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New York's Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP)
Overview of the Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program
New York's Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program, abbreviate as CDPAP or sometimes CDPAPNYS, is a Medicaid program. It is designed for elderly or disabled residents that require and are eligible to receive home care, personal care or skilled nursing services and wish to maintain control over whom provides these services. As consumers of care services, they are choosing to direct their own care hence the phrase "consumer direction" in the name. To avoid confusion, it is worth noting that consumer-direction is sometimes referred to as participant direction, self-direction or cash and counseling.
The CDPAP program works as follows. An eligible individual elects to participate in the program; they work with a county caseworker and medical professional to determine the level of care they require and to create a "Care Plan". The Care Plan contains the number of hours of care they will require each week. The participating individual is then given the flexibility to hire, train and supervise their care providers (also referred to as "PA"s). One factor that makes this program especially attractive is that friends and certain family members can be hired as care providers / PAs. To be clear, parents, spouses and legal guardians are excluded from being paid caregivers, but siblings, ex-spouses and the adult children are eligible. While program participants are responsible for the hiring and management of their care providers, a Fiscal Intermediary is used to oversee time-sheet processing and employee payments.
Qualifications for the Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program
To be eligible for CDPAP, NY residents must be elderly or disabled and have a demonstrated need for assistance with their activities of daily living; they must qualify for home care, personal care or skilled nursing and they must be eligible to receive Medicaid.
Qualifying for Medicaid is a complicated process involving a review of a family’s income, assets and asset transfers as far back as 5 years. Rules change frequently and there are many exemptions, but typically monthly income cannot exceed $2,000 and “countable asset” limits, excluding the car and home, range from $2,000 to $8,000.
Not qualifying for Medicaid can be devastating to the comfort of an individual, their family’s finances and even their health. For these reasons, Medicaid planners exist to ensure families have the best chance of acceptance into the program. With care costing $1000’s / month, there is a strong incentive to use a Medicaid Planner. Find assistance qualifying for Medicaid.
In addition to being medically and financially qualified, program participants must voluntarily sign up for the CDPAP program and they must be mentally capable of self-directing their own care or have a designated representative to do so on their behalf.
Qualifying for Medicaid is a complicated process involving a review of a family’s income, assets and asset transfers as far back as 5 years. Rules change frequently and there are many exemptions, but typically monthly income cannot exceed $2,000 and “countable asset” limits, excluding the car and home, range from $2,000 to $8,000.
Not qualifying for Medicaid can be devastating to the comfort of an individual, their family’s finances and even their health. For these reasons, Medicaid planners exist to ensure families have the best chance of acceptance into the program. With care costing $1000’s / month, there is a strong incentive to use a Medicaid Planner. Find assistance qualifying for Medicaid.
In addition to being medically and financially qualified, program participants must voluntarily sign up for the CDPAP program and they must be mentally capable of self-directing their own care or have a designated representative to do so on their behalf.
Benefits / Services of the Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program
The CDPAP program provides for a wide range of care services. During the creation of the Care Plan, all of the necessary service and hours required will be determined. Possible benefits can include personal care, assistance with the activities of daily living, mobility as well as skilled nursing services.
How to Apply for the Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program
Interested New York residents should contact their local Department of Social Services to learn more about applying for the program. Find your local county contact information. One can also learn more about this program on the CDPAP website.
Use our Eldercare Financial Resource Locator Tool to find other public and private programs that can help pay for or reduce the costs of long term care for the elderly.
Use our Eldercare Financial Resource Locator Tool to find other public and private programs that can help pay for or reduce the costs of long term care for the elderly.
