The home care agency:

• The home care agency hires attendants
• The home care agency sets wages for attendants
• The home care agency does payroll and taxes
• The home care agency works with you on a schedule

CDS:

• You hire your own employee(s)
• You set wages and benefits based on your service budget
• You select a Financial Management Services Agency to do payroll and taxes
• You set the schedule

You can choose not to participate in CDS at any time. You must be off the CDS option for at least 90 days before participating in CDS again.

No—Financial Management Services Agencies can perform all required services from any location. We cover the entire state of Texas, from Brownsville to Amarillo, El Paso to Beaumont, and everywhere in between.

Yes, over 22,000 individuals are currently using CDS as of May 2022, and this number continues to increase every month.

One consumer wrote:
“Participating in the CDS option is similar to running your own small business. When you hire someone, you will need to have each employee complete a hiring packet containing all the necessary forms for employing that person.

After this, most of the paperwork you’ll deal with will revolve around completing and submitting timesheets to your Financial Management Services Agency (FMSA) so your employee(s) can get paid. While all this talk about paperwork may sound complicated, it isn’t when you consider that you won’t be alone. Your FMSA will be your guide.

Knowledge is everything and the best way to decide whether something might be good for you is to learn as much as possible about it. You should start by notifying your case manager/service coordinator that you are interested in the CDS option and becoming an employer. Your case manager/service coordinator will then discuss your options with you and probably schedule a visit so that you can sign some documents expressing your interest in the CDS option and be provided with a list of agencies offering CDS services.”

A second consumer wrote:
“I believe that the Consumer Directed Services (CDS) option provides more flexibility and benefits for both the consumer and the provider. The CDS option offers a higher pay scale for attendants, which helps decrease turnover rates. Additionally, it is an easy system to navigate, with the CDS company handling budget and payroll issues. While it may seem overwhelming at first, after completing the initial paperwork, it requires minimal work each month. Making this decision is worthwhile and worth the effort.”

A third consumer wrote:
“It’s important to recognize that people with disabilities have diverse needs. What works for one person may not work for another. The CDS Option is not a one-size-fits-all program. It empowers individuals with disabilities and their families or friends who care for them to address their unique needs creatively. This way, they can all enjoy the quality of life they deserve while living in their homes and communities.”

You want to understand how reliable the agency is and whether they know what they are doing. Some possible questions:

• How long have you been in business?
• What exactly do you do for me?
• How often do you pay? Do you offer direct deposit?
• If I move outside a managed care area, can you continue to support me on Consumer Directed Services (CDS)?
• How many people does your company currently serve in CDS?
• How many people within your company are familiar with CDS, and when did those individuals last attend an FMSA training presented by Texas Health and Human Services?
• Have you had any complaints about handling payroll taxes and employer-related taxes?
• Have you been monitored by the State? Did you pass?

• CDS means you become the employer. You choose who helps you instead of an agency or provider.
• This is also called self-direction.
• The number of hours and type of services you currently may be receiving does not change when you use the CDS option. The only change is that you will become the employer, and your Financial Management Services Agency (FMSA) will help you.

Start with your case manager or service coordinator, who will provide information on consumer direction and how it works.

If you use the Internet, visit the CDS website set up by Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC). The link is https://hhs.texas.gov/services/disability/consumer-directed-services. From this link, you can read all that HHSC has published about CDS and view a video.

You can also look at the list of agencies that provide CDS services and call some of them. Ask them to tell you more about the CDS program and how it works.

Check with friends who are receiving community-based services. They may receive their services through the CDS option and can tell you how it worked for them.

• A young mother who has never worked outside the home
• A grandmother who is responsible for her grandchild.
• A 50-year-old man who has become disabled through illness or accident
• An 80-year-old woman who needs a little help to stay in her home
• A 45-year-old woman with a disability who is raising a child
• A foster parent who cares for children with special needs
• All kinds of people use the CDS option.