case manager

in home caregiver

support coordinator

clinical supervisor

CareStar, Inc.

Overall, CareStar has been an excellent place to work. The president of the company has outstanding values and treats his employees fairly. The health insurance is poor, but they offer ESOP as well as a 401K.

CareStar is a private comapny contracted by the state to oversee the Ohio Home Care Waiver Program. This program allows consumers who utilize Medicaid to receive care in their homes vs. in a nursing facility. CareStar recently lost the bid to continue Provider Oversight to another company. As a result, my position was phased out and there are no positions within the company available to me that I'm interested in. But, I've been there for 9 years and am ready for a change and a move in a different direction. 

A typical day at work would involve preparing for my reviews and audits of the independent providers that take care of our OHC Waiver consumers. Once the prep work was done, the reviews would take place. I also trained and educated providers and reported on compliance issues. 

In my job doing provider oversight, I've learned a complete new skill set that I hope to draw upon to carry me into my next position. I also hope to build on those skills and grow even more.

My co-workers were generally wonderful. But, I worked from home 3 days a week so I really didn't have a lot of interaction with them on a regular basis. My immediate supervisor did not micro-manage and was accessible to me when I needed assistance. 

The toughest part of the job was having to deal with some of the providers lack of professionalism and inability to understand the rules of their practice after being educated several times.

I loved the flexible schedule and being able to work from home several days a week.     

To start your day as a case manager only, you would typically carry a caseload of 49-55 cases. However new CareStar ONLY "policy" you only get additional low pay if you carry over 53 cases. It is not a fair price. You do twice the work for half the pay. You are overworked for none of the compensation. As a supervisor, you are to be available for anything.  It is a toxic environment. The expectations for documentation, working hours, communication with clients are not even what the state requires on the waiver manual. CareStar does make up their own policy that the state does not require to be done. CareStar asked for much more and expects you all to do it without asking why or to show a reason as to what for. Speaking up and asking questions as to why so much more work, why are things made to be harder, why are we working so long, can result in getting in trouble, being put on the trouble makers list, and it is not a good thing. It does put a target on the employee. The hardest part of the job was making upper management happy, they were very rarely satisfied. The most enjoyable part of my job was actually having fun friendships that were made. I learned to be a better person, to be forgiving, understanding and to walk away when time is up and my purpose for being somewhere is served and I am no longer needed at a place. As a case manager supervisor, your caseload is supposed to be zero and you are to lead a team of case managers of 13-15 people. However, you always end up with a caseload of at least 15-22 people. But upper management will make sure you do not have that many when it comes to billing so they do not have to pay out any extra stipend to carry those cases. Same goes to who you supervise. 

A typical day is unpredictable. Dispatch makes last-minute schedule changes with little consideration for drivers. Management is not transparent, and major changes are announced without warning. I learned to adapt quickly, but also learned that leadership and communication are critical for safety and efficiency. There is no seniority for time served. Dispatch works from home, has no NEMT driving experience, and it shows in the careless scheduling. The pay changed from hourly to bi-weekly merit pay, and those merits are controlled by the same inexperienced Dispatch. The hardest part of the job is dealing with poor communication. The most enjoyable part is helping passengers and knowing the work matters.

This was the best job I had ever had until they hired so many care coordinators that they become overwhelmed. The mandates changed from 5 days to 24 hours and it was nearly impossible to meet these mandates without working 12+ hour days and you DONT get paid overtime. There is no structure and any issues you have are “he said, she said”. You report to your supervisor and there is no one to talk to you above them. If they give you wrong instructions, they save themselves by throwing you under the bus. Management does not accept your input or how other managers treat their subordinates. Many coordinators were fired without cause. They don’t train well at all and it is very much “learn as you go” with things changing EVERY DAY. Despite being new and under-trained, you are not given grace to make mistakes and learn. There is a lot of “cattiness” and there is no support- you are on your own. I always felt like my head was on the chopping block. They pay good besides not paying overtime yet demanding that you work it but I suggest finding anywhere else to work! 

