Self-Directed Care is about increasing self-determination, choice, and access.

 

It’s based on the idea that people are experts in their lives and should determine their own recovery pathways. With Self-Directed Care, people use public funds to purchase goods and services or hire service providers. All purchases are linked to specific recovery goals set by the person with support from a specially trained advisor. 

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Since 2017, New York State has been implementing Mental Health Self-Directed Care (SDC) using NYS Office of Mental Health funds. It is being piloted as part of a Medicaid 1115 Waiver Demonstration, which is designed to help states test new approaches to service delivery for people on Medicaid. Two pilot sites, at Community Access in New York City, and Independent Living in Newburgh, are providing Self Directed Care about 200 participants who are required to be HARP enrolled.  The pilot participants work with Resource Consultants on identifying wellness and recovery goals and developing an associated budget which is approved by a program-based Fiscal Intermediary. The NYS OMH provides training, support, and monitoring for the authorization and purchasing of goods and services Click here to view NYS' Mental Health Self-Directed Care Pilot: Implementation

 

Participants described overwhelmingly positive experiences with the process of identifying goals and using the SDC program to make purchases that contributed to achieving those goals.

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Two independent studies of the pilot have been conducted with positive and optimistic results: HSRI and RAND Links