Self Directed Care and Medicaid

Self-Directed Care has been discussed at length for well over a decade. There is often confusion regarding what self-directed care is. Specifically, self-directed care supports adults with functional disabilities who live in their own home, t direct their own health-related issues. For instance, an individual might have diabetes and need blood sugar monitored, but their functional disability doesn’t allow them to physically perform the necessary tasks to do this. This individual can choose to direct and supervise a paid personal aide or and Individual Provider to perform this and other tasks.

There have been studies, interviews, surveys, news releases and numerous reports since the increase of self-directed care, and the majority of them have stated that individuals – especially Medicaid and Medicare recipients – with disabilities benefit from directing their own personal care services. In a joint study with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, it was found that “with self-directed care, quality of life and recipients’ satisfaction were improved substantially and unmet needs for career reduced, without compromising health or safety.”

Previous HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson stated that Self-Directed Care gives people with disabilities more freedom and responsibility. In the same way that all of us want to be in charge of our lives and our choices, it lets the individuals themselves decide what to do with their Medicaid dollars.” The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has stated that “approaches like this will make Medicaid more cost effective and will serve people with disabilities better.”

Self-Directed Care can be an excellent option for many people receiving Medicaid.

Filed under: State Medicaid Programs

Tags: Center for Medicare and Medicaid, health and Human Services, medicaid, self directed care