Family caregivers
CDC+: Consumer-Directed Care Plus under the iBudget waiver
CDC+ is an option within iBudget Florida. The participant becomes the employer, gets a monthly budget, and can hire people the regular waiver would not pay.
The short answer
To use CDC+, a person must be enrolled in the iBudget waiver and live in their own or a family home. Florida law says providers may include a neighbor, friend, spouse or relative, and all who give care need a Level 2 background screening. Exclusions remain: a parent or primary caregiver cannot be paid for respite, and a parent can only be an unpaid backup for nursing.
How CDC+ works
- A monthly budget. It is calculated from the approved iBudget cost plan.
- You are the employer. Participants choose providers, and those providers need not be in the Medicaid network.
- A representative can help. A representative manages the budget, is unpaid, and cannot be paid to provide services.
- A consultant guides you. A trained CDC+ consultant, who is a support coordinator, helps throughout.
- A fiscal agent pays people. The Fiscal/Employer Agent handles employment paperwork and pays providers.
Who can be hired, and for what
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Personal care assistance | Can be a directly hired employee at least 16 years old. It is a critical service that needs at least two emergency backups. |
| Respite | Cannot be provided by directly hired parents or primary caregivers |
| Nursing | A parent may be an emergency backup, only as an unpaid natural support |
| Transportation by a relative | Mileage reimbursement only |
The CDC+ handbook does not spell out paying a parent of a minor for personal care. The iBudget handbook lifts its exclusion for parents and spouses only under CDC+. Confirm your situation with the CDC+ helpline at 1-866-761-7043 before you count on it.
How to enroll
- Be enrolled in iBudget. See the guide.
- Tell your Waiver Support Coordinator. Since July 2024 they must tell clients about the CDC+ option at the annual planning meeting.
- Call the helpline at 1-866-761-7043 and get the Welcome Packet.
- Finish the new participant and representative training.
CDC+ and a licensed agency
You can still purchase services from an agency. Many families use an agency for nursing or as a backup, since CDC+ requires emergency backup providers for critical services.
About this page. Aster Care LLC is a private home care agency, not a government agency. Eligibility decisions are made by the state offices named here. This is general information, not legal or benefits advice, and program rules change, so please confirm details with those offices.
Questions families ask
Is CDC+ open to everyone with Medicaid?
No. The handbook requires enrollment in the iBudget waiver.
Does CDC+ cost me anything?
The handbook explains the monthly budget is funded at 92 percent of the short-term cost plan authorization, a smaller budget in exchange for more control. Ask your consultant how that looks for you.