Description:
Self-direction, often referred to as consumer-direction, is a practice that allows consumers to direct and manage their own personal care services. It is based on the premise that individuals receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS) know their needs best. Self-direction promotes personal choice and control over the delivery of LTSS, including who provides the services and how the services are provided. Evidence shows that individuals participating in self-directed LTSS programs are more satisfied with their services and experience better outcomes when compared to individuals receiving agency-based services1. This may have important implications for the dually eligible population since about half of all beneficiaries dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid utilize LTSS. 2
The shift to offering consumers the choice to direct their own services has posed challenges for health plans, who must utilize new contracting methods. This webinar discusses the importance of care coordinators, person-centered care planning, and assisting members with management tasks required for self-direction for plans seeking to support consumers in directing their own care.
By the end of this webinar, participants should be able to:
- Identify key features of self-direction and what it entails for the consumer
- Identify the role of care managers and care coordinators in facilitating decisions on self-direction as part of developing and/or amending the person-centered care plan
- Define the role of a personal care assistant (PCA) in the interdisciplinary care team
Featured Speakers:
- Kristen Bugara, MSW, LSW, Care Management Supervisor, Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities
- Courtland Townes, Deputy Director, Boston Center for Independent Living
- Corinne Eldridge, Executive Director, California Long-Term Care Education Center
- Maida Castellanos, Personal Care Attendant
- Carole Stewart, IHSS Consumer
Intended Audience:
This webinar is intended for a wide range of stakeholders – including health plan leaders, primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, home health care agencies, social workers, care coordinators, family and caregivers of consumers who are dually-eligible, and organizations that provide services for dually eligible beneficiaries, such as managed long-term services and supports programs and consumer organizations.
References:
[1] Edwards-Orr, M., & Ujvari, K. (2018, April 12). Taking It to the Next Level: Using Innovative Strategies to Expand Options for Self-Direction. Retrieved from https://www.aarp.org/ppi/info-2018/taking-it-to-the-next-level-using-innovative-strategies-to-expand-options-for-self-direction.html
[2] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2012). Medicare-Medicaid Enrollee Information, National 2012. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/Medicare-Medicaid-Coordination/Medicare-and-Medicaid-Coordination/Medicare-Medicaid-Coordination-Office/Downloads/NationalProfile_2012.pdf