The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) is a Medicaid program that allows people enrolled in Medicaid to choose their own caregivers.
While the program is relatively simple, it can seem complicated and intimidating to newcomers.
Better understanding CDPAP and learning how to get started with it can provide you with a great opportunity to provide better care for your loved ones and possibly get paid in the process.
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The Basics of CDPAP
Let’s start with a basic explanation of what CDPAP is and how it might work in your life.
CDPAP is a Medicaid program in the state of New York that’s designed to help consumers scout for, hire, and ultimately work with home care workers.
The purpose of the program is to empower people in need of home healthcare to have more control over their care – potentially hiring trusted friends or family members to provide that care.
The Benefits of CDPAP
For individuals, there are a number of advantages to using CDPAP:
- A sense of control. First, you’ll have a greater sense of control over your healthcare. The person receiving care feels like they’re fully in charge of deciding who provides care to them. The person providing care, often a friend or family member, gets to feel like they have direct control over the patient’s health outcomes. Accordingly, everyone involved feels less stress and a greater sense of autonomy.
- Flexibility in hiring. Through CDPAP, it’s possible to hire any eligible adult. Home healthcare can be stressful, and many patients are eager to get the best quality care they can. They’d often much rather receive care from the loving hand of a trustworthy relative than from someone they barely know. Whatever their preferences are, they have a better chance of finding a candidate who meets them.
- Fewer interactions with strangers. Interacting with a stranger you don’t trust is challenging, and even more so when that stranger is in your house providing care to you. Through CDPAP, you can bypass this possibility entirely.
- A potential line of income. If you’re interested in becoming a caregiver, CDPAP could give you access to an extra stream of income. Depending on your needs, it could work as a part-time or full-time job. If you’re going to provide care anyway, you can start making money with almost no change to your current provision of care.
- A sense of trust and assurance. Both the patient and the caregiver, as well as other family and friends, will feel a greater sense of trust and assurance. You’ll have full transparency and control.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for CDPAP, there are three criteria that you’ll have to meet, including:
- You must currently have Medicaid.
- You must need home healthcare.
- You must be self-directing (or have a directing representative).
There are other, more minor criteria you’ll need to meet, but if you at least meet the above criteria, you’ll stand a good chance of qualifying.
Additionally, most people can qualify to be a caregiver. According to the State of New York,
“a consumer directed personal assistant may include any other adult relative of the consumer who does not reside with the consumer or any other adult relative who resides with the consumer because the amount of care the consumer requires makes such relative’s presence necessary.”
In other words, most friends and family members will be eligible.
However, there are some exceptions; for example, a spouse is typically not eligible.
Applying and Becoming a Caregiver
Unfortunately, the process to becoming a caregiver through CDPAP can be complicated.
It’s not as simple as filling out a single application or enrolling online.
You’ll have to apply and verify that the person in need of care currently meets all requirements.
After that, most CDPAP applicants will need to be formally evaluated by a nurse – and sometimes undergo multiple evaluations.
A caregiver must be deemed fit to provide care.
Additionally, you’ll need to complete several CDPAP-related forms and go through an approval process.
Depending on the complexity of the application and a few other variables, this process could take weeks.
What Is the Pay Rate?
The hourly pay rate or salary for a home healthcare provider through CDPAP will depend on a few different factors, including the number of hours worked, the work being provided, the location of the care, and the experience of the provider.
The pay rate is often competitive, serving as an additional motivation to become a caregiver through this program.
Getting Help
Navigating What Is the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP)? can be stressful and challenging, which is why many aspiring healthcare providers end up getting help.
Working with a third party to streamline the application process, get your questions answered, and relieve stress can be a massive benefit.
