If you have a family member who needs home care in Alberta, you have probably come across the term CDHCI — short for Client-Directed Home Care Invoicing. It sounds bureaucratic, but the concept is straightforward: Alberta Blue Cross can pay home care providers directly on your behalf, so you do not have to pay out of pocket first and seek reimbursement later. For families navigating aging, disability, or post-hospital recovery, CDHCI can dramatically reduce the financial friction of getting help at home.

This guide explains what CDHCI is, how the three program types differ, how Alberta Blue Cross billing works in practice, and where a marketplace like Polymorphism fits into the picture.

Educational overview only. Program rules, eligibility criteria, and benefit amounts are set by Alberta Health, AHS, and Alberta Blue Cross — not by Polymorphism. Confirm all details with an authorized AHS assessor or your benefits administrator before making care decisions.

What is CDHCI?

CDHCI stands for Client-Directed Home Care Invoicing. It is a billing and administration framework created so that eligible Albertans can use publicly funded home care hours with providers they choose — rather than only those directly employed by AHS. The "client-directed" part means you (or your family) have more say in who delivers care; the "invoicing" part means providers submit invoices to Alberta Blue Cross, which administers the benefit.

CDHCI was designed to give Albertans flexibility. If you have a specific care need, a preferred language, a caregiver your family already trusts, or a schedule that does not fit the standard AHS roster, CDHCI pathways can accommodate that — within the limits of your assessed hours and approved provider type.

How Does CDHCI Funding Work?

The short version: AHS assessors determine how many hours of home care you are eligible for. Those hours translate into a funded allocation. When you receive care from an approved CDHCI provider, that provider bills Alberta Blue Cross directly at regulated rates. You generally pay nothing out of pocket for approved hours — the cost is covered by your publicly funded benefit.

Hours above your allocation, services outside eligible categories, or providers without CDHCI standing would typically require private pay. Many families use both: CDHCI covers the core funded hours, and private pay tops up additional coverage.

The Three Types of CDHCI

CDHCI is not a single program; it is an umbrella term for several related models. Broadly, they fall into three types based on how much the client manages versus how much an intermediary handles:

Type 1 — Self-Managed Option

Under Type 1, the client or their family acts as the de facto employer. You recruit your own caregiver, manage their schedule, handle payroll-related reporting, and ensure compliance requirements are met. Alberta Blue Cross reimburses or pays the caregiver directly based on invoices you submit.

Type 1 gives you maximum control. It also means maximum administrative responsibility. Families who choose this path typically have a caregiver in mind — often someone already known to the family — and the bandwidth to manage employment logistics. It works well when the right person exists; it creates significant burden if you are still searching.

Type 2 — Agency-Managed Option

Under Type 2, an approved home care agency handles recruiting, scheduling, payroll, and compliance on your behalf. You direct the care (choose your preferences, schedule, goals), but the agency employs the caregiver and manages the back-office. Alberta Blue Cross pays the agency at approved rates.

Type 2 reduces administrative burden significantly. The trade-off is that your choice of individual caregiver may be more limited — the agency assigns from their available staff. Continuity can be a concern if the agency has high turnover or thin supply in your area.

Type 3 — Marketplace / Coordinator Option

Type 3 is the newest model and the one Polymorphism operates within. A Type 3 provider is a technology-enabled coordinator: we help match families with independent caregivers or smaller agencies, manage the invoicing and compliance infrastructure, and give you a digital record of every visit and interaction. The billing still flows through Alberta Blue Cross, but the coordination layer is software-assisted rather than purely manual.

Type 3 tries to combine the flexibility of Type 1 (you influence who delivers your care) with the administrative support of Type 2 (you do not manage payroll or compliance yourself). The platform handles intake, matching signals, scheduling, visit verification, and billing events — so your coordinator can focus on care quality rather than spreadsheets.

Alberta Blue Cross and CDHCI Billing

Alberta Blue Cross (ABC) administers the CDHCI benefit on behalf of Alberta Health. If you are eligible for CDHCI and using an approved provider, the billing flow works roughly like this:

Your AHS case manager or authorized assessor determines your eligible hours.
You choose a CDHCI-approved provider (Type 1, 2, or 3 depending on your approved pathway).
The provider (or you, under Type 1) submits invoices to Alberta Blue Cross for completed visits.
Alberta Blue Cross adjudicates the claims and pays the provider at regulated rates.
You pay nothing additional for hours within your approved allocation.

