services being proposed by the department:
|
|
Can be Center Based |
Time Limited |
Licensed |
Rate includes Transportation |
Group Billing |
Voc Rehab required first? |
Certification |
CSW Service |
|
Retirement & Leisure |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Community-Based Day |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Life Skills |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Career Exploration |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
TBD |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Prevocational |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
TBD |
TBD |
No |
|
Individual Employment Support |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Benefits Planning |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Retirement and Leisure Day Habilitation Services
Retirement and Leisure Day Habilitation is designed for adults who are retired or prefer a less stimulating environment while still engaging in meaningful activities. This service provides structured support to help individuals maintain independence, foster social connections, and enhance personal well-being. Participants can take part in activities that align with their interests, such as recreational programs, social gatherings, and hobbies that encourage engagement at a comfortable pace.
This service recognizes that some individuals may benefit from adjusted schedules that allow for more rest throughout the day while providing enrichment opportunities. Participants may choose to engage in activities such as light exercise, wellness programs, creative arts, or community events that foster a sense of belonging and personal fulfillment.
Services are delivered in community-based settings or other locations that support a calm, inclusive atmosphere. The focus is on enhancing quality of life rather than employment or skill-building, though individuals may still choose to participate in learning opportunities that align with their personal goals.
Transportation to and from activities is not included in the rate for this service and must be arranged separately. Providers must ensure that activities are structured to support the needs of individuals seeking a relaxed, supportive environment while maintaining opportunities for socialization and community participation.
Retirement and Leisure Day Habilitation is available to adults 18 and older and is an agency-directed service provided by licensed community service providers. This service is intended to create a space where individuals can enjoy their retirement or a slower-paced day while remaining engaged with their community in a way that best suits their preferences.
Community Based Day Habilitation Services
Community-Based Day Habilitation helps individuals lead active, fulfilling lives by providing opportunities for skill-building, social engagement, and meaningful participation in community life. This service supports independence by offering structured activities that align with an individual’s Person-Centered Support Plan.
Participants receiving this service may participate in various activities, including volunteering, recreational outings, adult education, skill development, and social events. The goal is to create opportunities for connection, personal growth, and increased self-sufficiency while ensuring meaningful engagement with the broader community.
Unlike traditional day services, Community-Based Day Habilitation is provided in community settings rather than provider-owned or operated locations. These settings may include local businesses, libraries, parks, and other community spaces where individuals can interact with others and develop real-world skills.
Transportation within the service is included in the rate and may be used to facilitate participation in activities. However, this service does not cover transportation between the participant’s home and the service location.
Providers delivering this service must be licensed community service providers and ensure that activities support individual choice, inclusion, and personal development. Community-Based Day Habilitation is intended to give participants greater control over how they spend their time while ensuring they receive structured support to help them thrive in their communities.
Life Skill Services
Life Skills Services helps individuals develop the practical, social, and emotional skills needed for greater independence and community participation. This service is designed to support individuals, particularly young adults, in building confidence and competence in areas such as personal development, financial management, independent living, and decision-making.
Participants in Life Skills Services engage in activities that promote self-sufficiency and problem-solving as they navigate daily responsibilities. Training may include managing a budget, preparing meals, maintaining a household, navigating transportation, or building social relationships. The service also supports personal wellness, stress management, and self-advocacy, ensuring individuals can handle life transitions and challenges.
Life Skills Services differ from prevocational services focusing on work readiness. Instead, this service addresses a broader range of skills needed for daily life and community engagement, helping individuals live more independently and make informed choices about their future. While participants may develop skills that are useful in the workplace, the primary focus is on enhancing quality of life, self-sufficiency, and decision-making.
This is an agency-directed service provided by certified life skills providers. Services take place in community-based or compliant facility settings, depending on the individual’s needs and preferences. Transportation is not included in this service and must be arranged separately.
Life Skills Services provide individuals with the tools they need to take control of their daily lives, promoting long-term independence and confidence in their ability to manage responsibilities and participate fully in their communities.
Career Exploration and Planning
Career Planning is a person-centered service that helps individuals identify and pursue meaningful employment opportunities. This service provides structured support for individuals who want to explore different career paths, set employment goals, and develop a plan for achieving competitive, integrated employment at or above minimum wage.
Participants in Career Planning work with their support team to assess their strengths, interests, and career aspirations. This process may include job exploration, resume development, interview preparation, and guidance on the job search process. The goal is to equip individuals with the tools, knowledge, and confidence needed to secure and maintain employment in a role that aligns with their skills and interests.
