Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP)

What is CDPAP?

It is a Medicaid program that covers home care services for chronically ill or physically disabled individuals who have a medical need for help with activities of daily living or skilled services.

What is the difference between traditional Home Care and CDPAP?

Home Care agencies recruit, train, employ, and supervise Home Health Aides. The agency assigns a Home Health Aide that's the best fit for you and your needs. If the fit is not right, the agency will be in charge of assigning you a new Home Health Aide.

With CDPAP, you hire someone that you know and trust (except a legal spouse, child under 21, or designated representative). As a CDPAP Consumer, you are in charge of recruiting, training, and supervising your Personal Assistant. If that's a concern for you, don't worry! Our CDPAP experts can advise you and help you at every step, as well as provide you with resources to make this a seamless process.

Home Health Aides only provide non-skilled assistance, such as help with bathing, grooming, shopping, cooking, and light house-keeping.

CDPAP Personal Assistants can provide the same assistance as Home Health Aides do, but they can also perform skilled tasks, like dispensing medication, administering oxygen, giving insulin shots, and performing wound care.

How does CDPAP work?

1. Find out if you're eligible:

A nurse will visit you to assess whether you qualify for CDPAP. If you qualify, the nurse will establish the amount of hours, frequency and duration of services based on your needs.

2. Choose a caregiver:

You have the flexibility and freedom to choose and train your Personal Assistant (with few exceptions). We can help you to enroll in the CDPAP program and set up the payroll for your Personal Assistant, who will get paid at no cost to you.

3. Receive the best care:

Customize the Plan of Care and schedule that best suits your needs, so you can live your best life.

Do I qualify for CDPAP?

In order to qualify for CDPAP, you must:

• Have Medicaid
• Need home care
• Be a self-directing person, or have a designated representative who can direct your care for you

If you're not sure if you qualify or not, our CDPAP specialists can assist you.

How much will CDPAP cost me?

Nothing, Medicaid will cover your Personal Assistant's salary. You will need to choose a Fiscal Intermediary to manage the payroll for you.

I don't have Medicad. Can you help me to enroll?

Yes, our experts will guide you through every available option and help you enroll in Medicaid and the CDPAP programs.

How can UJCES help me?

UJCES is a New York State designated CDPAP Fiscal Intermediary. We can set up and manage the payroll for your Personal Assistant. They will get paid punctually and correctly, with no hassle or expense to you.

We can also help you with:

• Enrolling in CDPAP
• Recruiting and hiring a Personal Assistant
• Guiding you on how to train and supervise your Personal Assistant
• Knowing your rights as a CDPAP consumer
• Covid-19 related issues

Who can I choose as my caregiver?

You can hire nearly anyone to assist you, including family members and friends. However, there are a few exceptions:

• Your legal spouse
• People under 21, including your own children
• Designated representative

Living in the same house with the consumer does not disqualify a family member from being selected and hired as a Personal Assistant.

If your care requires skilled tasks and you qualify for CDPAP, but you don't know anyone who could act as your Personal Assistant, we can help you recruit the right person.

Does my caregiver need special training or certifications?

CDPAP Personal Assistants do not need to be certified or have licenses. They are trained by the consumer or the consumer’s representative.

What are the benefits for my caregiver?

CDPAP Personal Assistants get paid bi-weekly, at a rate of $18.61 per hour. They also receive paid-time off.

Can I choose the schedule for my care?

Yes, you can set the schedule that best suits you, within the number of hours approved during the initial assessment.