Aging in Place: Client Direct Homecare/Invoicing is a convenient option for clients to handle and finance their in-home care assistance. 

Questions and Answers for Edmonton’s Client Direct Homecare (CDHCI)

What is Invoicing?

Client Directed Homecare/Invoicing (CDHCI) is an alternate method of providing clients direct home care support services. It is available to clients who meet the general eligibility criteria for Home Care. Home Care provides three main categories of services: Case Management, Direct Professional Services, and Support Services such as personal care. Instead of Home Care contracting with an agency or providing the service directly, clients or their legal representatives can be reimbursed to an authorized number of hours if they choose to seek out a contracted provider of their own choosing and purchase their own care.

An Invoicing Agreement is a legal contract between Alberta Health Services and the client or their legal representative. Under the Agreement, Alberta Health Services agrees to reimburse the Agreement Holder with funds to hire or purchase services based on a needs assessment. The Invoicing option provides a client or client’s legal representative with a significant degree of control over who provides support services and how these services are provided along with the responsibility to appropriately manage the care needs. An Invoicing Agreement may be signed for a minimum period of 3 months.

From here on in, this document, “you” refers to the client and the Invoicing Agreement Holder. Please note that in some cases the client and the Agreement Holder are two different persons.

Comfort Keepers are committed to elevating the human spirit with their clients.

When is Invoicing Appropriate?

Invoicing can be considered for clients who want to hire their own contracted care providers. Here are some examples of situations where Invoicing can be particularly beneficial.

• Empower self-management: Situations where you desire a greater degree of control for scheduling and directing the staff providing your personal care. The Invoicing Option is ideal for those situations where you may not want the degree of responsibility of a Self-Managed Care Contract but desire the benefits of self-management.
• Enhancement of Current Services: Invoicing can be used to top up pre-existing services already in place thru AHS contracted providers, In-house Health Care Aides, and Self-Managed care in situations that require care beyond what AHS can arrange with their own resources. This may include but is not limited to situations where you have short term intensive needs and may be awaiting placement and/or are at the end of life, returning from hospital, or have overnight care needs. Services may also be used to assist caregivers with respite needs and permit a high degree of flexibility in how to provide a meaningful break for caregivers.

• Language and cultural considerations. Sometimes it is important for clients to hire care providers from their own communities especially when language is an issue. Choosing your own contracted provider may allow you to choose care providers who have similar language or cultural practices.
• Geographic areas which are difficult to serve. Within our Edmonton Zone, there are areas where it is particularly difficult for AHS to arrange services through an AHS contracted provider or internal health care aide staff. Invoicing may allow our clients to hire smaller contracted providers to provide care.

 Who is Eligible for Invoicing?

If you are already on Home Care, and require support services, you can contact your Case Manager to discuss whether Invoicing is a good option for you. If you’re not already on Home Care, the first step in exploring Invoicing is to arrange an initial Home Care assessment. An assessment involves meeting with a Case Manager to get information about your health history, the extent to which you can manage your own care, and how much help you have from family and friends. At the end of the process, the Case Manager will work with you and your family to develop a care plan which outlines what additional professional and support services are needed and what care be provided by Home Care.

Invoicing can be considered when the following conditions are met;

• You meet the general eligibility criteria for Home Care services.
• Invoicing is a suitable mode of service delivery as determined by a Home Care assessment.
• Invoicing does not conflict with any other Home Care policy or Home Living Service Agreement.
• Invoicing does not create a conflict of interest for you or the care provider, such as if you are residing in a home type setting owned by the care provider.
• You require a predictable level of service and are not subject to frequent acute episodes which create unstable service requirements. (Exceptions may be made for palliative and pediatric clients).
• You or your legal representative is willing and able to assume the responsibilities associated with Invoicing including the responsibilities of directing your own care.

If Invoicing is not a viable option, the Case Manager will work with you to explore other service options to meet your needs.

Who Can Be an Agreement Holder?

