Council on Aging (COA) is the Area Agency on Aging serving Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties in southwestern Ohio. In this role, COA administers publicly-funded programs that provide in-home and community-based services to more than 26,000 individuals in our region.

Effective 5/14/2026 through 11/14/2026: In accordance with CMS-6101-N and 42 CFR 455.470, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) is implementing a moratorium on the enrollment of Home Health and Hospice providers. During this period, ODM will not accept new Medicaid enrollment applications for Hospice or Home Health Agencies, Waiver Individuals and Organizations, Private Duty Nurses, Personal Care Aides and Home Care Attendants. For more information, visit the ODM website. If you believe your provider application has been inappropriately denied, please contact the Ohio Department of Aging (AGE) at [email protected] for assistance. To get paid for care during the moratorium and/or during the certification process, caregivers must be employed by an agency that is certified and contracted to work with Council on Aging and the client’s Medicaid Wavier program.

This page provides information on how to become certified Participant Directed Care providers to serve specific clients in our service area. 

Become a Participant Directed Care provider

Participant Directed Care (PDC) also known as consumer (CDC) or self-directed care (SDC) allows COA clients enrolled in eligible programs and hire their own home care workers (instead of using a home health agency). This option gives clients more flexibility and control over their care.

In PDC, enrolled clients (or their authorized representative) act as an employer. The individual they hire to provide their care is known as their PDC provider. PDC providers are paid (at an allowable rate for authorized services) through the program their employer is enrolled in. A Financial Management Service (FMS) provider manages payroll, taxes, and maintains records for both the client and their care provider. Exception: Non-agency providers are selected by the client similar to other PDC provider options; however non-agency providers are certified as a one-person agency that manages all their own billing without a specific FMS. 

PDC providers can serve relatives as long as he/she is  not a spouse, parent, power of attorney, guardian or authorized representative for the client. If the client is unable to sign paperwork or confirm timesheets independently, another support person can be designated as an authorized representative to assist.  

If you do not have a client but want to get an individual certification, then once you are certified, we can add you to an Available Non-agency Provider list that is shared with clients/families so they can reach out to discuss employment as desired; however, we cannot guarantee if/when you will match with a client. 

Clients that are not enrolled in COA programs and need assistance are encouraged to contact our call center about services (513)721-1025.  

Participant Directed Care service options

If you are interested in becoming a PDC provider, you can choose from the following options: 

• Choices Home Care Attendant Service (C-HCAS) – most common option 
• Consumer-Directed Personal Care Service (CD-PCS) 
• Home Care Attendant Non- Agency Provider 
• Non- Agency Independent Provider 
• Consumer Directed Care with ESP/AddnAide (Hamilton and Butler Counties) 

Please note that you may only apply for one certification at a time. Each certification process: 90 days – six months and pay rate – vary depending on which service option you choose to become certified in.

PDC Provider Options	Application	Application Assistance	Clients	Pay Rate
Choices Home Care Attendant Service (C-HCAS)  Ohio Department of Aging	Choices Home Care Attendant  (No prior training required)	COA Provider Services [email protected] Click here for a guide for application	COA Medicaid Waiver clients age 60 +	Minimum wage up to $27.00*
Consumer-Directed Personal Care Service (CD-PCS)  Ohio Department of Aging	Consumer-Directed Personal Care Provider	COA Provider Services [email protected]	COA Medicaid Waiver clients age 60 +	$13.76*  Rate established by the state of Ohio
Home Care Attendant Non- Agency Provider  Ohio Department of Aging	Home Care Attendant Non-Agency Provider  STNA** or CNA** (or equivalent) required to apply   RN signature required for application – applicant’s responsibility	COA Provider Services [email protected]	COA Medicaid Waiver clients age 60 +	$27.53*  Rate established by the state of Ohio
Non- Agency Independent Provider  Ohio Department of Medicaid	Non-Agency Provider Enrollment Resources — Ohio HCBS Provider Network Development and Oversight  STNA** or CNA** (or equivalent) required to apply	Public Consulting Group  877-908-1746 [email protected]	Medicaid clients on Medicaid Waiver program regardless of age	$22.38*  Rate established by the state of Ohio
Consumer Directed Care  COA’s Elderly Service Program	Aides – Home 52	COA’s ESP case manager and/or Palco /AddnAide	COA’s Elderly Service Program in Hamilton and Butler counties	$12.00- $15.00 *

*Pay rates are set by client or program and will vary due to the complexity of the services provided and the experience of the PDC.  

