MS HB1056

Division of Medicaid must apply to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for an Elderly or Disabled with Consumer Direction (EDCD) Waiver to cover consumer-directed personal care services for eligible individuals who need assistance with activities of daily living, medication reminders, or health monitoring.

Individuals receiving consumer-directed services must be capable of hiring, training, and firing their own employees, or have a family member/caregiver serve as employer if they are unable to direct their own care or under age 18.

Consumer-directed employees must have required skills for the individual's plan of care and cannot be the individual's parents or spouse, though approved family members may be reimbursed if they meet division qualifications.

A consumer-directed services facilitator must provide management training and support to individuals/employers, conduct an initial home visit before services begin, and make supervisory visits every 30-90 days to ensure quality and appropriateness of services.

Consumer-directed employers and employees are responsible for completing and submitting timesheets and other required documentation to the division; the act takes effect July 1, 2018.