Exclusive Family & Friends Caregiver Program

If you have Missouri Medicaid, you may qualify for the Consumer Directed Services (CDS) Program.
You can hire a friend or family member to care for you at home and Emerest will pay them to work for you!

Empowering patients

Rewarding caregivers

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Emerest is Missouri’s Largest & Highest Rated CDS agency

CDS is a free program available to all Medicaid participants. There is no cost to participate. It's easy to get started!

Am I eligible?

Fill out the form to see how fast you can get started

Who is Eligible for Missouri's Leading Medicaid Home Care program?

Am I eligible?

  • Have Medicaid
  • Live in Missouri
  • Need help with day-to day activities

Who can be my caregiver?

  • Friend
  • Family member

*Spouses are not eligible to be caregivers for CDS.

Emerest is available everywhere in Missouri!

We are Missouri's largest CDS Agency and recognized experts in CDS Taxes, Payroll and Medicaid Compliance

Over 1,000 Five-Star Reviews on Google, Facebook and the Better Business Bureau

We love to speak on the phone! Our knowledgeable staff has over 30 years of Consumer Directed Services experience.

We work closely with the IRS, Missouri Department of Revenue and Missouri Division of Unemployment

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What You Get with Emerest

Problems with your current CDS Agency? We can help resolve the tax problems created by your old agency.

A dedicated Customer Service Team with over 30 years of CDS and Medicaid Experience.

Taxes are filed and paid in full and on time, every time.

100% guaranteed on-time payment to your caregiver each week.

Our Mission

We enable family and friends to care for each other with respect and dignity.

empowering patient

Empowering patients

rewarding caregiver

Rewarding caregivers

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Are you looking to Switch your CDS Agency to Emerest?

Switching is a simple process! Your hours will remain the same when switching.

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Joining is easy

  • Call us 833-937-2912
  • Sign paperwork We'll send you some documents to sign
  • Confirm Emerest as your CDS provider with the State of Missouri

What Is Consumer Directed Services?

CDS is a Medicaid-funded program that enables disabled or elderly people in Missouri to hire the caregiver of their choice to help with daily activities. This caregiver, or personal care attendant (PCA), can be a friend, a neighbor, or a family member other than a spouse or legal guardian. A PCA can help with daily chores or hygiene activities, including:

  • Food preparation, homemaker activities and medication assistance
  • Personal hygiene activities such as bathing or grooming
  • Mobility assistance, transportation and shopping

This service is administered by the Missouri Division of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), and is available to eligible adults over the age of 18. The goal of this program is to help participants live independently and choose someone they trust to provide them with care. Participants are responsible for hiring and managing their own attendants and partner with a CDS provider, such as Emerest, for payroll, compliance and administrative support.

Give us a call today to see how you can hire your loved one to facilitate the care you need.

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About our CDS Agency

We work together with Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), Home and Community Based Services Division (HCBS) to provide Consumer Directed Services (CDS) to aged and disabled Medicaid participants throughout the state of Missouri.
If you live in Missouri, have Medicaid and need help with activities of daily living, your friends or family can get paid to care for you.
Call us today at 833-937-2912 and we'll be glad to assist you!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • CDS is a Medicaid-funded program that allows disabled or elderly people in Missouri to hire the caregiver of their choice to help with daily activities. This caregiver, or personal care attendant (PCA), can be a friend, a neighbor, or a family member other than a spouse or legal guardian. A PCA can help with daily chores or hygiene, including:

    • Help with cooking, cleaning the house, doing laundry, or taking medications on time.
    • Assistance with bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, or other personal hygiene tasks.
    • Support on errands or appointments, or general help with mobility.

    This service is administered by the Missouri Division of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), and it’s available to eligible adults over the age of 18. The goal of this program is to help participants live independently and choose someone they trust to provide them with care. Participants are responsible for hiring and managing their own attendants. What this means is that if you are in need of extra assistance in your home, and you qualify for CDS, you may hire your own personal care assistant. The friend or family member you hire will be compensated through Emerest.

  • We are a homecare agency that works with Missouri’s Consumer Directed Services (CDS) program. Emerest Health pays the highest wages for CDS in Missouri and enables you to hire the caregiver of your choice. In addition to CDS, Emerest also provides other Home and Community Based Services through Missouri Medicaid, such as: In-Home Services, Independent Living Waiver (ILW) Services, and Structured Family Caregiver Waiver (SFCW) services.

  • Self-directed services allow the consumer to instruct the caregiver on how to give them the best possible care. Because the consumer knows exactly what they need, this model of care allows them the freedom to hire or fire whomever they choose to suit their needs. The consumer is expected to hire and train their own caregivers to help them perform daily tasks such as laundry, taking medications on time, or cooking. Also, because this is a Medicaid funded program, the consumer does not need to worry about any medical bills. Provided they meet the program qualifications listed below, this is a 100% free service.

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What Our Clients Say

Over 1,000 five-star reviews

Happy with your service at Emerest Health? Leave us a review on Google.

Our Main Office in Missouri

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Emerest Health of Missouri Headquarter: 300 Hunter Ave, Suite 120 St. Louis, MO 63124

Phone: 833-937-2912

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:00AM-5:00PM, Friday 8:00AM-4:00PM

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Have a Question?

Contact us and we will answer your questions or visit our FAQ page