**State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA) *Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) 

Requirements to become a Participant Directed Care provider

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Complete and pass a criminal background check
• Complete online National Provider Identification (NPI) application and provider application in Provider Network Management (PNM) system 
• Complete review process with governing body
• Maintain certification by completing continuing education annually and an annual review with governing body 

Need Assistance?

COA Provider Services [email protected]

Frequently asked questions 

What is the difference between a Choices Home Care Attendant Service (CHCAS) provider and the non-agency (Home Care Attendant Non- Agency Provider/Non- Agency Independent Provider) options? CHCAS providers do not require prior training, unless requested by the client. CHCAS providers are employed by the clients under the Participant Directed Care program. Client hires, fires and trains providers along with setting the payrate. CHCAS providers are set up in a payroll system that manages all payroll, ensuring taxes, worker’s comp and unemployment are paid. 

Non-agency providers must be certified as a State Tested Nure Aide (STNA) or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or equivalent to apply.  Non-agency providers are selected by the client, but the state of OH establishes their payrate. Non-agency providers are set up like a one-person agency so non-agency providers manage their billing, which includes taxes, worker’s compensation and unemployment.  

I am a certified Department of Development Disabilities (DODD) provider and would like to serve COA client(s).  Currently, COA clients are unable to work with certified DODD providers. You may work for a home care agency serving COA’s clients or apply to become a PDC provider serving COA’s clients. 

I am a certified Non-agency Independent Provider through Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) and I would like to provide services to a Passport Waiver client.  Passport Medicaid Waiver clients can be served through Choices Home Care Attendant Service (CHCAS), an agency or non-agency provider under ODA only. Choices Home Care Attendant Service (CHCAS) Provider applications takes four to six months for certification and payroll set up. We recommend working for an agency while working on the certification.  

Non-agency Independent Provider through Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) can serve clients on our MyCare Medicaid Wavier programs if the provider is contracted with their specific MyCare Medicaid Waiver health plans: Molina or Aetna. Click here for direction on contacting current plans.  Click here for Molina provider contract request form.

Can I be paid to provide care for a client while working toward certification? No, you will only receive payment as a CHCAS provider once you are a certified provider AND are fully enrolled in the payroll system, which typically takes 4-6 months. You will only receive payment as a non-agency provider once you are fully certified AND fully contracted with the MyCare Medicaid Waiver plan. During the certification process, we recommend getting hired by an agency that is certified and contracted with COA so you can bill for care through the agency. The following links provide a listing of agencies for each county.    

• Butler
• Clinton
• Clermont
• Hamilton
• Warren

Currently, my client is enrolled in the Elderly Services Program (ESP) and will be transferred to PASSPORT Medicaid Wavier program. What certification do I need to continue receiving payment for providing care?  Passport Medicaid Waiver clients can be served through an agency or by a certified PDC provider under ODA only, typically a Choices Home Care Attendant Service (CHCAS). Choices Home Care Attendant Service (CHCAS) Provider applications take four to six months for certification and payroll setup. We recommend working for an agency while working on the certification.

I would like to become a provider; however, my client resides outside the area covered by the Council on Aging. (Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, and Warren Counties). How can I become their provider? It is best to work with the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) associated with the person receiving services (serves the area in which they live) for client enrollment/services and provider certification. Please use this link to connect with other AAA’s in Ohio. Click here for listing of AAAs.