If you need a job desperately, maybe worth it. The company accepted a contract they couldn’t fulfill where caseloads you’re told about in interview would be 130 max but in reality many RMs carry 150-160. The constant addition of admin tasks mean you cannot actually do your case management work. Clients are constantly frustrated at services rendered and they are supposed to have provider choice in the state of Ohio for disability based services, but in reality they don’t because this company holds the exclusive Ohio contract for SRS now. 

Management canceled already approved PTO during the holidays for many employees, you will fight to be approved for any days moving forward. 

Daily meetings and numbers reports are now a thing because the company and management allowed massive caseloads to fall behind. Turnover is extremely high, policy changes rapidly and often. The salary on paper might be okay, but you’re expected to work after contract hours and on weekends if you want to actually keep up and provide person centered services to individuals you serve, so the salary then becomes less than $20/hr when evaluating actual hours worked. 

A Case Manager's role at CareStar encompasses a great deal of responsibilities that assure the health and safety of an individual.  Case Manager makes required phone contact with the individual's at least once every 30 days and home visits at least once every 60 days.  Case Manager's develop an All Services Plan that includes all paid services and everyone involved on the care plan.  The management works closely along with the Case Manager and provides supervision necessary to make sure the needs of the individual is being met.  Co-Workers show support to one another by being available for questions and to share ideas with.  The most challenging part of this job is that the amount work expected from the Case Manager is difficult to complete Monday-Friday and often requires working on the weekends to keep caught up.  The most enjoyable part of this job is the ability to meet directly with the individuals and building the rapport necessary to gain their trust which helps meet their needs more successfully.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part of working at CareStar was working from home.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful part about working for CareStar was all the meetings, CareStar learning, and the constant changes from staff to policies. Also there was so much training which was fine but if you don't know the verbage or the wrong person is training you learned nothing.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The company culture was definitely different because I worked from home however I do feel like CareStar does try to bring people together but because the company is big new people often feel discouraged and along even when the supervisor tells you it's ok to contact them. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day to was to check emails, voice messaged, make calls, and complete visits and or assessments. Also a full time person has 170 cases that you are responsible for and you definitely feel the pressure.

What is the best part of working at the company?
There was no benefit in working with this company. The company does not care that case managers were overworked with low compensation and often expected to drive beyond what was barely compensated for mileage. CareStar is a joke of a company and a sinking ship. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
burn out by excessive and redundant administrative tasks and documentation requirements that limited the time available for meaningful case management work. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Fake people and cut throat culture. If you don’t live up to their absurd expectations, you’re gone.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
excessive administrative tasks, phone calls, emails, documentation requirements, and visiting with clients within the community. Workday will be extended by 2 to 3 hours if you’re lucky and work fast.

Never in my life have I witnessed a more cut throat leadership environment. Morale is beyond low, but everyone is afraid to speak up as you are targeted and often publicly shamed. Pay has been cut for long term employees, but workload is greatly expanded. Nothing you do is good enough.  Management is not in touch with field staff and will not speak up when Leadership makes yet another change that impacts quality of work or puts your license at risk.  Vacation days are meaningless as there is no one to cover your load while you attempt to take a sick day or family day. There is zero room for advancement, and  you will more than likely never receive a raise. The company was not like this before. You begin your work day well before 7 and often work late into the night just to make minimum work loads. There is a $10,000 insurance deductible. Yes, $10,000. If you interview- ask directly about the length of contract time for the work you are applying. Be specific. Check your facts.

Constantly load the SCs down with work while also wanting employees to work in 2 or 3 other different programs without compensating the employee. Executive Leadership wants to always give orders but refuses to learn the different programs. You can voice your concerns and they are never taken into consideration. Employees work countless of hours to include weekends and holidays without pay and earn PTO just for the President/CEO of the company to tell you when and when not to use your time because the time that you request off can be denied. To stay ahead on the job, you will have to work weekends and holidays without pay because the workload is very heavy. They expect you to always show up no matter what personal issues you are facing BEWARE! 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Case manager 3 salaries reported	$46,000 per year
In home caregiver 4 salaries reported	$14.49 per hour
Support coordinator 3 salaries reported	$14.67 per hour
Clinical supervisor 1 salary reported	$62,510 per year

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