Got a question about self-direction? We’re here to answer!
Here are some of our most frequently asked questions and answers to help you explore the option of self-directed home care.
Making Self-Directed Home Care Easier For All
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, depending on the state in which you reside and your Medicaid eligibility, you may be able to get paid to take care of your parent, grandparent, sibling, child, etc. Check out more information on this specific question here, or contact us and we can assist you in checking your eligibility.
If your loved one is eligible for Medicaid, you may be able to receive financial aid from the Self-Directed Medicaid Services programs, depending on what state you live in. According to Medicaid.gov, states have several options for providing Medicaid enrollees with the option to self-direct their Medicaid services under one of the state plan and waiver programs.
Medicaid law prohibits direct cash payments to individual self-directing program participants. Due to this law, states or Managed Care Organizations are required to appoint a Financial Management Service (FMS) provider company to assist self-directed care participants in exercising budget authority, which is the role that Public Partnerships is here to play.
Public Partnerships | PPL is the #1 choice of FMS provider for self-directing program participants and their care/support workers. Our role is to assist self-directing program participants prepare to be and perform the role of your employer. We help them check your background, hire and pay you for your support. We also assist them paying for services such as daily transportation and home modifications. The amount they can spend on your support and their services is based on a personalized needs budget set by the state or managed care health organization running their Medicaid program.
We provide easy-to-use online tools that make it simple to submit your time sheets and get paid. We also make sure that your taxes are withheld. So, keep up the important work you do, and we’ll be working behind the scenes to make sure you get paid accurately and on time.
Visit our State Programs Page to learn if there is an existing self-directed home care program in your state.
The big question! Self-direction is all about YOU. You should feel empowered and in control over your care. With self-direction, you have the freedom to live in your home and community and decide who delivers your care, such as friends or approved family members.
Self-directed home care gives you the ability to hire your own care/support that YOU love and trust. By choosing self-direction, you are not restricted by the hours that agency care workers or assisted living nurses can work, so you can have more hours of care and support dedicated to you. You are also not paying the costs associated with an institution or agency, so you can have more of your benefits working for you. Most importantly, YOU are in charge and have more control of your journey.
Start your self-directed home care journey today with Public Partnerships | PPL.
Read more about Self-Directed Home Care and how PPL can help you manage your support and services here.
A Financial Management Service (FMS) is required by Medicaid law to assist self-directing participants in exercising budget authority. As an individual, you are not responsible for choosing an FMS, as your state or Managed Care Organization (MCO) appoints one for your program.
PPL is the largest FMS with 20 years of experience and a proven track record of successfully serving large-scale programs and managing complex transitions of programs from other vendors.
Self-direction, participant-direction, and even consumer-direction are all synonymous. The phrasing can vary by state or program, but they all mean the same thing. Regardless of what it is called in your state, these phrases represent a third long-term care option for Medicaid eligible individuals and their families that puts them in control.
If there is an existing self-directed home care program in your state and you are Medicaid eligible, you may qualify for a self-directed program.
Medicaid eligibility may vary by state, so if you’re unsure, contact us to assist you with checking if you qualify for self-directed home care.
We understand that self-direction may not be for everyone, but we are committed to helping you find the best option for you or your loved one. Check out our 10 reasons why self-directed care could be right for you or a loved one.
Whatever your questions, we are here for you!
Understanding your long-term care options is critical to making the right choice for you or your loved one, and we are here to help! With so many options out there, it can be overwhelming trying to weigh all the pros and cons.
We have made it easier for you by comparing the benefits of different types of long-term care options: institutional care (e.g., nursing home or assisted living facility), home care agency (e.g., adult day care, home care agency), and self-direction. Check out the comparison here.
Unlike participants in institutional care or a home care agency, as a self-direction program participant, you are given a budget and are put in charge of your money and what you want to spend it on (with restrictions). Funds can be used to support personalized needs such as transportation, home modifications, physical therapy, community classes, skills training, etc.
Self-direction is cost effective and gives you more value for your money. As a self-directing program participant, you are given a budget and put in charge of your money and what you spend it on (with restrictions). You manage your budget to pay your service providers and get what you need.
Check out our comparison of long-term care options, which demonstrates the savings that can be made to an individual and their family.
Public Partnerships | PPL is NOT an employer of care/support providers.
We support Medicaid eligible individuals with disabilities or chronic illnesses and aging adults, to remain in their homes and communities while “self” directing their own long-term home care.
Our role is to assist self-directing program participants prepare to be and perform the role of your employer. We help them check your background, hire, and pay you for your support. We also assist them paying for services such as daily transportation and home modifications. The amount they can spend on your support and their services is based on a personalized needs budget set by the state or managed care health organization running their Medicaid program.
PPL does not set budgets for individuals self-directing program participants.
PPL can help connect you with individuals and families looking for care and support. Click here.
For career opportunities within PPL, the FMS of choice, please visit the PPL Careers page.
Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) is required by the 21st Century Cures Act passed in December 2016 for all Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) programs, which includes almost all of our programs (full list here). This federally mandated law was passed to ensure vital Medicaid funds go to the most in need and are not wasted or fraudulently obtained. Different states are at different stages of adoption, meaning some programs already require this but other programs don’t yet.
PPL has over 20 years-experience in managing self-directed programs. If your state is requiring EVV adoption, PPL designed a tailor-made app for you to easily comply with the requirements of the Cures Act.
Our goal is to allow you to report your location and the time of clock in and clock out. That is the only point in time the app tracks your location. Period.
You deserve to be paid fairly and on time! We pay out all properly allocated and authorized hours your employer is eligible for. Providers in the self-directed programs are employed by the people they care and support, or their representative. PPL issues payments on their employer’s behalf based on their personalized needs budget allocations and authorizations. If an employer schedules their worker outside of those allocations or authorizations, then we’re not cleared by Medicaid to issue payment. Our goal is to work with self-directing employers to ensure that you do not work beyond the authorized hours that have been granted AND ensure you get paid for every authorized hour you worked.
PPL is on hand should any issues arise with your pay. Our rapid response ensure we maintain a A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau.
If you have any urgent issues, please reach us at 855-243-8775.
Find phone numbers for all of our self-directed programs at our Contact Us page. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter for further announcements related to contacting PPL.