What is Self-Determination?
Self-Determination is a way to make meaningful decisions about the way you live your life. Self-Determination lets you choose who provides the services and supports identified in your person-centered plan.
Self-Determination is not a program, but a different path for delivering Medicaid services. The Self-Determination lifestyle gives consumers and guardians more control over the use of the Medicaid dollars that are set aside for consumer care. With Self-Determination the consumer/guardian is able to look at the services they are already receiving or services that they may need and decide if there is a different or more creative way of meeting the consumer's needs.
Fiscal Intermediary Services
A Fiscal Intermediary (FI) is an organization that handles the financial and employer-of-record responsibilities on behalf of a Self-Determination participant. When you choose Self-Determination, you take on the role of an employer — selecting, directing, and managing your own support workers. The FI makes that possible by managing the administrative side so you can focus on your care.
Northpointe works with approved Fiscal Intermediaries to ensure that self-directed participants have access to reliable payroll, tax, and compliance support throughout their Self-Determination experience.
What a Fiscal Intermediary Does
- Processes payroll for your self-directed support workers
- Withholds and remits federal and state payroll taxes
- Manages workers' compensation and unemployment insurance
- Tracks your individual budget and spending
- Provides monthly budget statements and reports
- Ensures compliance with Medicaid billing requirements
Your Role as the Employer
- Recruit, hire, and train your own support workers
- Set work schedules and direct day-to-day tasks
- Approve timesheets submitted by your workers
- Ensure workers meet Northpointe training requirements
- Communicate with your FI about budget and staffing changes
- Work with your support team to stay within your individual budget
Questions about choosing a Fiscal Intermediary? Your Self-Determination Coordinator can help you understand your options and connect you with an approved FI that fits your needs. Contact Michelle Rexses for guidance.
New Providers
For new self-directed providers, the initial training materials will be provided to you by Michelle Rexses, Northpointe's Self-Determination Coordinator.
Current Self-Directed Provider Training Timelines
| Training Requirement | Frequency |
|---|---|
| First Aid | Every two years |
| Recipient Rights Review | Annually |
| Blood Borne Pathogens | Every 2 years |
| Emergency Preparedness | Every 2 years |
| IPOS Training | Annually |
All documents should be completed and given to Michelle Rexses, Self-Determination Coordinator at Northpointe. Fax: 906-779-1306, mail: 715 Pyle Drive Kingsford MI 49802, or email: [email protected]
Documents
- Annual Recipient Rights Form (opens in new tab)
- Blood Borne Pathways Training (opens in new tab)
- Emergency Preparedness Training (opens in new tab)
- Emergency Preparedness Attestation Document (opens in new tab)
First Aid training can be taken online, at a local class, or at Northpointe. Contact Michelle Rexses if you need assistance finding a training. The IPOS training (Individualized Plan of Services) will be scheduled with the case manager.
Want to learn more about your options?
Our team can walk you through the Self-Determination process.