Glossary
Key terms for IDD, EHR, and human services.
A plain-language reference for the acronyms and concepts that show up daily in IDD and human services operations.
- 837P / 837I
- The X12 EDI formats used to submit Medicaid and insurance claims — 837P for professional services, 837I for institutional. Clean 837 files reduce denials.
- ABC Data
- Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence data — a structured record of what happened before, during, and after a behavior. Behavioral clinicians use ABC data to identify triggers and evaluate the effectiveness of behavior support plans.
- ACA (American Correctional Association)
- A body that sets and accredits standards for correctional facilities, including health services delivery. ACA compliance requires documented, auditable clinical processes.
- BSP (Behavior Support Plan)
- A written plan describing how a team supports an individual to prevent challenging behaviors and teach replacement skills. BSPs are versioned and reviewed regularly by clinicians and provider teams.
- Delegated Nursing
- The process by which a licensed nurse assigns specific tasks (like medication administration) to trained unlicensed staff, with documented supervision.
- DSP (Direct Support Professional)
- A frontline staff member who directly supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in daily living, community integration, and skill-building.
- EHR (Electronic Health Record)
- A digital record of clinical, service, and administrative data about individuals receiving care. In IDD, an EHR must handle non-clinical services like day programs and community integration alongside medical data.
- eMAR (Electronic Medication Administration Record)
- The digital replacement for the paper MAR. Every dose — administered, refused, or held — is timestamped and auditable.
- EVV (Electronic Visit Verification)
- A federally required method of confirming that home and community-based services were actually delivered — typically capturing time, location, and service type at check-in and check-out.
- HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services)
- Medicaid-funded services delivered in an individual's home or community rather than an institution. HCBS waivers vary by state and drive many IDD workflows.
- HIPAA
- The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act — the U.S. law governing the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI).
- Host Home
- A residential model in which an individual with disabilities lives with a paid host family. Documentation and Medicaid billing still apply.
- ICF/IID
- Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities — a federally certified 24-hour residential setting with specific documentation, staffing, and quality requirements.
- IDD
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The broad service category iCareManager was originally built for.
- ISP (Individualized Service Plan)
- A documented plan describing an individual's goals, services, providers, and outcomes — usually required by Medicaid and state waivers.
- LTSS (Long-Term Services and Supports)
- Services that help individuals with functional limitations live in the community or in facilities. LTSS billing frequently uses state Medicaid portals.
- Medicaid Waiver
- State-specific programs that let Medicaid pay for services outside typical medical care — including HCBS, self-direction, and IDD-specific supports.
- NCCHC
- The National Commission on Correctional Health Care — sets standards for health services inside correctional facilities.
- NEMT
- Non-Emergency Medical Transportation — the coordinated movement of individuals to medical or program appointments.
- PCP (Person-Centered Plan)
- A plan built around an individual's preferences, goals, and desired outcomes rather than a diagnosis. PCPs are the foundation of modern IDD service delivery.
- Person-Centered Planning
- The practice of designing services around an individual's own goals, choices, and community connections. Required by CMS for HCBS waivers.
- SCORM
- A technical standard for e-learning content. SCORM support in an LMS means you can upload third-party training modules and track completion, quiz results, and time spent.
- Self-Directed Services
- A service model in which the individual (or their representative) directs their own supports — choosing workers, setting schedules, and managing a budget.
- SOC 2 Type II
- An independent audit report demonstrating that a service organization's security, availability, and confidentiality controls operate effectively over time.