How Missouri CDS Works: A Complete Guide to Consumer Directed Services

If you're caring for an aging or disabled loved one in Missouri, you may not realize the state has a program that can pay someone you trust to provide that care. It's called Consumer Directed Services, or CDS, and it's one of the most valuable and least understood benefits available to Missouri families.

What Is Consumer Directed Services (CDS)?

CDS is Missouri's self-directed Medicaid personal care program. It runs through MO HealthNet and is overseen by the Department of Health and Senior Services. The idea is simple: an agency doesn't assign a stranger to provide care. Instead, the person receiving care hires, trains and supervises their own caregiver. That caregiver can be someone they already know and trust, like an adult child, a sibling, a close friend or a neighbor.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify for CDS, the person receiving care generally must:

• Be 18 or older
• Be eligible for Missouri Medicaid (MO HealthNet)
• Have a physical disability
• Be able to direct their own care
• Be assessed as needing a nursing-facility level of care

Eligibility is decided in two parts. The Division of Senior and Disability Services (DSDS) evaluates care needs, and the Family Support Division handles Medicaid financial eligibility.

Who Can You Hire as a Caregiver?

This is where CDS really stands out. You can hire the caregiver of your choice, whether that's an adult child, another relative or a friend. There is one notable exception: a spouse cannot be the paid attendant. Outside of that, the flexibility is a big reason many families choose CDS over a traditional home care agency.

How Does the Process Work?

1. Confirm Medicaid eligibility. The person receiving care needs MO HealthNet coverage.
2. Complete a state assessment. DSDS evaluates the level of care needed.
3. Choose your caregiver. The consumer picks who they want to hire.
4. Work with a CDS vendor. The vendor handles the caregiver's payroll, taxes and paperwork, while the consumer stays in charge of the care.
5. Care begins. Once everything is approved, the caregiver starts providing services and is paid on a regular payroll schedule.

How Do Caregivers Get Paid?

CDS services are funded by Missouri Medicaid, so there's no cost to the person receiving care for approved hours. Caregivers are paid through the CDS vendor's payroll. Caregivers don't need special certifications to take part, and most vendors provide training on the required steps. Caregivers must be at least 18 and eligible to work in the United States.

How Is CDS Different From a Home Care Agency?

With a traditional agency, the agency assigns and manages the caregiver. You may not get much say in who comes to your home, and staff can change often. With CDS, you choose who provides care, you help set the schedule, and the relationship is one you already trust. The trade-off is more coordination, which is exactly where an experienced CDS agency like Hometeam CDS makes the process easier.

How Hometeam CDS Can Help

Eligibility paperwork, assessments and payroll setup can feel overwhelming on your own. Hometeam CDS walks Missouri families through the entire CDS process, from finding out whether a loved one qualifies to getting their chosen caregiver hired and paid.

Ready to find out if you or a family member qualifies for CDS in Missouri? Contact Hometeam CDS today or call 314-863-5987 to get started.

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