Consumer-directed programs empower residents in New York State to take greater control over the quality of care they receive by employing people they select to assist them. Beyond fostering greater independence for consumers, these programs also create more desirable career opportunities for care providers looking for better benefits, higher wages, and more flexibility in their schedules.

However, consumer-directed programs do require you to shoulder the financial responsibilities of employing your personal assistants. This can quickly become a burden, especially when you want to prioritize the quality of care above all else.

You participate in consumer-directed programs to take total control of your care, not to become an accountant or human resources manager. If you decide that the administrative obligations of the program are not something you wish to fulfill on your own, you can turn to a fiscal intermediary for assistance.

If you are considering working with a fiscal intermediary to better manage your care, here are some ways they can assist you:

Remove Complicated Paperwork

Participating in the program demands a significant amount of time spent on administrative paperwork, which can quickly become confusing and even overwhelming for many individuals

Your fiscal intermediary can assist you by partially or wholly completing many of these forms on your behalf. If there are documents that they are unable to fill out for you, they can also help guide you through them to ensure that your information is accurate and satisfies state requirements.

Hire Personal Assistants You Trust

While New York ranks in one of the top 10 as one of the best states for healthcare, you may prefer to receive care from someone that you already know and trust. This also allows you to offer a powerful employment opportunity to someone that you love.

For certain consumer-directed programs, New York State imposes restrictions on who can be hired and paid as your personal assistant. A spouse, for instance, cannot receive compensation as a personal assistant under the Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP) or Respite services. However, under a private pay arrangement, you have the flexibility to hire and pay a spouse for caregiving services, giving you the freedom to choose who provides your care without the limitations imposed by state-funded programs.

Become a True Employer

Similar to a business, as a consumer, you are responsible for recruiting, training, and compensating your personal assistant. As with employees, you likely want to reward the people that provide you with excellent care with the best compensation possible.

Working with a fiscal intermediary, you can instantly access better compensation options for your personal assistants, including:

• Higher, more competitive wages
• Weekly paychecks
• Paid time off and holiday pay
• Medical and dental benefits
• Tax withholding and reporting

Rather than simply hiring someone to fill a job opening, you can provide a personal assistant with a rewarding career that makes a difference in your life. In any employment situation, a person is more likely to provide a higher level of service if they believe they are compensated fairly for their time and effort.

Get a Fiscal Intermediary for Your NY Consumer-Directed Program

If you’re a New York consumer-directed program participant , you know that finding the right fiscal intermediary can make all the difference.

At CDChoices, our team of experts is dedicated to empowering New York consumers to pursue the quality care that they are entitled to. We make it our mission to help our participants live their best lives.

To learn more about how we can assist you, contact us today.