Page Reviewed / Updated - October 07, 2020
Arizona’s Self Directed Attendant Care (SDAC) program is less of a program and more of an option for directing care services for those receiving services via Arizona’s Long Term Care System (ALTCS). This option is based on the Cash and Counseling model. It allows participants flexibility to decide which services best meet their needs. It also allows participants to hire, train, manage, and even fire, their own personal care provider, who is sometimes also called an Attendant Care Worker (ACW). Program framers intended to allow elderly and disabled Arizona residents to remain living at home instead of residing in nursing facilities or assisted living residences.
Program participants work with a Case Manager to develop a plan of care that outlines the service(s) and meets the needs of the individual. The program pays the total costs associated with an eligible individual’s personal care. The Fiscal Employer Agent handles payments to providers and for approved supplies on behalf of the participants.
One component of SDAC that makes it attractive to its participants is that family members and friends can be hired as the Attendant Care Worker. Family members who have had to quit their jobs or reduce their hours to care for an elderly loved one will be glad to learn that they may be paid as caregivers. However, there are some restrictions. Legal guardians cannot be hired as caregivers and spouses can be retained indirectly only by working with a home care agency. One detail to note is that the personal care provider or attendant care worker must be trained in first aid and CPR.
Elderly and disabled Arizona residents that are qualified for Medicaid via Arizona’s Long Term Care System can benefit from this program. Individuals must require a nursing home level of care and be willing and able to receive that care at home.
Arizona Medicaid, also called the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), considers an applicant's income and assets. Asset transfers in the past five years immediately preceding application are also considered to prevent individuals from simply shifting their assets to family members to qualify. This “look back” period is called the Medicaid Look Back Period, and if found in violation, one may not qualify for Medicaid for a period of time.
For 2020, the individual income limit is $2,349 / month, or said another way, $28,188 / year, and the resource limit is $2,000. For applicants who are married with both spouses applying for Medicaid, the income limit is double at $4,698 / month or $56,376 / year. The resource limit is also higher at $4,000. However, it’s important to note, some assets, such as the home the individual lives in is exempt, given it is valued under $595,000. Other exemptions include a single vehicle, personal belongings, household items, and burial plots.
Persons whose income and / or assets are greater than these limits might still qualify for Medicaid. For instance, one over the income limit might establish a Miller Trust. And one over the asset limit might “spend down” assets on ones that are considered exempt (not counted) by Medicaid. Those who find themselves over the limit(s) should consider contacting a Medicaid planning expert to determine if they can qualify.
This program pays for personal care services or services that help an individual perform their activities of daily living. This includes such things as:
Assistance may also be received with basic housework, meal preparation, and shopping for essentials. The Attendant Care Worker can perform basic skilled nursing tasks, such as glucose and insulin monitoring, non-sterile wound care, enemas, etc., provided they have received training from a nursing professional. This program also covers the cost of equipment to promote independence, such as shower chairs, grab bars, and walkers.
To enroll in the SDAC Program, an individual must first be approved for Arizona’s Long Term Care System. One can apply at any of the ALTCS office locations. More information about this program is available in this downloadable brochure and in this 89-page program manual. Additional information can be found on the AHCCCS’s website. Self-Directed Attendant Care is available statewide.
As mentioned before, another option AZ residents should investigate is Agency With Choice. This similar program also allows for consumer direction of services and has no waiting lists for services.