Delta Center Helps Disabled Adults and Seniors Determine Eligibility for Consumer Directed Services in Missouri

Consumer Directed Services, also called CDS, is a consumer-directed approach to attendant services. The program allows an adult (18 and older) eligible for nursing home care to retain the services of a personal attendant, and actually direct his or her care. Services are paid for by state and federal funds through MO HealthNet (formerly known as Medicaid).

If you qualify for Consumer Directed Services, you make the decisions about who provides your care, and when and how this care is provided. For example, CDS consumers hire, train, supervise (and even fire!) their own attendants. They are actually the employer, complete with an IRS Employer ID number.

Delta Center provides CDS in the Missouri counties of St. Charles, St. Louis, Lincoln, Warren and St. Louis City according to guidelines established by MO HealthNet and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).

“Delta helps me with a lot of things. I have wonderful home service and they check on me regularly. They tell me to call them if I ever need anything. They welcome me with open arms.”

Who Pays for CDS?

CDS is funded by MO HealthNet (Medicaid) and State of Missouri.

How Does Delta Center Support CDS?

Delta Center works with you to determine and verify your eligibility. We review a number of factors, including your MO HealthNet eligibility, ability to direct your care, current support systems, and medical status, to ensure eligibility before processing your application. CDS is not available to persons residing in a residential care facility.

Consumer Directed Services (CDS) allows you to hire a personal care attendant.

Once we verify your eligibility, we make a referral to Department of Health and Senior Services to have an assessment performed, which we can help you plan for, if you wish. During the assessment, services may be authorized for personal care (bathing, toileting), housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, shopping and other needs as identified.

Delta Center offers training or support you may require to manage your care. For example, we’ll help you learn to

  • Recruit prospective attendants
  • Interview and screen applicants
  • Manage MO HealthNet (Medicaid) requirements
  • Advocate with the appropriate state agencies to assure your needs are being met
  • Schedule and supervise your attendant(s)

Delta Center manages on your behalf:

  • Criminal and abuse/neglect background checks on attendant candidates
  • Processing timesheets and payroll for your attendant(s)

To find out more, please contact our CDS Intake Specialist at 636-926-8761.

 

FAQ

CDS is an acronym for consumer-directed services.

Consumer Directed Services is a state-funded program that allows disabled consumers to choose their care providers. Care attendants can assist with bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, toileting, meals, transportation, medications, and housekeeping. The consumer is entirely in charge of hiring their care attendant. To determine if you qualify for CDS, contact Delta Center for Independent Living

They can provide information and referral to local resources, training for electronic visit verification, access to durable medical equipment, and assist with advocacy efforts.

For many findings, all that is required is verbal approval from the consumer.  For more severe findings, the attendant must apply for a Good Cause Waiver through the Family Care Safety Registry.

Yes, but the attendant must complete a spend down provider form and submit it to the spend down unit.

Through an assessment conducted by the Department of Senior and Disability Services that measures a range of medical, physical, and mental abilities or challenges.

You must have Missouri Medicaid/MO HealthNet and meet a certain Level of Care.

Missouri Medicaid (MO HealthNet) funds CDS services.

 

Please Note:

Individuals who are enrolled on this Medicaid-funded program have certain responsibilities.  Delta Center has responsibilities, too, as we are the fiscal administrator.  Services are monitored to ensure compliance in handling federal and state dollars.  Inaccurate time sheets authorizing an attendant to work when you are in the hospital or otherwise not at home, or any deception to access Medicaid funds when not due, are considered Medicaid fraud.  All such instances are reported to state and federal officials for prosecution.