Family First Service, LLC

Consumer Directed Services (CDS) is a program through Missouri State’s Medicaid designed to assist people living with physical disabilities in MO. The program provides for care services from a personal care attendant (PCA), allowing the care recipient to live in their own homes and communities, instead of the more restrictive environment in an institution. The Consumer Directed Services program is administered by Missouri’s Division of Health and Senior and Services (DHSS). To qualify for CDS, you would have to be deemed eligible by Missouri’s Division of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). One of the prerequisites of CDS is that you have to be currently on MO HealthNet, which is Missouri’s Medicaid program. If you’re not presently enrolled in MO Healthnet, you can call them at 855-835-3505. Once you enroll in MO Healthnet, you can apply through DHSS. They will schedule a pre-screening and a home assessment to determine your requirements when it comes to assistance and personal care. The personal care assistance that you can expect through CDS will be non-medical. You will get help with tasks that you are no longer able to do yourself due to your disability, or with regular tasks that would take you an unreasonable amount of time to complete. Through CDS, you can only get help with activities of daily living (ADL), and it would not include anything that requires a licensed medical professional. As a participant in the CDS program, you will also be required to hire, train, and direct your caregiver. The specific tasks your care assistant helps you will vary based on your needs, and according to your disability and living arrangements. However, here are some of the typical things that you can expect your assistant to help you with: Grooming Bathing Personal hygiene Toilet use Mobility Taking medications on time Cleaning Laundry Cooking Shopping Essential transportation For the care services, your personal care assistant (PCA) will get compensated at an hourly basis through Consumer Directed Services (CDS) and Medicaid (typically around $10 per hour). As mentioned above, you can hire your friends or family members as caregivers, except for your spouse or legal guardian.