TN Legislature Passes Bill to Exempt Licensure for Individuals Providing Direct Care Services to Three or Fewer People

CAPS Logo

According to the TN Disability Coalition (TDC), the TN Legislature passed a bill so that personal support services licensure was changed that exempts from licensure those individuals providing direct care services to three or fewer people who are participating in consumer direction in a Medicaid HCBS program.

Home and community based services (HCBS) provide opportunities for Medicaid beneficiaries to receive services in their own home or community rather than institutions or other isolated settings. These programs serve a variety of targeted populations groups, such as people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and/or mental illnesses.

This bill may help make more workforce available to try to combat the direct support professional (DSP) shortage. CAPS consultants can provide help to disabled individuals who have mobility issues in their home.

Richard Acree is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) offering services as a building inspector, planner and project monitor for home modifications to allow disabled individuals to live in their homes longer. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), in collaboration with AARP and other experts, developed the CAPS designation, which is achieved through training and testing during a multicourse educational program. The NAHB has been approved as a provider of American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) training for Marketing & Communicating with the Aging In Place Client (CAPS I), Design Concepts for Livable Homes and Aging In Place (CAPS II) and Details & Solutions for Livable Homes and Aging In Place (CAPS III) courses.

As a CAPS consultant, Richard serves as a building inspector, planner, and project monitor. Richard combines his CAPS certificate with his ADAC certification, years of experience as a home and commercial building inspector, and his degree in engineering to offer a unique combination to develop plans for home modifications for people with mobility issues. ADAC is the American’s with Disabilities Act Coordinator certification required by the US Department of Justice for most government organizations.

Please call Richard today at 615-752-0060 to discuss your needs for improved home accessibility and safety.