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Consumer Directed Services (CDS)

Hands, elderly man and woman in nursing home with support for retirement, assisted living

With Missouri’s Consumer Directed Services program, you choose who cares for you — and that person gets paid. Grass Roots Home Care handles all the paperwork, payroll, and Medicaid compliance so you can focus on what matters: quality care at home.

What Are Consumer Directed Services (CDS)?

How CDS Works (Step By Step)

Step 1: Determine Eligibility

  •  You must be 18 or older

  • Enrolled in MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid)

  • Assessed by the Division of Senior and Disability Services (DSDS) as needing personal care assistance

  • Grass Roots can help you check eligibility — call us at 314-300-6092

Step 2: Choose Grass Roots as Your CDS Provider

  • Contact us to begin enrollment

  • We’ll walk you through the paperwork and set up your employer account with the IRS

  • We become your Fiscal Management Service (FMS) vendor

Step 3: Hire Your Caregiver

  • You recruit and select your own personal care attendant

  • This can be a family member, friend, or anyone you choose (except spouse or minor)

  • Your attendant must pass a background check through the Missouri Family Care Safety Registry

Step 4: Create Your Care Plan

  • DSDS authorizes the number of hours per week based on your assessment

  • You and your attendant set the schedule that works for your life

  • Typical authorizations range from 10 to 40+ hours per week

Step 5: We Handle Everything Else

  • Grass Roots processes payroll every pay period

  • We withhold and remit all taxes (federal, state, FICA, unemployment)

  • We bill MO HealthNet (Medicaid) for authorized services

  • We maintain compliance with all state and federal regulations

  • You focus on your care — we focus on the business side

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