Client Directed Home Care Invoicing (CDHCI): A Guide for Red Deer Families
When an aging parent or loved one needs help at home, understanding Alberta's home care system can feel complicated.
Finding the right support for an aging parent or loved one can be challenging, especially when you're trying to understand what home care services may be publicly funded in Alberta.
For eligible Albertans, Client Directed Home Care Invoicing (CDHCI) provides another way to receive authorized home and community care. Instead of having a home care provider assigned through the traditional model, eligible clients can select a participating provider to deliver their approved services.
For families in Red Deer and surrounding Central Alberta communities, CDHCI can provide greater choice over who comes into the home, how care is scheduled, and how that care fits into everyday family life.
Understanding Client Directed Home Care Invoicing
CDHCI is a publicly funded home and community care service delivery model available to eligible Albertans.
A provincial home care assessment determines whether a client is eligible, the services they are authorized to receive, and the amount of publicly funded care available to them.
Once approved for CDHCI, clients can select a participating home care provider registered with Alberta Blue Cross.
The chosen agency provides the authorized care and bills Alberta Blue Cross directly for the publicly funded portion. Families are not responsible for submitting those claims themselves.
What's the Difference Between CDHCI and Self-Managed Care?
It is easy to confuse Client Directed Home Care Invoicing (CDHCI) with Self-Managed Care (SMC) because both give Albertans more involvement in how their home care is delivered. However, there is an important difference.
With Self-Managed Care, clients or their designated representatives assume employer responsibilities. This can include recruiting, hiring, managing and paying individual caregivers.
With CDHCI, the client chooses a participating home care agency. The agency remains the employer and is responsible for staffing, scheduling, payroll, insurance and other employment-related administration.
For Red Deer families who value having a choice of provider but don't want to take on the responsibilities of employing caregivers themselves, CDHCI can provide a practical alternative.
Getting Started With CDHCI in Red Deer
The process generally involves four steps:
1. Arrange a Home Care Assessment
An Alberta Health Services (AHS) home care case manager assesses the individual's needs and determines which publicly funded home and community care services may be appropriate.
If you are not already connected with home care, call 811 and ask to be connected with Home and Community Care services.
2. Ask About Client Directed Home Care Invoicing
If you or your loved one qualifies for publicly funded home care, ask your case manager whether CDHCI is available as a care delivery option.
Eligibility, approved services and the total number of funded hours are determined through the provincial assessment process. Private home care providers do not determine or increase a client's publicly funded allocation.
3. Select a Participating CDHCI Provider
Once approved, clients can choose a home care agency participating in the CDHCI program.
This is an opportunity to look beyond hourly rates and consider factors that can make a significant difference to your loved one's experience, including caregiver consistency, training, minimum visit lengths, scheduling flexibility, languages spoken and service coverage throughout the Red Deer area.
4. Your Provider Handles Direct Billing
After care begins, the selected CDHCI provider delivers the authorized services and bills Alberta Blue Cross directly for eligible care provided within the client's approved care plan and funding limits.
How Much Home Care Does CDHCI Cover?
As of 2026, Alberta Blue Cross reimburses participating CDHCI providers at a maximum rate of $34.03 per authorized hour, up to each client's authorized monthly limit. The reimbursement applies to eligible authorized services, including care delivered on weekends and statutory holidays.
It is important to understand that $34.03 is the maximum publicly funded reimbursement amount and may not represent the provider's total hourly rate.
Participating CDHCI agencies are private home care organizations and establish their own rates based on factors such as caregiver wages, operating expenses and market conditions.
When an agency's hourly rate exceeds the CDHCI reimbursement amount, the client is responsible for paying the difference.
What Could the Out-of-Pocket Cost Look Like?
Suppose a client receives 87 authorized hours per month through AHS and chooses a home care provider charging $36.00 per hour:
|
Component |
Calculation |
Amount |
|
Publicly Funded Portion |
87 hours × $34.03/hr reimbursement |
~$2,960.61 / month |
|
Out-of-Pocket Rate Difference |
$36.00 − $34.03 |
$1.97 / hour |
|
Family's Monthly Contribution |
87 hours × $1.97/hr |
~$171.39 / month |
Exact out-of-pocket costs depend on the chosen agency's rates, specific services provided, total authorized hours, and any additional specialized care needs.
What Red Deer Families Should Know About CDHCI Hours
Do unused hours carry over to the next month?
