I currently live in Michigan and have been registered on the CHAMPS website for years as an atypical home help worker (non-medical). I’ve always wanted to be registered on CHAMPS As an independent home help worker that medicaid pays directly, but I always end up working up under a company that works and assists the patient with my employment (which also means I get paid less). Is it possible for me to work for this lady with a special needs son, who works with an agency, to help her facilitate my employment and then go later to sign up for an independent home health worker and get other clients privately outside of her, while still working for her? I eventually want to start working for myself as an independent worker. I hope that made some sense.
This web-based system allows for the following functions to be completed online: provider enrollment, provider updates, claims status, direct claim entry, batch claim submission, claim adjustments/voids, payment status, prior authorization, eligibility verification, member search, and ordering/referring provider verification."
Source: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/medicaid/portalhome/medicaid-providers/champs-a
This is a global forum so someone in Michigan familiar with CHAMPS will need to respond to your query. But if you are working with clients through CHAMPS, did you not have to sign an agreement or contract? If so, you need to read it to see what it says about taking side jobs.
When you say you want to "...start working for myself as an independent worker." do you mean within CHAMPS or completely independently?
Where I live to be certified by the State a course needs to be taken. Its 8 or 10 weeks. There is a class for Certified Nurses Aids (CNA) and another for Home Health Aids (HHA). CNAs usually work in Nursing homes and Assisted livings. HHAs usually the home but CNAs can do homes too. CNAs can get training in NHs and then are hired by that Nursing home. Community Colleges may have training and Technical schools for both CNAs and HHAs.
My State does not require certification to be a private aide. Some people are just good at that kind of work. I have worked with an aide with no certification and had one help with bathing of my Mom. You need to find out what your State requires. The Nursing board certifies aides in my State.
Burnt owns her own business hiring out aides. There are some here that are aides. Hang on to see who responds. We are from all over the US in different time zones.
I think the simple answer is that most contracts with an agency have rules against poaching clients and then working for them privately. You can probably work for an agency and also take on private work, but it would need to completely separate, not because you met them while doing agency work. You don’t want to get sued, or risk being on some type of black-list. Where CHAMPS fits in, I just don't know - perhaps keeping the black list?.
I sure do wish you good luck and suggest that you google "caregiver certification for the state of __________(your state)." You will find help there, too, I hope.
Wishing you the best of luck; you're very needed.