Terms and Definitions

Administrative Hold: Period of time when an Individual Provider (IP) is not able to provide paid support to their Client because they are out of compliance with one or more employment requirements.

ADP: Payroll processing service used by Consumer Direct Care Network Washington (CDWA). An online website where IPs view and print pay stubs and W-2 tax forms. IPs can access ADP directly from the website or from their Workday account.

Authorized Representative: Someone a Client has designated to represent them when they apply for or receive benefits with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) or Health Care Authority (HCA). This individual is authorized to act on the Client’s behalf for eligibility purposes and to oversee IPs.

Background Check Central Unit (BCCU): The BCCU is a centralized database used to conduct background checks on IPs.

Basic Training (BT): The minimum number of hours of training required by DSHS and SEIU 775 to allow an individual to provide in-home care services. An IP’s Basic Training requirement must be completed within 120 days of their CDWA Okay to Provide Care date to remain compliant and to be able to continue to provide services. An IP’s Basic Training requirement is based on their caregiver role and the level of care provided. For more information, please use the following links:

CareAttend: CDWA’s EVV application for time entry. Non live-in IPs use the app to clock in and out of their shifts daily. The app captures GPS location coordinates at the start and stop of each shift to comply with EVV requirements. The app can be used with either Androids or iPhones. Live-in IPs can also use the app to log their time.

Character, Competence and Suitability (CC&S): A process used, when required, to decide whether an individual may have unsupervised access to minors or vulnerable adults. The CC&S process can be initiated because of background check results or a reported concern about an IP’s ability to provide services for a Client.

Client: An individual authorized to receive in-home personal care or respite services from DSHS. They are responsible for the functions of the managing employer for IPs.

Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA): The agreement between CDWA and the Service Employees International Union 775 (SEIU 775) (or any successor organization) regarding IP wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Consumer Direct Care Network Washington (CDWA): The legal employer of IPs. CDWA is responsible for the administrative tasks of employing IPs. CDWA processes background checks and employment hiring documents. CDWA manages employment-related training, credentialing, and payroll functions. CDWA also determines when an IP is terminated from CDWA.

Consumer Directed Employer (CDE): CDWA is the CDE for Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). The CDE model shifted IP employment-related activities to the CDE to help DSHS realize the goal of increasing the capacity of DSHS/AAA case management to focus on core case management activities.

Continuing Education (CE): A yearly requirement for most in-home IPs. CE is mandated by DSHS and SEIU 775. IPs must complete 12 hours of coursework to maintain their credential and remain compliant. Continuing Education provides IPs an opportunity to expand and learn new skills. For more information, please use the following links:

Cumulative Career Hours (CCH): The number of hours an IP has worked since July 2005. CCH sets an IP’s base wage.

DirectMyCare: CDWA’s secure web portal for notifications, time submission, and authorization management for IPs and Clients. Through the DirectMyCare web portal, IPs may view, edit, and submit hours worked and mileage. IPs can view their Clients, access their Client’s Plan of Care, and claim training hours and Paid Time Off (PTO) hours. Clients can view all hours submitted by their IPs, view a list of their IPs, access spending reports, view their authorization, and allocate hours to their workers.

Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS): A group of agencies supporting Washingtonians’ social and health needs, including older adults, people with long-term disabilities, and people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Electronic Visit Verification (EVV): A requirement by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ 21st Century Cures Act. EVV must be used by IPs to capture the type of service performed, the person receiving the service, the date and location, the person providing the service, and the time the service begins and ends. Washington’s live-in IPs are not required to use EVV.

Financial Worker: The Financial Worker is a DSHS employee who reviews the Client’s financial status to determine if Client Responsibility will be required from the Client.

Individual Provider (IP): The CDWA employee who is authorized to provide personal care or respite caregiving support to Clients.

Managing Employer: The Client or Authorized Representative. Managing Employers select, schedule, manage, supervise, and dismiss their IPs. They are also responsible for training to their Care Plan.  

Service Coordinator: The person at CDWA assigned to the Client to help with hiring, pay questions, account maintenance, and various other inquiries. Service Coordinators can be reached by phone or email.

Service Employees International Union 775 (SEIU 775): The caregiver’s union that represents over 50,000 long-term care workers providing services in Washington, Montana, and Alaska. SEIU 775 Benefits Group provides IPs with training, health benefits, and retirement plans.

Workday: Human resources program used by CDWA to hire IPs and maintain employment records. IPs use it to access their pay stubs, manage their contact information, update pay methods, and various other tasks. IPs can access Workday through their account on the DirectMyCare web portal home page.

Work Week Limits (WWL): The total number of service hours an IP may work in a work week (Sunday – Saturday). WWLs are the rules developed by DSHS to establish a process for allowing overtime to IPs in response to the Department of Labor Companionship Exemption. The standard WWL is set at 40 hours.