Implementing CDS

  1. Consumer reviews brochure about Consumer Directed Services (CDS). Each consumer attends a meeting or meets with a case manager to view a video and receive an overview of CDS. (Consumer = eligible program participant or his guardian.) A designated responsible person over the age of 18 may be included in each step and activity related to CDS.
  2. Case manager and consumer meet face-to-face to review the CDS Pre-Decision Packet and the Self-Assessment.
    • If not interested, the consumer documents his or her choice to continue in the traditional "Agency Option." (Stop at this step if CDS is not chosen for service delivery of available program services.)
    • If interested, case manager provides a list of financial management services agencies (FMSAs) serving the catchment area. (Proceed with activities listed below if CDS is chosen.)
  3. Consumer contacts and interviews staff of the agencies providing FMSA services in the catchment area. If acceptable to the consumer, the FMSA may provide a brochure about the agency and its services to the consumer.
  4. Consumer chooses a FMSA.
  5. Consumer notifies the selected FMSA of his or her choice and schedules a meeting in his or her home with FMSA staff (and consumer's guardian and designated responsible party — if/as applicable) for an overview and training on CDS and to complete the CDS Post-Decision Packet.
  6. Consumer notifies his or her case manager of the FMSA chosen and the date of the training by the CDSA. The case manager provides to the FMSA an estimate of the units available for habilitation and for each respite service (if eligible/applicable).
  7. Consumer receives training from the FMSA in the program participant's home. Consumer and FMSA complete CDS training and the CDS Post-Decision Packet (There is a fee assessed if the consumer does not remain with the FMSA for at least 90 days following this step.)
  8. Based on the training:
  • Consumer may decide not to enroll in CDS. If so, consumer notifies his or her case manager of his or her decision. (Stop at this step if CDS is now declined.)
  • Consumer may decide to pursue enrollment and implementation of CDS. (Continue with activities listed below if CDS remains the Consumer's choice following the training.)
  • Consumer and FMSA enter into the service agreement. Consumer and CDSA discuss projected implementation date. Consumer and FMSA may calculate estimated budgets based on the estimated number of units potentially available for the remainder of the current individual service plan (ISP) effective period.
  • Consumer notifies his or her case manager the day he or she signs a service agreement with the FMSA. Consumer notifies his or her case manager of decision and of the projected implementation date for CDS habilitation services and, if applicable, respite services.
    • Consumer may NOT incur expenses in CDS until the interdisciplinary team (IDT) has updated the consumer's individual service plan and all members of the IDT have signed the ISP and the consumer and FMSA have finalized and signed off on the budget. (See step 16 and 17.)
  • Case manager schedules an IDT meeting to revise the individual service plan for CDS.
  • Case manager notifies the direct services agency (DSA) representative of the IDT and, if the participant is eligible for respite services, requests a balance of units remaining for the ISP effective period.
  • The participant's IDT meets to determine the number of units available for each affected service area in the consumer's ISP for the remaining weeks in the current ISP. The consumer requests an effective date that allows him or her sufficient time to recruit, acquire criminal conviction checks, hire, acquire CPR certification for employee(s) and provide training of his or her employee(s). The IDT sets the effective date and the number of units available for CDS: (Note: The FMSA is NOT on the IDT.)
    • Units remaining for DSA respite services are applied to CDS respite services.
    • CDS habilitation services units are established based on the Habilitation Attendant Care Plan (Form 3596) in effect for the ISP. (Number of units per week for each remaining week in the ISP.)
  • The case manager notifies the FMSA of the exact number of units for each category that will be available based on the projected implementation date. The case manager provides a copy of this ISP and each future ISP that affects the units or funds available for the participant in CDS.
  • Consumer finalizes budgets with the CDSA for each CDS area based on the units that are available for the remainder of the ISP effective period; repeat this step for changes to each future ISP.
  • FMSA reviews and approves the budget when program criteria for minimum compensation, "wages/benefits," and the maximum amount available for "administrative" expenses (expense limits) have been met.
  • No expenses are authorized for reimbursement or payment until:
    1. The ISP has been authorized and
    2. The consumer and the FMSA have signed off on the budget for each service area in CDS.
  • Consumer initiates the "recruitment/transition" period. Consumer begins recruiting employees and incurring administrative expenses.
  • Direct services agency continues to provide services through the date before the effective date of the consumer's ISP for initiation of CDS. The DSA continues to provide all other direct services except Habilitation Services and Respite Services. The DSA continues as a member of the participant's IDT.
  • Consumer initiates habilitation and respite services, if applicable, through CDS.
  • Consumer initiates requests for information with his FMSA and/or case manager as appropriate.
  • The FMSA responds to payroll and to employer/employment-related questions from the consumer or his or her designated responsible person. The FMSA provides expense/budget reports no less than quarterly to the consumer and the case manager.
  • Case manager monitors all waiver services no less than quarterly, to include CDS and FMSA.
  • Consumer may change his or her decision about CDS and/or the selected CDS agency at any time.

Note: Regardless of the reason(s) or circumstance(s) for terminating CDS, the consumer returns to the traditional "Agency Option" (the DSA). He or she must remain with the DSA for all direct services for at least 90 days before returning to CDS.