While Career Planning helps individuals prepare for employment, it is not a direct job placement service. It focuses on career exploration, goal setting, and employment readiness rather than on-the-job coaching or prevocational training. Career Planning also does not cover broader life skills like personal finance or housing assistance, as those fall under other waiver services.
Participants must engage in annual career development planning as part of their Person-Centered Support Plan. Career Planning services must also align with existing Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services and cannot duplicate supports available through other state or federal programs. Individuals must apply for VR before receiving Career Planning services unless they have documentation showing they are ineligible or on a waiting list for VR services.
Transportation within the service is included in the rate and may be used to assist with activities like job exploration, employer outreach, or interview preparation. However, transportation between the participant’s home and the service location is not included.
Career Planning is an agency-directed service provided by certified career exploration providers. The goal is to give participants the information, skills, and support needed to make informed career decisions and move toward meaningful employment.
Prevocational Services
Prevocational Services help individuals develop the foundational skills needed to prepare for competitive, integrated employment. This service focuses on building work habits, social skills, and confidence in a structured setting that encourages personal growth and career readiness. Participants receive support tailored to their individual goals, with an emphasis on communication, problem-solving, time management, and workplace expectations.
The goal of this service is to equip individuals with the skills necessary to transition into employment opportunities. While participation in prevocational services can support future job placement, it is not a required step before entering Individual Employment Services. Individuals receiving prevocational services should have a clearly defined employment goal as part of their Person-Centered Support Plan, ensuring that services align with their long-term aspirations.
Activities may include volunteering, simulated work experiences, and skill-building exercises that reinforce workplace expectations. The focus is on creating transferable job skills rather than specific job placement. Providers delivering this service must offer person-centered support that encourages independence and prepares participants for future work opportunities.
Transportation within the service is included in the rate and can be used to support movement between activities, but transportation between a participant’s home and the service location is not covered under this service.
Prevocational Services are designed to help individuals gain the confidence and experience needed to explore competitive employment in the future while ensuring that their unique skills, preferences, and abilities are respected and supported.
Individualized Employment Services
Individual Employment Support (IES) is designed for individuals who need ongoing, intensive assistance to maintain a specific job in competitive or customized employment. This service provides personalized, job-related support to help individuals succeed in the workforce by addressing workplace challenges, improving job skills, and fostering independence on the job.
Participants in this service receive tailored coaching and problem-solving strategies from employment specialists who work directly with both the individual and their employer. The goal is to ensure long-term job stability, career advancement, and workplace integration. Support may include on-the-job training, building professional skills, navigating workplace expectations, and ensuring that individuals have the tools they need to thrive in their chosen careers.
IES is for individuals working in integrated employment settings, meaning they earn at least minimum wage and work alongside people without disabilities. Self-employment is also an option under this service. IES does not include direct job placement or career exploration, as those fall under separate services. Instead, it focuses on sustaining employment and helping individuals maximize their potential in the workforce.
Transportation within the service is included in the rate and may be used to support work-related activities. However, this service does not cover transportation between the participant’s home and the job site.
This is an agency-directed service provided by certified supported employment providers. It is a key resource for individuals who need consistent, job-specific support to maintain meaningful, long-term employment.
Benefits Planning
Benefits Planning helps individuals and their families understand how employment may impact their public benefits. This service provides personalized guidance on navigating programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Medicare, food and nutrition programs, housing assistance, ABLE accounts, and other federal, state, or local benefits.
Certified Benefits Planners work directly with participants to help them identify work incentives, assess financial impacts, and develop strategies for achieving greater self-sufficiency. The goal is to ensure individuals have the information and tools to make informed decisions about employment while maintaining the essential benefits supporting their independence.
Participants can use Benefits Planning when considering competitive integrated employment, exploring career advancement, or needing assistance to solve financial concerns related to a job. Services may include verifying benefits, developing self-sufficiency plans, coordinating work incentives, and assisting with income reporting for public benefit programs.
This service is not a substitute for financial counseling or general employment supports. Instead, it is a targeted resource that helps individuals and their support networks understand how working and earning an income interact with their benefit programs.
Benefits Planning is provided by certified Benefits Planners who have specialized training in public benefits and work incentives. Depending on the participant's needs and preferences, services may be delivered in person or virtually.