CDASS (Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services) and IHSS (In-Home Support Services) are two Medicaid-funded programs in Colorado that strive to provide comprehensive services to individuals with disabilities while allowing them to remain in their homes. While both programs aim to help individuals with disabilities live independently, each has its own unique guidelines, processes, and benefits.
Self-Directed Care With CDASS
CDASS is a self-directed program that allows individuals with disabilities to manage their own care by hiring and training their own caregivers. The program provides funding for services such as personal care, homemaker services, and health maintenance activities. The individuals receiving services must be able to direct their own care and are responsible for hiring, training, and managing their caregivers. This self-directed program allows individuals to have greater personal control over their care. However, this also requires more personal responsibility, time commitment, and administrative work from the individual receiving services. With CDASS, any additional benefits, paid time off, or annual training is up to the individual receiving services to provide. CDASS is a good option for those who are looking for the flexibility and choice that can come with managing their own caregivers and self-directing their care.
Agency Support Through IHSS
IHSS is a program that provides personal care, homemaker services, and other services to individuals with disabilities who are unable to manage activities of daily living without assistance. Unlike CDASS, IHSS is not self-directed, meaning that the individuals receiving services do not have the same level of personal responsibility over their provider’s training, paperwork, and more. Instead, caregivers are still selected by the individual and/or their family, and IHSS services are provided through an agency. These agencies take care of onboarding and employment-related responsibilities. The agency performs background checks, pays caregivers, ensures state and national Medicaid compliance, and issues tax-related documents. IHSS can be incredibly beneficial for those who do not wish to maintain the liability and responsibility of managing a caregiver’s administrative and compliance needs. Caregivers who are hired through an agency may be eligible to receive that agency’s benefits, such as insurance, paid time off, paid training, and more.
IHSS with PASCO
Available Services
Homemaker, Health Maintenance, and Personal Care services
Caregiver Eligibility
Family members, friends, neighbors, and more are eligible. Spouses cannot provide homemaker services. These individuals must be over the age of 18
PTO, Sick, Vacation, & Holiday Pay
PASCO employees earn up to 40 hrs of vacation time (with ability to “cash out” hours), 40 hrs of sick time, and 10 holidays at 1.5x pay rate per year
Payroll Processes
PASCO manages and processes all payroll duties (timekeeping training, payroll processing, managing tax documents, and more)
Budgeting
Agency will assist with budget planning and schedule execution to ensure that services stay within one’s funding allotment
Health, Vision, & Dental Benefits
PASCO covers 67% of contributions (on average) of all benefits, as well as a $50,000 life insurance policy for all employees
Documentation Support
Necessary documentation is completed by PASCO coordinators so you can focus on delivering quality care. This includes employment documents, state compliance paperwork, and more
CDASS
Available Services
Homemaker, Health Maintenance, and Personal Care services
Caregiver Eligibility
Family members, friends, neighbors, spouses, and more are eligible to provide care. These individuals must be over the age of 18
PTO, Sick, Vacation, & Holiday Pay
Rates and frequency are determined by client given they comply with state sick time and family medical leave requirements
Payroll Processes
CDASS clients complete and manage their own payroll documentation, which is then processed by their chosen Financial Management Service (FMS) provider
Budgeting
Clients are responsible for budgeting and managing their own CDASS service budgets, creating added flexibility but higher personal responsibility
Health, Vision, & Dental Benefits
Any contributions dependent on client choice. Insurance benefits are purchased in the open market
Documentation Support
Client must ensure all documentation is properly completed. FMS provider then processes given paperwork (employment documents, tax documents, etc.)
Want to learn more?
At PASCO, we strive to ensure that families are equipped with the knowledge necessary to make the best decision for their loved one’s unique needs. Both IHSS and CDASS provide crucial supports that allow individuals to live more independently in their homes and communities. However, there are some key differences within these programs that may help decide which is a better fit for your care needs. If you have questions about PASCO’s IHSS program or about how to begin with CDASS services, contact us! We’re here to help.
