Share This
Print
E-mail
Consumer Direction and Long Term Care
What is Consumer Directed Care?
In the context of long term care, consumer directed care refers to a system in which the individual in need of care or their family and legal guardians determine what care services and supplies are necessary. The individual or their family select, retain and manage their care providers and to an extent they manage payments to their providers within an agreed upon, pre-determined budget.
Consumer directed care means the consumer chooses their own care providers instead of a state agency dictating what care is required and by who and when that care is delivered. Generally speaking, by putting the consumer in charge of their own care, the consumer receives higher quality care, customized for their needs, enjoys greater flexibility, control and satisfaction from the care they receive. Theoretically, consumer directed care also generates cost savings for the states as they are relieved of providing some care management services.
One of the most popular aspects of consumer direction and the reason for which many families seek out the program is because family members can be paid for the care they provide.
One of the most popular aspects of consumer direction and the reason for which many families seek out the program is because family members can be paid for the care they provide.
Consumer Direction by Many Names
There is no single, national consumer directed care program; instead this is a concept which is played out in many different programs referred to by different names and acronyms. Consequently there is often confusion around consumer directed care. One may also hear it referred to as:
In addition, many states have their own names for their specific programs. For example, in Florida it is called the Care Plus Program, in Texas CDS or DADS and in New York, CDPAS.
- CDC
- Consumer Directed Services
- Participant Directed Care
- Participant Direction
- Self-Directed Care
- Consumer Directed Medicaid Waivers
In addition, many states have their own names for their specific programs. For example, in Florida it is called the Care Plus Program, in Texas CDS or DADS and in New York, CDPAS.
Types of Consumer Directed Care Programs
Medicaid’s Cash and Counseling program is one popular program rolling out across the states in which the family caregiver can be paid for the personal care they provide to their loved ones.
Veterans Directed-HCBS Program, as the name implies, is a program that allows veterans to direct their own care services. While it does not provide them with cash directly, it does put them in charge of a care budget and allows them to authorize payments to care providers.
State Medicaid HCBS Waiver Programs often have consumer direction built into them. The amount of participant control varies from waiver to waiver and state to state. On this website, we maintain a list of Medicaid waivers that one can review to find programs for which they are eligible. To be eligible for state consumer direction, one must be eligible for Medicaid; one can also get assistance applying for Medicaid eligibility.
Veterans Directed-HCBS Program, as the name implies, is a program that allows veterans to direct their own care services. While it does not provide them with cash directly, it does put them in charge of a care budget and allows them to authorize payments to care providers.
State Medicaid HCBS Waiver Programs often have consumer direction built into them. The amount of participant control varies from waiver to waiver and state to state. On this website, we maintain a list of Medicaid waivers that one can review to find programs for which they are eligible. To be eligible for state consumer direction, one must be eligible for Medicaid; one can also get assistance applying for Medicaid eligibility.
