What the Participant-Directed Option is
The Participant-Directed Option (PDO) lets a Florida Medicaid long-term care enrollee choose and direct their own caregiver. That includes hiring a family member — and, unlike most other states, Florida also allows a spouse to be paid through this option under the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program (SMMC-LTC).
Could your family member qualify?
- Must be enrolled in Florida Medicaid's SMMC-LTC program.
- As of 2026, a single applicant's monthly income generally cannot exceed $2,982, with countable assets capped at $2,000.
- If married, spousal impoverishment protections apply and the rules are more complex.
Not sure about any of these? Don't guess.
A short, free check can tell you what may be worth applying for — no obligation.
Check my eligibilityCan you be the paid caregiver?
- Family members, including spouses, can be paid under PDO — a genuine exception compared to most other states.
- Must pass required background checks and be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
- Must accept the Medicaid hourly compensation rate for the service provided.
Are you the spouse of the person receiving care?
Spousal rules vary a lot by state and by program — don't assume you're disqualified or automatically eligible.
See the spouse answer for this stateHow pay works
Florida's Medicaid-funded caregiver rate was raised to a minimum of $15 per hour (as of a 2022 increase; confirm the current rate for the year you are applying).
Ready to apply? Here's where to start
- Confirm the care recipient's Medicaid/SMMC-LTC eligibility, or apply through Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).
- Request a long-term care assessment through your local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC).
- Once approved, select the Participant-Directed Option through your managed care plan.
- Identify and designate the family caregiver (spouse or otherwise).
- Complete required background checks and enrollment.
- Begin services, and keep ongoing documentation of hours for renewals and audits.
Getting approved is only part of it. Family caregivers often need to keep track of care hours, documents, reassessment dates and other benefits — FeatherKeep helps keep that organized in one place.
See how FeatherKeep helpsA note on program stability
Federal Medicaid funding changes taking effect from late 2026 onward may affect optional home-and-community-based programs like this one over time. Check the current program status directly with Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration.
What you'll need to keep track of once approved
- Timesheets and hours submitted to the managed care plan.
- Background check and enrollment records.
- Ongoing eligibility documentation for renewals.
Keeping this organized
Once approved, keeping accurate timesheets and documentation for renewals is an ongoing responsibility. FeatherKeep organizes this automatically as you go.