Spectrum Arch, Inc.Check the basics
- Current OPWDD authorization. Support Brokers must complete OPWDD's required trainings and be authorized by OPWDD, which issues an authorization number. Authorization runs until July 31 and must be renewed every year. It's reasonable to ask for the broker's current authorization.
- Independent or agency-affiliated. Some brokers work independently; others work through an agency. Both can be good. Agency brokers may have more backup when they're away; independent brokers may offer more continuity. Ask how coverage works either way.
How fees work
Support Brokerage is an OPWDD waiver service. Ongoing brokerage is paid from the self-direction budget, at an hourly fee agreed between you and the broker within limits OPWDD sets. Start-up brokerage, while the first budget is being built, is funded separately and doesn't count against the PRA. Families don't usually pay out of pocket.
Because ongoing brokerage comes out of the budget, it's worth agreeing up front on roughly how many hours a month you expect to need.
Questions to ask
- How many families do you currently support?
- How long does it typically take you to get a first budget approved?
- How do you prefer to communicate, and how quickly do you respond?
- Have you worked with autistic adults, or with needs like ours?
- Which Fiscal Intermediaries have you worked with?
- How do you help when staff leave or the budget needs changing?
- Who covers for you when you're on vacation or sick?
- Can you meet in person, at our home?
Listen for
A good broker talks to the person, not just the parents. They explain things plainly, they're honest about timelines, and they don't promise what OPWDD hasn't approved. Trust that impression.
You can change
If the fit isn't right, you can choose a different broker. Your Care Manager can help with the switch.
Sources: OPWDD, Support Broker Authorization FAQ; OPWDD, Authorization Standards for Support Brokers (19-ADM-05R); OPWDD, Support Broker Billing Standards (19-ADM-06).