Key practical points: providers must be credentialed and approved before billing. Rates are set by the program — providers cannot bill above them for CDHCI-funded hours. Services outside the approved scope (e.g., medical procedures not covered, hours above your allocation) fall to private pay.

How Families Apply for CDHCI

The path to CDHCI starts with AHS, not with a marketplace or agency. Here is the general sequence — confirm current steps with your AHS contact or case manager, as processes can change:

Request an AHS assessment. Contact AHS Home Care in your zone to request a functional assessment. An assessor (typically a nurse or social worker) will evaluate your care needs, living situation, and goals.
Receive a care plan and hours allocation. Based on the assessment, AHS issues a care plan that specifies eligible services and funded hours per week or month.
Choose your pathway. With your care plan in hand, you can select a Type 1, 2, or 3 arrangement depending on what AHS has approved and what works for your family.
Select a provider and begin services. Your provider (or coordinator) sets up billing, verifies caregiver credentials, and arranges your first visit.
Monitor and adjust. AHS may reassess periodically. If needs change, return to your case manager to update the care plan.

What Polymorphism Does as a Type 3 Provider

Polymorphism is building a technology-enabled home care marketplace for Alberta families. As a Type 3 coordinator, our platform handles the coordination mechanics — structured intake, AI-assisted matching, schedule management, electronic visit verification (EVV), and billing event tracking — so your caregiver coordinator does not have to manage all of that manually.

Concretely, here is what that means for families:

Structured intake — one detailed intake captures your ADL needs, schedule, language preferences, geographic constraints, and CDHCI status so nothing gets lost.
AI-assisted matching — the platform surfaces caregivers whose skills, availability, and location actually fit your case — not just whoever happens to be free.
Transparent records — every visit is logged with EVV-ready data, so invoices reflect what actually happened.
Billing infrastructure — structured billing events support compliant Alberta Blue Cross claims without manual re-keying.

Polymorphism does not make eligibility determinations or promise CDHCI access — those decisions belong to AHS. Our role is to make coordination, matching, and billing as smooth as possible once you have been approved.

CDHCI vs Private Pay: How They Often Work Together

Many Alberta families end up using both CDHCI-funded hours and private pay at the same time. CDHCI covers your approved allocation; private pay fills the gaps. Common scenarios:

You need 40 hours per week but AHS assessed you for 20 — the remaining 20 are private.
There is a wait between your assessment date and your first funded visit starting — private pay bridges the gap.
You want a specific caregiver who is not yet approved for CDHCI billing — private pay allows you to engage them while the credentialing process completes.
Your needs change faster than reassessment timelines allow — private pay adapts immediately.

A good coordinator or marketplace makes both paths legible: you can see clearly which hours are funded and which are private, and billing records reflect that distinction.

Common CDHCI Questions

Does CDHCI cover overnight care?

Whether overnight or 24-hour care is covered depends on your individual assessment and the specific services authorized in your care plan. Ask your AHS case manager directly — this is not something a marketplace can determine for you.

Can family members be paid as caregivers under CDHCI?

Under some CDHCI arrangements, family members may be eligible to receive payment as caregivers — typically under Type 1. There are rules and restrictions. Confirm with your AHS assessor and Alberta Blue Cross whether this applies to your situation.

What happens if my needs change?

AHS can reassess your care plan if your situation changes materially — a hospitalization, a new diagnosis, or a significant functional decline. Contact your AHS case manager to initiate a reassessment. Do not wait until a crisis; proactive reassessment leads to better outcomes.

Is Polymorphism available in all Alberta zones?

We are launching first in Edmonton and Calgary. We are expanding to other zones — check our locations page for current coverage.

Next Steps

If you are exploring home care for a family member in Alberta, the first step is an AHS assessment. Once you have a care plan, a Type 3 coordinator like Polymorphism can help you move from paperwork to a matched, scheduled caregiver efficiently.

Read our related guides:

What is CDHCI? Alberta's Client-Directed Home Care Program Explained