FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ's)
Q: What is "Consumer Directed Options"?
A: Consumer directed option allows individuals greater freedom of choice, flexibility, and control over their supports and services. CDO is an alternative offered through the home and community based waiver programs.
Q: Who can choose CDO?
A: Individuals who are currently receiving or become eligible to receive Home and Community Based waiver services through the Commonwealth of Kentucky's Medicaid program may choose to participate in CDO. These waiver programs include the Home and Community Based Waiver (HCB), the Supports for Community Living (SCL) Waiver, and the Acquired Brain INjury (ABI) Waiver.
Q: Can I choose an individual to assist me or act on my behalf while participating in CDO?
A: Individuals participating in CDO may designate a representative to act on their behalf. This representative must be twenty-one (21) years of age or older and cannot receive payment to act as your representative or be paid to provide any of your CDO services. YOu may choose people such as friends and family to act as your personal representative.
Q: Which services and supports are available through CDO?
A:
Q: Who can I hire to provide my CDO services or supports?
A: You and/or your representative may recruit hire and supervise your own Staff to provide services as a approved in your plan of care. Staff may include family members, friends, relatives, neighbors, other persons recruited by you including provider agencies. All individuals chosen to provide CDO services must complete the consumer direction training, CPR, and First Aid training agree to comply with all state and federal labor and tax laws, complete a CDO provider agreement with DMS, and submit to a criminal background check.
Q: What are my responsibilities under CDO?
A: You or your representative will be responsible for hiring, training, supervising and if necessary, firing your CDO staff. A Financial Management Agency will assist you with payroll functions and meeting Local, State, and Federal tax and labor requirements. A Support Broker will assist you with the development of a Plan of Care/Support Spending Plan (POC/SSP). The POC/SSP will be designed to identify your service or support needs and the requested budget amount. It is also your responsibility to; follow your POC/SSP; to see that the invoices for delivered services are submitted to the Financial Management Agency for payment.
Q: What is a Support Broker?
A: A Support Broker is someone who can assist you with the CDO process and paperwork. Assistance may include developing and revising the Plan of Care/Support Spending Plan and emergency backup plan; hiring, firing, and locating staff; and coordinating CDO and traditional waiver services, other Medicaid services, and community resources. The Support Broker cannot be a provider of other services. All individuals participating in CDO must select a Support Broker of their choice from the statewide Support Broker entity. The Support Broker is paid by Medicaid not by the individual.
Q: What is a Financial Management Agency?
A: A Financial Management Agency (FMA) will pay for services provided for you as approved in your plan. You or your representative are responsible for making sure paperwork is signed and submitted to the FMA for paying your staff or service providers. The FMA will ensure that all payroll requirements are met for the staff, and that all State and Federal tax and labor laws are met. The Financial Management Agency provides budget reports to you, the Support Broker and to Medicaid.
Q: How will my CDO services or supports be paid?
A: An individual budget will be established by Medicaid based on your approved Plan of Care. You or your representative will be responsible for managing this budget. This budget is allotted every six (6) month. Payments will be made by the Financial Management Agency contracted with the state Medicaid agency. It is your responsibility that you stay within the budget for the entire six (6) month timeframe.
Q: What happens if I want to discontinue or am no longer able to participate in CDO?
A: If you no longer wish to participate or are no longer able to participate in CDO, you will need to contact your Support Broker for assistance. Your services or supports will be provided under the traditional waiver program by a qualified waiver provider with no break in service.
Q: What if I need waiver services that are not part of CDO?
A: If you need waiver services that are not available under CDO, you may receive those services under the traditional waiver. You can receive CDO and traditional services at the same time. However, services may not be duplicated.
For additional information or clarification you may contact the Division of Mental Retardation at (502) 564-7702 or 1-(800) 374-9146, or the Department for Medicaid Services at (502) 564-7540 or 1-(800) 635-2570.