What Applied Self Direction does

Applied Self-Direction is a Boston-based membership and consulting organization founded in 2004 that supports the self-direction ecosystem for people with disabilities and elderly individuals receiving Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). The firm serves Financial Management Services (FMS) entities, state government agencies administering self-direction programs under 1915(c) waivers, and a broader set of stakeholders including managed care organizations, advocacy groups, support broker agencies, consultants, and software providers. With 150+ member organizations, Applied Self-Direction functions as a national community of practice connecting the disparate constituencies that operate self-directed care programs.

The company's product portfolio is structured around three revenue-bearing pillars: a tiered membership program, project-based consulting, and an annual National Self-Direction Conference (now transitioning to be hosted by the Self-Direction Center). Membership pricing is segmented by buyer type: FMS dues range from $2,150 to $21,600 annually based on participants served; state government employees receive complimentary membership; and stakeholder dues range from $350 to $2,000 based on organizational revenue. Consulting engagements cover program design, policy analysis, readiness and waiver reviews, focus groups, environmental scans, handbooks, toolkits, and training. The firm maintains direct feedback channels to federal agencies including CMS, DOL, and IRS, providing members early insight into regulatory change.

The go-to-market motion is community-led: Applied Self-Direction attracts and retains members through educational content, webinars, the annual conference, peer networking, and a password-protected resource library. There is no proprietary software platform or technology stack disclosed; the firm's assets are its policy expertise, accumulated knowledge library, and the network of relationships across the self-direction community. Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees, and no external funding rounds are recorded.

Name

Applied Self Direction

Legal name

Applied Self-Direction

Website

https://appliedselfdirection.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Applied Self-Direction is a Boston-based membership and consulting organization that supports 150+ FMS entities, state Medicaid agencies, and stakeholders operating self-direction programs for people with disabilities under HCBS waivers, offering tiered memberships, policy expertise, and consulting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The organization generates revenue through annual membership dues from three categories: FMS Entities (based on number of participants served), States (free for government employees), and Stakeholders (based on annual revenue/expenses). FMS membership ranges from $2,150 to $21,600 annually depending on participant count. Stakeholder membership ranges from $350 to $2,000 annually based on organizational size.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Applied Self-Direction is a national membership organization and consulting firm serving the self-direction ecosystem for people with disabilities and elderly individuals. It delivers professional consulting services (program design, policy analysis, readiness reviews, waiver reviews, focus groups, environmental scans, handbooks/toolkits, and trainings) and operates three membership tiers (FMS Entities, States, Stakeholders) that provide policy analysis, webinars, peer networking, technical assistance hours, and access to a password-protected resource library, alongside an annual National Self-Direction Conference.

Product overview

Applied Self Direction operates as a membership-based professional organization and consulting firm serving the self-direction ecosystem. The organization offers three membership tiers (FMS Entities, States, and Stakeholders) providing access to resources, webinars, policy updates, and peer networking. Core offerings include consulting services for program design, policy analysis, and training, as well as the National Self-Direction Conference. The product portfolio is structured as a services-and-membership model rather than a software platform, with member organizations receiving technical assistance, exclusive content, and opportunities to provide feedback to federal agencies including CMS, DOL, and IRS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Consulting Services Professional consulting engagements including program design, policy analysis, readiness reviews, waiver reviews, focus groups, environmental scans, handbooks and toolkits, and trainings, delivered to state agencies, managed care organizations, FMS entities, and advocacy stakeholders in the self-direction ecosystem.
• FMS Membership Annual membership tier for Financial Management Services (FMS) entities, providing policy feedback opportunities, technical assistance (up to 5 hours of member inquiries with experts), peer learning, webinars, member resources, and discounted consulting rates. Tiered pricing from $2,150 to $21,600 based on number of participants served.
• State Membership Complimentary annual membership for government employees who administer self-direction programs, providing up to 2 hours of technical assistance, policy feedback opportunities, access to resources, peer networking, webinars, and discounted consulting rates.
• Stakeholder Membership Annual membership tier for advocacy organizations, managed care organizations, support broker agencies, case management agencies, consultants, software providers, and other self-direction stakeholders, providing policy updates, webinars, member resources, peer networking, and discounted consulting rates. Tiered pricing from $350 to $2,000 based on annual revenue/expenses.
• National Self-Direction Conference Annual virtual conference featuring multiple sessions covering worker benefits, natural supports, financial management services, program integrity, and self-direction best practices, with recordings and slides available in the resource library.
• Resource Library Password-protected online library containing reports, practical tools, toolkits, handbooks, webinars, training materials, and conference recordings covering national and state policy and program developments, available to members.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and flagship.

