If a case manager, a discharge planner, or a friend has just said the letters “CDHCI” to you, you are probably somewhere between hopeful and confused. Hopeful, because it sounds like help paying for home care. Confused, because program explanations are rarely written for tired families making decisions at a kitchen table. This guide walks through what the program actually is, how the money works, and how to apply, in plain language.
One honest note before we start: Alberta Maple Care is a registered CDHCI provider, so we have a stake in this topic. The facts below stand either way, and we have stated the numbers plainly, including the part where you still pay something.
What CDHCI actually is
Client-Directed Home Care Invoicing (CDHCI) is an Alberta program that lets home care clients assessed by Assisted Living Alberta choose their own approved agency to deliver their funded care hours, instead of being assigned one. Your chosen agency bills Alberta Blue Cross directly for its share of each approved hour, and you pay the balance.
It is worth separating CDHCI from its cousin, Self-Managed Care. Under Self-Managed Care, Assisted Living Alberta gives funds to you and you become the employer — hiring, scheduling, payroll, records. Under CDHCI you employ no one. You simply pick a registered provider you trust, and the paperwork flows between the agency and Alberta Blue Cross.
How the money actually works
This is the part most write-ups fudge, so here it is step by step:
- An Assisted Living Alberta case manager assesses your needs and approves a number of care hours.
- For each approved hour, Alberta Blue Cross currently pays the provider $34.06.
- You pay the difference between that amount and the provider’s hourly rate. Most agencies charge above the program rate, so expect a per-hour balance — and ask any provider for the exact figure before you commit.
At our published rates of $37.50/hour daytime and $39/hour overnight, within Calgary city limits (outside the city boundary, care is quoted case by case), the balance on an approved hour works out to $3.44/hour daytime and $4.94/hour overnight. Full details, including how those numbers can come down, are on our pricing page. Two cautions: approved hours are heavily subsidized, but they are not free, and the program’s rate can change over time, so confirm the current figure when you apply.
About claims of “free” CDHCI care
You may see providers advertise free CDHCI care. The honest version is narrower: clients with 100+ approved CDHCI hours per month may qualify for $0 out-of-pocket, case by case — something discussed with the intake officer at intake, not a blanket promise. If anyone offers you “free” hours without asking about your approval first, ask more questions.
How to apply, step by step
- Get assessed. Call Health Link at 811 and ask about a home care assessment, or ask your family doctor or a hospital discharge planner for a referral. No formal referral is required; you can start the process yourself. You need a valid Alberta Health Care number. You do not need an existing Alberta Blue Cross plan.
- Ask your Assisted Living Alberta case manager about CDHCI. The case manager decides whether the model suits your situation and sets your approved hours. If you don’t raise it, it may not come up.
- Choose a registered provider. Any agency registered with Alberta Blue Cross for CDHCI qualifies. Compare rates, ask what your per-hour balance will be, and ask who handles the claims.
- Care starts. The provider bills Alberta Blue Cross directly each month; you receive a clear invoice for your balance. No reimbursement forms on your side.
What CDHCI hours can cover
- Personal care: bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, medication assistance.
- Homemaking: essential, health-related cleaning such as laundry, bathrooms, and garbage removal. Homemaking hours are never approved on their own — they must accompany personal care or respite in the same care plan.
- Respite care: a scheduled break for a family caregiver when their person cannot safely be left alone.
What it does not cover: hours beyond your approval (unused hours do not carry over to the next month either), companionship-only visits, transportation, surcharges such as statutory holidays or travel time, supplies and equipment, and the extras that make a week genuinely manageable. Most families top those up privately, with the same caregivers on the same plan: one team, several funding sources.
If you need care before the paperwork clears
Assessments and approvals take time, and care can’t always wait for them. The practical pattern we recommend: start private-pay care now if the need is immediate, and pursue CDHCI in parallel so funded hours take over once approved. If this week is the problem, see urgent home care.
Four questions to ask any CDHCI provider
- What is your hourly rate, and exactly what will my balance be per approved hour?
- Which charges fall outside the program, such as travel time, statutory-holiday premiums, or minimum-visit time, and what will they cost me?
- What happens if my approved hours change after a reassessment?
- Is there a lock-in contract, and can I see a sample invoice before I sign?
A good provider answers all four without hesitation. If the answers are vague — especially the first one — keep looking.
Where to start
If you already have an Assisted Living Alberta assessment, our CDHCI page has a full walkthrough and a one-minute eligibility check. If you’re starting from zero, call 811 for the assessment and call us with questions in the meantime at 1-403-685-0053. No obligation, and we’ll tell you honestly if CDHCI isn’t the right fit for your situation.
Alberta Maple Care is nursing-led and newer than some agencies. We won’t claim decades of history, but we will show you exact numbers before you commit to anything. If it helps to talk it through in person, a free home visit with a nurse is the fastest way to turn an overwhelming acronym into a plan.