No. Authorized CDHCI hours reset at the beginning of each calendar month. Hours that are not used do not carry forward.
For this reason, it can be helpful to work closely with your chosen home care provider to develop a care schedule that makes effective use of the approved monthly allocation.
What Types of Home Care Can Be Provided?
The services authorized through CDHCI depend on the individual's AHS assessment and identified care needs.
Depending on that assessment, services may include:
- Personal care, including bathing, dressing and grooming
- Assistance with mobility and safe transfers
- Meal preparation and nutrition support
- Respite care to support family caregivers
What Expenses May Still Be the Family's Responsibility?
CDHCI does not necessarily cover every home care expense.
Depending on the agency and the services selected, families may be responsible for:
- The difference between the $34.03 reimbursement and the agency's hourly rate
- Care hours requested beyond the client's authorized monthly allocation
- Additional services that are not publicly funded, such as deep house cleaning or direct transportation mileage
- Applicable late cancellation or administrative fees
Ask potential providers for a clear explanation of rates and additional charges before care begins so you understand exactly what is and is not covered.
Coming Home From Hospital? Explore Home Care Before Discharge
A hospital stay, fall or sudden change in health is often the point when a family realizes an aging loved one may no longer be able to manage safely at home without additional support.
Families do not necessarily have to wait until their loved one is back home before beginning the conversation about care.
While your family member is still in hospital, ask to speak with the hospital social worker, discharge planner or care coordinator.
You can:
- Ask whether an AHS Home Care assessment can be initiated before discharge.
- Discuss whether CDHCI could be incorporated into the discharge plan.
- Contact participating CDHCI providers in Red Deer early to discuss availability and potential scheduling needs.
Starting these conversations ahead of time can help families better prepare for the transition home.
Frequently Asked Questions About CDHCI in Red Deer
Do I need Alberta Blue Cross private insurance to qualify for CDHCI?
No. CDHCI is a publicly funded provincial program. Alberta Blue Cross administers the invoicing and payment process between participating home care providers and the government.
Can a person living with dementia qualify for CDHCI?
Yes. A dementia diagnosis by itself does not disqualify someone from CDHCI. Eligibility is based on the individual's assessed functional needs and whether appropriate care can safely be provided at home. Families should discuss cognitive and dementia care requirements with their AHS case manager.
Can our family choose a different CDHCI provider later?
Yes. Clients can change participating providers. Speak with your AHS case manager before making a change to help coordinate the billing transition, and confirm that the new provider has the capacity to accommodate the required care schedule.
How long does it take for CDHCI care to begin?
There is no single timeline. The process depends on factors such as assessment wait times, authorization processing and the selected agency's caregiver availability.
If home care is urgently required because of a hospital discharge or an immediate safety concern, make AHS aware of the situation when requesting the assessment.
How to Compare CDHCI Providers in Red Deer
The cost of care matters, but it should not be the only consideration when choosing an agency. The people providing care may become a regular and trusted presence in your loved one's home.
Consider asking potential Red Deer home care providers:
- Caregiver Consistency: Will my loved one see familiar Care Professionals on a regular basis?
- Screening and Training: How are caregivers vetted, background-checked and trained?
- Dementia Experience: What training and support are provided for clients living with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia?
- Back-up Care: What happens when a regularly scheduled caregiver is unavailable?
- Minimum Visits: Does the agency require two-, three- or four-hour minimum visits?
- Scheduling: How much flexibility is available when care needs or family schedules change?
- Rates: What is the agency's hourly rate above the CDHCI reimbursement?
- Additional Charges: Are there mileage, cancellation or administrative fees families should know about?
Home Instead Red Deer and CDHCI
Home Instead Red Deer is a participating CDHCI provider supporting older adults and families in Red Deer and surrounding Central Alberta communities.
Our team can help families understand how their authorized care can translate into a practical home care schedule, explain our rates and services clearly, and coordinate Care Professionals based on the individual's needs.
Home Instead does not determine CDHCI eligibility, authorized services or publicly funded hours. Those decisions remain with the provincial home care assessment process.
Once care has been authorized, however, our Red Deer team can work with your family to develop a care schedule designed around your loved one's needs and approved funding.
Have questions about using CDHCI for home care in Red Deer?
Contact Home Instead Red Deer to discuss your family's needs and learn more about how Client Directed Home Care Invoicing can work with your loved one's care plan.
Call us today at (403) 222-0393 to schedule a complimentary home care consultation.
