CDPAP Program Explained
The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) is a New York State Medicaid program that allows home care consumers to recruit, train, and hire their own caregivers. In this article, we will outline many key areas of CDPAP including the meaning (definition) of CDPAP and CDPAS, caregiver requirements, the role of CDPAP Agencies, maximum hours, and rules and regulations.
Please continue reading to learn more about the program.
Homecare Planning Solutions is a division of Edison Home Health Care dedicated to helping consumers navigate today’s often complex home care system.
Please Note: Edison Home Health Care is a Fiscal Intermediary for CDPAP. We do not administer the program. We can help you navigate, but application and enrollment for CDPAP must go through your Local Department of Social Services or Medicaid plan.
Click the button below to download a 1 page outline explaining the 3 basic parts of enrolling in CDPAP.
Want to learn if you qualify for CDPAP? Click the button below to get instant feedback on your eligibility!
The following example illustrates how the CDPAP Program works:
Juana Torres was a dedicated mother and grandmother who loved to give. However, now in her early-90’s, she suffered from a number of health complications that required her to seek help with dressing, bathing, and eating. She also required wound care for a wound she received from a recent fall. Her daughter, Anna, was there as often as possible, but she had to work to support her own family.
Anna friend suggested that her mother get a home health aide from a local agency where she worked, but Anna knew that her mother would not want a stranger in her apartment. Additionally, she learned that home health aides are not allowed to administer skilled services and would not be able to help with the wound care that her mother needed. Then a social worker told her about the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP).
Under the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, Anna was able to get paid to be her mother’s caregiver. Since CDPAP personal assistants are allowed to administer skilled services, Anna was able to help her mother with the wound care after a nurse showed her what to do. CDPAP allowed Anna to give her mother the kind of care that only a daughter can provide while also getting paid.
Speak with a CDPAP specialist now! – 718-838-3838
- What is CDPAP?
- What is CDPAS?
- Who is eligible to join CDPAP?
- Are CDPAP Home Care Services available throughout NY State (NYS) or just in New York City (NYC)?
- Who can provide care under CDPAP? May family members serve as the caregiver?
- Do caregivers need a special license or certification to provide care?
- What kind of services are caregivers able to administer?
- What are the maximum hours available under CDPAP?
- How does someone apply for CDPAP?
- What forms are required to enroll in CDPAP?
- What are CDPAP Agencies?
- What requirements are there for a caregiver under CDPAP?
- How does the caregiver get paid under CDPAP?
- Pros and Cons of CDPAP Program vs Traditional Home Care Agency
Do you have questions about CDPAP that are not addressed here? Get answers fast! Submit your questions on our Contact Page or call us now at 718-838-3838.
What is CDPAP?
The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) is a Medicaid program that allows consumers that need long-term home care to direct their own care. Consumers, or their representatives, recruit their own caregivers who they train and direct.
What is CDPAS?
Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services (CDPAS) refer to services rendered under the CDPAP program. While you may sometimes find the term “CDPAS Program” used, the official name of the program is the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, or “CDPAP” for short.
Who is eligible to join CDPAP?
Consumers must require assistance with activities of daily living or skilled care, have a stable medical condition, and be self directing or have a designated representative that is willing and able to direct care as per the program’s requirements. Since CDPAP is a Medicaid sponsored program, it is only available to consumers that are eligible for Medicaid.
Are CDPAP Home Care Services available throughout NY State (NYS) or just in New York City (NYC)?
The CDPAP Program is available to Medicaid consumers throughout NY State and is not limited to just New York City. We help consumers with CDPAP Home Care Services throughout the state by providing fiscal intermediary services.
Who can provide care under CDPAP? May family members serve as the caregiver?
In general, CDPAP answers YES to the question: Can a family member get paid to be a caregiver in New York? Most family members can serve as caregivers (personal assistants) and get paid to provide care under CDPAP. However, there are some exceptions. Spouses may not provide care under CDPAP. Parents of children under 21 also may not serve as personal assistants for those children.
Do caregivers need a special license or certification to provide care?
Caregivers must be legally allowed to work. They do not need a special license or certification to provide care under the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program.