Alberta Health Services can enter into an Invoicing Agreement with a client, their legal Guardian, or their Agent under an activated Personal Directive. When an agreement is signed with anyone other than the client, documentation relating to the source of their legal authority must be provided to Alberta Health Services, Home Care. In some circumstances, Alberta Health Services, at its sole discretion, may consider entering into an Invoicing Agreement with an informal decision maker. The client can also appoint a Payee on the agreement who pays the contracted provider and receives the reimbursement from Alberta Health Services. Alberta Health Services recommends clients with terminal illnesses to consider naming a Payee to ensure bills are paid appropriately after services are no longer required.

What If Your Needs Change?

Agreements are signed for a term during which it is anticipated that you will have relatively stable needs. However, it is possible that your needs or the availability of supports change unexpectedly. If this happens, the Case Manager can be contacted to do a reassessment and discuss changes in services including changing the amount of care provided through the Invoicing Model. The initial Agreement is signed for a period under six months. After that, a reassessment is done at least once a year to ensure that the level of services is appropriate to meet your needs.

What Are Your Responsibilities as an Agreement Holder?

 

Making Decisions about Care Arrangements.

As the Agreement Holder, you arrange appropriate services, including directing your care thru your contracted provider. You enter into an agreement with a bonded and insured contracted provider. You will require approval from AHS for your chosen care provider prior to the initiation of the invoicing contract. You must ensure that care is being provided appropriately and address any concerns you may have with your contracted provider directly. If you need assistance with informing your contracted care providers about your care needs, you can contact the Case Manager.

So, Is Invoicing the Right Option for You?

Invoicing can be a good option for you if you want to have the responsibility and flexibility of managing your own care but not overseeing employees and staffing concerns. Using the Invoicing model, you will be encouraged to be as independent and self-sufficient as possible, but your Case Manager is available as a resource for questions about Invoicing and for accessing other health services. If you are considering Invoicing, you should discuss it with your Case Manager.

 

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is an Approved Service Provider  for the Client Directed Homecare Invoicing Program Offered by Alberta Health Services.

Trusting your loved one with someone else can be difficult, but with Comfort Keepers® Edmonton, you can trust that they will be in capable hands. Our specially trained caregivers will stay with your loved one while you take care of yourself, for as much or as little time as you need. And, every client receives a custom care plan that aims to engage them in intellectual, physical and emotional exercises and activities. To learn more about our uplifting in-home and respite services, contact your nearest Comfort Keepers® Edmonton office today.

Search the Client Directed Home Care Service Map to search your area for approved service providers.

Client Directed Home Care Invoicing Program (CDHCI) FAQs

1. What is the Client Directed Home Care Invoicing Program (CDHCI)?
CDHCI is a great program piloted by the Alberta Government in 2022 and provided by Alberta Health services (AHS), allowing clients to choose an approved agency like Comfort Keepers Edmonton for Personal Care, Respite Care and Homemaking needs. The chosen agency can then bill AHS directly for services rendered for approved hours through Alberta Blue Cross.

2. What is Invoice Modeling?
An Invoicing Agreement is a legal contract between Alberta Health Services and the client or their legal representative. Under the Agreement, Alberta Health Services agrees to reimburse the Agreement Holder with funds to hire or purchase services based on a needs assessment.

3. What is the eligibility criteria for Client Directed Home Care Invoice Modeling (CDHCI)?
Anyone who is approved by AHS for homecare or already on the self-managed care program can be eligible to switch to the client directed home care invoicing program. An assessment by an AHS homecare case manager is the first step in determining eligibility.

4. How can I tell what home care agencies are “approved private vendors”
Follow this link to the list of approved home care agencies. Client Directed Home Care Invoicing Program?

5. What are the benefits of CDHCI?

• Consistent Services from a chosen private home care provider.
• Direct billing through Alberta Blue Cross and eliminating out of pocket expenses for Albertans.
• No administrative responsibilities for clients or family such as hiring, payroll, liability insurance, WCB coverage associated with self-managed care.

6. What Homecare services are covered by client directed homecare?

• Personal Care
• Home Making
• Respite Care 

7. Why should you choose Comfort Keepers Edmonton?
Comfort Keepers Edmonton has been associated with CDHCI right from the pilot stage of the program in April 2022 before being rolled out across the province in 2023.

Comfort Keepers Edmonton is Your Family’s Best Choice!

The mission of Comfort Keepers is to provide our clients with the highest level of quality of life that is achievable. Each client will receive the respect and dignity they deserve as if they were a member of our very own family.