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Home Care Through IRIS

IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) is a Wisconsin Medicaid waiver that lets eligible adults and seniors build and direct their own care team. CVHC is an approved IRIS provider.

What Is IRIS?

IRIS is Wisconsin's self-directed long-term care Medicaid waiver. Instead of having services managed by an MCO (that's Family Care), IRIS gives participants the authority to make their own decisions about:

  • Who provides their care
  • When and where care happens
  • How their budget is spent across services
  • Whether to hire family members, friends, or an agency like CVHC

IRIS is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and delivered through three IRIS Consultant Agencies (ICAs) and a Fiscal Employer Agent (FEA). You're assigned an IRIS consultant who helps you build a plan — but the choices are yours.

Who Qualifies for IRIS

To be eligible for IRIS, you must:

  • Be a Wisconsin resident
  • Be age 18 or older
  • Be financially eligible for Medicaid long-term care
  • Have a functional need — meet the nursing home level of care, or be developmentally disabled, or have a physical disability
  • Choose IRIS over Family Care (both are offered through the Wisconsin ADRC)

If you haven't yet had a functional screen, contact your local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) — in our area, that's the ADRC of Eau Claire County, ADRC of Chippewa County, or ADRC of Dunn County depending on where you live.

Not sure if you qualify? Give us a call. We talk to ADRCs and IRIS consultants every week and can point you to the right starting place.

What IRIS Covers (That We Provide)

IRIS plans typically include a blend of supports. The services CVHC can provide under IRIS include:

How to Get Started With CVHC as Your IRIS Provider

1. Already on IRIS?

If you're already enrolled in IRIS and looking for a new provider, the process is simple — we'll coordinate directly with your IRIS consultant and FEA. In most cases, care can start within 1–2 weeks. Call us at (715) 491-1254 or request a consultation.

2. Interested in IRIS but not enrolled yet?

The enrollment path is:

  1. Call your local ADRC to request a functional screen and long-term care options counseling
  2. Apply for Medicaid long-term care if you haven't already
  3. Choose IRIS (vs. Family Care) at enrollment
  4. Get matched with an IRIS Consultant Agency (ICA)
  5. Work with your consultant to build your care plan
  6. Choose CVHC as a provider on your plan

This process can take 4–8 weeks. We can walk you through it.

Why Families Choose CVHC for IRIS

  • Fully Medicaid-certified with Sandata EVV (electronic visit verification) in place, so your hours are documented and submitted cleanly
  • Local and responsive — when something comes up, you reach a real person in Eau Claire, not a call center
  • Consistent caregivers — we match for fit and keep schedules stable, which matters more than anything under self-directed care
  • We understand IRIS paperwork — we coordinate with IRIS consultants, FEAs, and your ICA directly, so you don't have to be the middleman

Common Questions

Can I use IRIS to hire a family member?
Yes — IRIS allows certain family members (non-spouse, non-parent of a minor) to be paid caregivers through the FEA. Many families combine family caregivers with agency care from CVHC to cover different hours of the week. We can help you think through the mix.
How are my hours determined?
Your IRIS consultant helps build your plan based on the outcomes you want to achieve. The number of hours reflects your assessed needs and your budget. You can adjust over time as needs change.
What if I want to switch from Family Care to IRIS?
You can switch between Family Care and IRIS during open enrollment periods or at certain qualifying moments. Contact your ADRC for specifics.

Thinking About IRIS?

We'll walk you through the process — whether you're just exploring or ready to switch providers today.

Call (715) 491-1254 Request a Consultation