What kind of services are caregivers able to administer?
Under CDPAP, caregivers are able to provide both custodial and skilled services. This includes many skilled services that a home health aide may not provide, such as wound care, giving insulin shots, and suctioning tracheostomies.
What are the maximum hours available under CDPAP?
There is no maximum number of hours for CDPAP. Consumers may receive up to 24 hours of care, 7 days a week.
How does someone apply for CDPAP?
Most consumers in New York City and Nassau County must first enroll in a Medicaid Managed Care plan. Dual eligible consumers (meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid) must enroll in a Managed Long-Term Care (MLTC) plan. Consumers with just Medicaid must be enrolled in a mainstream managed Medicaid plan. In both cases, the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program is administered by the plan. Consumers should notify their plan that they would like to enroll in CDPAP.
Please Note: Edison Home Health Care is a Fiscal Intermediary for CDPAP. We do not administer the program. We can help you navigate, but application and enrollment for CDPAP must go through your Local Department of Social Services or Medicaid plan.
What forms are required to enroll in CDPAP?
Your Doctor must confirm that you, the consumer, are authorized to receive services by completing the DOH Form – Physician’s Order. This form is mandatory. There may be other forms required depending on your situation. Please contact us to learn about what you will need to enroll – 718-838-3838.
What are CDPAP Agencies?
CDPAP Agencies, also known as Fiscal Intermediaries, process the payroll for CDPAP consumers and handle certain compliance related responsibilities as required by the government.
What requirements are there for a caregiver under CDPAP?
The following is a list of documentation that is required for your CDPAP caregiver (also known as a personal assistant) at our agency:
- UNEXPIRED picture ID such as NYS ID, Driver’s License, Passport, Permanent Resident Card or Work Authorization Card. You might need a second form of identification. We only take original IDs; copies will not be accepted.
- Social Security Card
- Pre-employment Physical (Please see Form below) – No later than 6 months of application date
- Rubella Lab Report – The results must show Immune or high (Lab Report). If results in the lab report are low, proof of 1 vaccine must have date of administration and name and license # of the person who administered the vaccine.
- Rubeola (Measles) Lab Report – The results must show Immune or high (Lab Report). If results in the lab report are low, proof of 2 vaccines must have date of administration and name and license # of the person who administered the vaccines.
- Two step TST (PPD) or IGRA QuantiFERON within previous 12 months and TB Risk Assessment. *For Positive PPD: You MUST have a CHEST X-RAY Report (NOT a Doctor’s note) which contains the Doctor’s signature and license #.
You can learn about caregiver eligibility rules at: CDPAP Caregiver Requirements
How does the caregiver get paid under CDPAP?
Caregivers are paid through fiscal intermediaries (FI) that contract with the plans that administer the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program. Edison Home Health Care is a NY State Fiscal Intermediary.
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Please complete this form and we will send you an instant quote on what your caregiver can get paid:
Pros and Cons of CDPAP Program vs Traditional Home Care Agency
The following are some Pros and Cons to consider for CDPAP vs services available via traditional home care agencies:
Pros
- Close relatives such as children can get paid to provide care. Complete the form above to get a quote on what kind of pay rate your family caregiver can get. Your family caregiver’s salary will ultimately depend on their pay rate and hours worked.
- Caregivers are not required to have special certification or licensing. While this isn’t inherently positive, it can make it easier for someone to become a caregiver.
- Caregivers can administer skilled services such as wound care, giving insulin shots, and suctioning tracheostomies.
Cons
- A caregiver recruited by the consumer may not have received any previous formal training in caregiving.
- If the caregiver is not available for a period of time, the consumer or their representative must recruit and hire their own replacement.
- Home care agencies will generally conduct background checks before hiring a home attendant. If a CDPAP consumer would want to conduct a background check, they would have to do it on their own.
If you would like assistance for yourself, a loved one, or a client, please give us a call. Call Us Now! 718-838-3838
Please Note: Edison Home Health Care is a Fiscal Intermediary for CDPAP. We do not administer the program. We can help you navigate, but application and enrollment for CDPAP must go through your Local Department of Social Services or Medicaid plan.