• eVerominorOthersPremier sponsor of the National Self-Direction Conference. eVero provides services for individuals and families in self-direction programs.
• PPL (Public Partnerships LLC)minorOthersPremier sponsor of the National Self-Direction Conference. PPL is a financial management services provider for self-direction programs.
• ARIS SolutionsminorOthersPremier sponsor of the National Self-Direction Conference. ARIS Solutions provides financial management services for self-direction.
• Tempus UnlimitedminorOthersPremier sponsor of the National Self-Direction Conference. Tempus Unlimited is a nonprofit organization supporting self-direction.
• AssuranceSDminorOthersDiamond sponsor of the National Self-Direction Conference. Provides services related to self-direction programs.
• CenteneminorOthersDiamond sponsor of the National Self-Direction Conference. Centene is a healthcare enterprise company.
• ACES$minorOthersEmerald sponsor of the National Self-Direction Conference.
• Neighbours Inc.minorOthersSapphire sponsor of the National Self-Direction Conference.
• Self-Direction Center (SDC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Self-Direction Conference is transitioning to be hosted by the Self-Direction Center (SDC). Applied Self-Direction previously hosted the conference and is now partnering with SDC for future conferences. SDC will handle future conference updates and mailing list subscriptions.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ADvancing States: ADvancing States (formerly NASUAD) is a membership association of state aging and disability agencies, comparable to ASD's free State membership tier. It serves the same state Medicaid HCBS administrators as ASD's primary state segment but with a broader aging and disability mandate.
• Public Consulting Group (PCG): PCG is a large management consulting firm that advises state Medicaid agencies on HCBS waiver design, FMS operations, and self-direction implementation. It overlaps with ASD on the state-agency and FMS consulting side but serves a much broader public-sector portfolio.
• Mercer (Oliver Wyman): Mercer Government Human Services Consulting, part of Oliver Wyman, advises state Medicaid programs on HCBS, managed long-term care, and self-direction. It competes with ASD for state-level consulting work but as part of a much broader healthcare consulting practice.
• Burns & Associates (a BerryDunn company): Burns & Associates, now part of BerryDunn, is a consulting firm advising state Medicaid agencies on HCBS waiver design, rate setting, and self-direction program implementation. It is a broader incumbent on the state-consulting engagements ASD also pursues.
• ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Resources): ANCOR is a national membership association representing I/DD community providers, including FMS entities and self-direction service providers. It competes for the same advocacy and stakeholder segment that ASD addresses via its Stakeholder membership tier.

Others

• The Arc of the United States: The Arc is a national disability advocacy organization that engages on HCBS and self-direction policy. It overlaps with ASD's Stakeholder segment and is an adjacent peer in the same self-direction ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
• NADSP (National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals): NADSP is a membership organization for direct support professionals, including those working in self-direction programs. It addresses the workforce side of the same self-direction ecosystem that ASD serves through its FMS and Stakeholder memberships.

Emerging players

• NASDDDS (National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services): NASDDDS is a membership association of state I/DD directors that engages on HCBS waiver policy, FMS, and self-direction. It overlaps with ASD on the state-agency side and competes for attention from the same Medicaid HCBS decision makers.

Direct peers

• HCBS Strategies: HCBS Strategies is a consulting firm focused on home and community-based services and self-direction program design for states and FMS providers. It competes directly with ASD for consulting engagements covering 1915(c) waiver design, FMS readiness, and self-direction policy analysis.
• Self-Direction Center (SDC): SDC is taking over hosting of the National Self-Direction Conference from ASD and serves the same self-direction ecosystem. The two organizations compete directly for mindshare among FMS entities, states, and stakeholders in the self-direction space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/appliedsd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Applied Self Direction