Below are the questions posed to Division Director Michael Wilden concerning the elimination of the independent caregiver option.  Although, Mr Wilden has not directly responded, his position on the matter is stated below. These answers, (in red), have been confirmed by his Assistant Director. 

1a... Has the Department made up its mind to eliminate the Independent Caregiver option? Yes. 1b... When and how? As soon as the 1915J changes are instituted, all participants now using Independent Caregivers will be forced into ISO homecare, ISO-authorized employership, or other private agency care.

2... Are you willing to authorize your Medicaid staff to incorporate the (suggested alternative) Maximized Homecare Model, (which includes independent contractors), into the 1915J state plan changes? No.

3... What would the Department need or want before it will embrace and develop this resource of homecare for the community? The Division does not feel it is necessary to embrace or develop this homecare resource.

4a... You and other Medicaid administrators have repeatedly alluded to an unexplained liability as a rationale for dismissing the option. Is the department now willing to openly discuss the merits or fallacy of this claim? No. 4b… If so, exactly what is that liability? Your Assistant Director answers, The Attorney General's Office is telling us that the Independent Caregivers are in effect functioning as state employees.
Is this answer an exaggeration? If so, aren’t you going too far in an effort to justify your position?