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Heartland Independent Living Center, Owensville, MO

 C onsumer Directed Care

 A consumer controlled personal attendance service program helps give a person with a disability control over their own life. By doing so, the person with a disability becomes an employer and hires their own personal attendant. The attendant’s job description can include: housekeeping, laundry, cooking, personal care and transportation.

Missouri Medicaid/MO HealthNet CDS services are funded with federal and state monies. This program allows the redirection of Medicaid/MO HealthNet dollars for in-home, consumer directed services, eliminating the necessity of placement in residential facilities due to the lack of options. The Consumer Directed Services Program is an arrangement that allows for an individual to direct his or her own personal assistance services at no cost to the consumer.

Eligibility

To qualify for the CDS Program, a person must be:

  • Medicaid/MO HealthNet eligible
  • Physically disabled
  • Over the age of 18
  • Mentally capable of making decisions regarding both your healthcare and your employer responsibilities
  • Score at least 21 points on a needs assessment performed by DHSS

Your Responsibilities

You and DHSS will develop a plan to assist you with your personal care needs. It is your responsibility to put forth your best effort by participating in the development of this plan. It is important that you follow the guidelines of your plan. Failure to do so can result in the denial or termination of your services.

Upon approval for CDS, Heartland Independent Living Center will need copies of your Missouri Medicaid/MO HealthNet card and Social Security card to set you up as an employer. You will need to forward any correspondence from the IRS to Heartland Independent Living Center so we can pay all taxes that are due on your behalf.

Your attendant can be anyone who is at least 18 or older, including relatives, as long as the attendant is not your spouse. They must pass a background screening through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. You will be shown how to complete your authorized tasks and trained to ensure that time sheets are completed daily and accurately.

Once on the program, your Heartland Independent Living Center Independent Living Specialist (ILS) is required to make at least one monthly phone contact and visit you in your home every three months to make sure that your plan is meeting your needs. IL Specialists also check up on consumers to make certain that program rules and regulations are being followed. Your IL Specialist will train you on the complete list of both Heartland Independent Living Center's responsibilities and your responsibilities. Fraud, abuse, and neglect are taken very seriously; these will be reported to the proper authorities.