Developmental Disabilities● Self-Direction

Self-Direction

Self-Direction assists people with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families to choose and manage their own budgets and services. The goal of Self-Direction is to expand a person’s supported opportunities to live independently in the most integrated community-based setting of his or her choice.

 Self-Direction not only offers people supported greater choice and control over the supports they receive but it also expands their options beyond traditional programs to include services such as such art and music therapy, community classes or training, gym membership, camps, and reimbursement for software, internet, or cell phones.

At EPI we recognized early on that our own guiding principles of dignity, respect, freedom of choice and self-determination were realized in the Self-Direction program. Since 2012, we have invested in expanding our self-directed services. We are currently providing Self-Direction services to children and adults with developmental disabilities in the Finger Lakes, Western and Central New York, and Southern Tier regions.

We also realized that, in order to fully benefit from the flexibility that Self-Direction affords, individuals and their families need help navigating the complexity of this program. At EPI we developed tools and tailored support to betters assist self- directing individuals and their families.

Contact us for more information today!

episd@epiny.org
(585) 442-4430 x2737

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EPI Self-Direction: tailored support to make the choices you want

EPI provides high quality and creative solutions to meet the needs of each person we support. EPI Self-Direction program offers both:

Fiscal Intermediary Services

Fiscal Intermediary (FI) services are an essential component of the Circle of Support for a person who is self-directing their services. The FI is responsible for assisting in managing a person’s Self-Directed budget, ensuring compliance with Medicaid and Self-Directed regulations, serving as the Employer of Record for all self-hire staff, and performing all necessary employer functions.

Brokerage Services

Brokerage services are another crucial part of a person’s Circle of Support. Brokers’ key role is to work collaboratively with the person to build a Self-Directed budget and develop a plan that is best suited to the goals and support needs of that person. Brokers also work with the self-directing person, their families, and FIs to monitor self-directed budgets and make changes as appropriate.

Dedicated Support Staff

The freedom to select your own services and navigate a new system of service delivery may feel overwhelming to participants. For this reason, at EPI we have expanded our Self-Direction program to include specialized staff roles and tailored services to support the people we serve. Our dedicated Self-Direction team includes:

Our Intake Coordinator supports your team through the Intake process for Self-Directed services by helping to gather the necessary documents and providing regular updates regarding your application’s status.

Our Start-Up Coordinator works with people and families who have completed the intake process and are new to Self-Directed services. Our Start-Up Coordinator works with you and your team through the submission of the Start-Up Budget and will provide guidance and support until your budget is ready to be launched.

Our Invoice Coordinator reviews all invoices submitted by self-directing people, their families, and other providers to ensure they meet Medicaid and state requirements for processing. Our Invoice Coordinator communicates any barriers with your team and works with you to ensure efficient and timely processing of all self-directed invoices.

Our Staffing Coordinator works with all people with self-hired staff to review timesheets and payroll to ensure compliance with Medicaid standards. Our Staffing Coordinator helps to resolve any errors to ensure proper and timely payment of all self-hire staff shifts.

HR Support: Hiring and Training your Staff

EPI’s Human Resource team has dedicated staff members who support people in Self-Direction with hiring, training your staff, and with any additional HR-related matters. Our HR team will also post job descriptions on both internal and eternal job sites as requested.

Online Portal: Invoice Processing and Record Keeping

EPI provides Self-Directing individuals with an online, real-time connection with their care team, documentation management and invoice processing.  We use eVero, one of the best Self-Direction management tools available. Our online software platform offers a user-friendly web and app-based portal for families. The portal provides self-directingindividuals and/or their family easy monitoring of budgets, services and expenses, including budget status, expenses/invoices, staff shifts and documentation, Broker billing and notes, and Staff Action Plans. The software platform also offers informational materials, online training and video walkthroughs for self-directingindividuals and their families.

Our Expense Review Committee meets weekly (at a minimum) to review all expenses that do not fall into a clear approved category. EPI’s goal is always to ensure people supported are able to utilize their budgets to the greatest extent possible, while ensuring we are following Medicaid, state, and Self-Direction guidance and regulations.

Eligibility:

  • OPWDD eligible
  • Have Medicaid
  • Approved for HCBS Waiver Services Have budget approved by OPWDD

Self-Direction FAQ

Self-Direction allows for more flexibility in your services, which means you can choose the right supports for you, including hiring your own staff and setting your own schedule. Self-Direction focuses on fostering independence and community inclusion. Self-Direction shifts the control over resources and selection of support to the person and his or her family. You, with your family or caregivers, have authority how to use your allocated budget, what services you would like to receive, what providers to use, and where you would like to live. When participating in the program, a self-directing person is not alone, they are supported by a group of people, called a Circle of Support.

Anyone who is eligible for OPWDD services and enrolled in the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver can choose to self-direct their services.

Your Circle of Support includes yourself, your Care Coordinator or Care Manager, your Fiscal Intermediary, your Broker, and anyone else in your life that you would like to have as a part of your self-directed journey. Your team meets at least twice per year and are available to provide additional support as you need it throughout the year.

Fiscal Intermediary (FI) services are an essential component of the Circle of Support for a person who is self-directing their services. The FI is responsible for assisting in managing a person’s Self-Directed budget, ensuring compliance with Medicaid and Self-Directed regulations, serving as the Employer of Record for all self-hire staff, and performing all necessary employer functions.

Brokerage services are another crucial part of a person’s Circle of Support. Brokers’ key role is to work collaboratively with the person to build a Self-Directed budget and develop a plan that is best suited to the goals and support needs of that person. Brokers also work with the self-directing person, their families, and FIs to monitor self-directed budgets and make changes as appropriate.

Contact

We are here to help. Get in touch with us if you have questions, need assistance or more information.

Email info@epiny.org

Phone (585) 442-6420