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As each of us face the natural process of aging, most of us want to get older at home. In fact, according to the Associated Press’s Center for Public Affairs Research, 88% of Americans want to stay in their own home or the home of a loved one in the event they need ongoing living assistance as they age. Receiving care at their own home is the preferred option for a full 76% of respondents. You may have a family member or loved one who is already providing you care at home. But did you know that it’s possible to have that person be compensated for their time and efforts by the State?

Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) combines family and care. It is a Medicaid-sponsored New York State plan that pays for a familiar loved one to provide your in-home care. With a CDPAP caregiver, you may direct your own care including hiring, firing and training your chosen caregiver. If you prefer to have someone you already know and love providing your care, consider CDPAP. 

Read on to learn more about how the New York CDPAP Program can change the lives of families receiving/providing in-home care giving

What is CDPAP?

CDPAP is a Medicaid-funded program that allows New Yorkers who need home care to exercise greater control over their care needs. Those in need of care (or their proxies) can recruit their own caregivers (known as Personal Assistants) who they train and direct. This can greatly benefit both the person receiving care and their family, as this allows people the freedom to choose someone they already know and trust to provide care in their home. 

Recipients of care are given the power to choose a Personal Assistant of their choice, and caregivers who were previously unpaid can now earn compensation for their caregiving time. They are hired, trained, instructed, and managed by the person receiving care as needed. 

Who is CDPAP for? 

CDPAP can be a great option for people who have a stable medical illness or physical disability and require assistance with activities on a daily basis. One must be self-directing or have a representative that is able to manage care in order to qualify for CDPAP. The CDPAP program covers a wide range of services, including but not limited to, assistance with bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding, ambulating, transfers, housekeeping and even some more involved medical tasks so long as the Personal Assistant is properly trained.. 

What are the main eligibility requirements of CDPAP?

Participants must:

• Be Medicaid-eligible
• require assistance with Activities of Daily Living, or have a stable medical condition
• be self-directing or have a designated representative that is willing and able to direct care as per the program’s requirements

The CDPAP Process: 

The NYS CDPAP program works by matching you with a home care agency such as True Care that oversees the care process. Clients and caregivers work as a team with True Care to create a plan of care, and decide how best to carry out that plan. While CDPAP does not cover any medical costs, it does cover most non-medical expenses associated with providing care (ex. transportation to appointments or paying for a caregiver’s wages).  The process is as follows:

Introductory call

• As a first step in the enrollment process after you’ve contacted us, True Care will reach out to you via phone to conduct an Introductory Call. 
• During this call, we will thoroughly explain the rest of the process and take the time to answer any questions you have about the CDPAP Program and/or True Care. Just as important, we will take the time to get to know you and understand your needs so we can help you get the most out of your CDPAP experience. 

In-home Assessment

• Following the Intro Call, the person who wishes to receive care will be assessed by a New York State Nurse to determine whether they need home care, and what type of services they need.
• The State Nurse will determine the scope, approved hours, and types of  services the CDPAP recipient will receive. 

Complete Forms and Paperwork

• There are at least two important forms that need to be completed in order to approve the CDPAP application. These are the Physician’s Order form (DOH Form) from your doctor and the PCP Transfer Form if you are switching health plans in order to participate in CDPAP. You will receive your set of forms from your insurer and the State. 
• Should you need assistance with the paperwork, True Care is happy to send a knowledgeable intake representative to your house to help you complete your forms for the intake process.  

Approval and Authorization of Care

• Once you’ve completed all of the necessary paperwork, your insurer will complete the final Authorization for your CDPAP care. This will be the final determination of how many hours of care you’re approved for and the types of services that will be covered. 
• True Care remains in contact with Medicaid and your insurance representatives so you don’t have to. As we receive updates on your case, we will relay them to you.

Personal Assistant Registration

• Your caregiver under CDPAP is known in the program as your Personal Assistant (PA). They will become an employee of True Care and get regular paychecks for performing the care you need. 
• Before care can begin, your PA will need to register with True Care and complete onboarding paperwork in order to become a regular employee. 

Start of Care

• The time it takes to complete the process of enrolling in CDPAP can take anywhere from several days to several months. True Care works with you to ensure that the process goes smoothly and that you’re able to start receiving care as soon as possible. 
• Once the process has been completed, you and your PA are ready to work together carrying out a care plan that meets your needs. You will train your PA how best to care for you, and dismiss them as you see fit. 

CDPAP for People with Disabilities: Eligibility Criteria

The New York State CDPAP program provides assistance for people with disabilities to live in their own homes and communities. The program is available to people of all ages that have a physical or mental disability that makes it difficult to live without assistance or supervision, and need help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, eating, and performing self-care tasks. To qualify for CDPAP, you must be a resident of New York State and meet these criteria: 

1. You must have or be eligible for Medicaid. Typically, CDPAP participants are enrolled in Managed Long-Term Care plans (MLTCs) under Medicaid that cover CDPAP benefits. If you don’t have Medicaid, we can help with the enrollment process.
2. You must require home care as determined by a healthcare provider.
3. You must be self-directing, or you must have a representative that can direct your care.

There may be additional criteria that you have to meet in order to qualify for CDPAP. However, if you meet the three criteria above, there is a good chance that you are eligible. 

How can True Care help?

True Care’s team of experts is happy to help you apply for CDPAP if you have a health condition that makes it difficult to perform the basic Activities of Daily Living without assistance, and a family member or other trusted adult is willing and able to provide the care you need.

Here are some of the benefits the CDPAP program administered by True Care:

• Pay nothing out-of-pocket when you enroll in this program.
• Work with your family members and other loved ones to make sure all parties are aligned so they can be part of the process of making important decisions about treatment options together.

True Care understands that the application process can sometimes be a bit complicated, that’s why we'll walk you through it step by step. We'll also help make sure that your application gets submitted on time so that it can be processed quickly!

Want to enroll?

If you meet the requirements, you can apply for CDPAP online or by contacting your local True Care office directly. We work with you on your time to help you complete your CDPAP application from the comfort of your home. We’ll track the progress of your application and notify you ahead of time about any additional steps you may have to complete. If you have questions about your eligibility for CDPAP, reach out to True Care today for assistance! Our representatives are here to help seven days a week.