Whether in their own homes or assisted living facilities or nursing homes, as people grow older, most of them require more concentrated and advanced care. At present, less than 4% of people aged 65 or more are making use of nursing homes or other similar healthcare facilities. Therefore, more and more people are now receiving the required care in their homes. Out of all these people, many rely on the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP).
What is CDPAP?
A Medicaid program introduced by the NY Department of Health in 1995, CDPAP (Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program) allows enrolled individuals to manage their own home health care independently. The program is sometimes referred to as CDPAS (Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services).
The best part about CDPAP is that it allows consumers the freedom to select their home care aides or personal caregivers. It also allows caregivers to be remunerated for their attentive and hard work. From the consumer’s point of view, it eliminates the insecurity involved in relying on unfamiliar professionals sent by a healthcare facility. The program is entirely covered by Medicaid and the consumers have no additional expense whatsoever. One of the most popular CDPAP applications is to choose family members, friends, or trusted neighbors as home health aides. If required, the selected home health aide may also seek training support from CDPAP.
CDPAP Providers vs. Home Health Aides:
The advantages of using a CDPAP provider go well beyond just familiarity and intimacy. CDPAP providers don’t have certain limitations encountered by many home health aides. One such restriction is administering medications and injections. In many instances, CDPAP attendants are able to spend more time with consumers and can better understand their health and lifestyle changes and critical health signs compared to a home health aide. This leads to fewer emergent situations and better health outcomes for the consumer.
Qualifications of the Consumer and Caregiver:
In order to enjoy the benefits of CDPAP, the consumer must reside in New York, be on Medicaid, and have a stable medical condition. Under CDPAP, the personal assistants must be at least 18 years old. Also, the care provider must not be the recipient’s parent, spouse, or designated representative.
Personal assistants can provide companionship, complete housework, and assist with personal care. They are also allowed to offer at-home medical care, including caring for wounds and administering injections. Consumers enrolled in CDPAP can also opt for Home Health Aides (HHAs) or other certified caregivers.
Designated Representative:
If any CDPAP recipient is not able to take complete responsibility of his or her own care, they have the option to appoint a designated representative capable of shouldering the responsibility of managing care.
In many instances, the designees are the legal guardian of the recipient. However, any adult can be a designee. Also, designated representatives can’t be the CDPAP caregiver of the consumer. Designated representatives require approval by social services.
How to Get CDPAP?
After understanding CDPAP and its basic framework, let us discuss the required steps to access home care through CDPAP.
- First of all, get Medicaid coverage because only Medicaid coverage holders are eligible for CDPAP.
- Please remember that CDPAP falls under community-based long term services. Therefore, your Medicaid coverage must include this umbrella.
- Get a Physician’s Order for Services form completed by your doctor and submit the form to the social services office in your locality. The social services office will determine the number of hours of care per month or week to be covered by CDPAP.
Often times, consumers are in dire need of home health care services and it is not possible for them to wait for their documents to be processed. In order to accelerate the procedure, they can submit an Immediate Need for Personal Care Services/Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services form.
