CDPAP is transforming patients’ lives by allowing them to decide who provides care for them.
Getting to select your caregiver can give you peace of mind as you will most often go for a close relative. Read about the CDPAP eligibility requirements, as well as the processes and resources involved.
CDPAP stands for Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program. It is a program offered by Medicaid and allows recipients to hire their family members and friends as caregivers or personal assistants.
The caregivers are responsible for taking care of the daily needs of the patients. And since it is an official program, the caregivers are compensated for their time and paid through a fiscal intermediary.
Through CDPAP, family members can find peace caring for their loved ones without worrying about bills and paychecks. However, not every patient qualifies for a CDPAP. Certain criteria need to be met to be eligible for a CDPAP caregiver. Read on for more insight.
CDPAP was designed to provide care for patients who are physically disabled or are chronically ill. If you belong to either group, then you’re likely to qualify for a CDPAP caregiver. However, you will need to make an application and get reviewed first before qualifying for the service.
Once you make your application, your doctor or physician will recommend you for a nursing and social assessment that will be done to ascertain your eligibility for home care. The assessment will also determine the frequency and amount of care that you need.
If you meet the following requirements, you can sign up for CDPAP:
You Need Assistance With Daily Tasks
To get a CDPAP caregiver, you must require home care. This includes needing help to perform daily tasks such as household chores, doing laundry, grooming, cooking and meal prep, bathing, transportation to and from doctor’s appointments, and administering medication.
As mentioned above, recipients of CDPAP need to have a chronic illness, be disabled or elderly to be eligible for in-home care.
Patients must be able to make informed choices about how their caregiving services are administered or have a legal guardian, relative, or adult who can and will assist them in making informed decisions.
This is because it’s the patient’s responsibility to hire, train, and supervise the CDPAP caregiver and handle any paperwork involved.
Recipients of CDPAP should reside in New York State and be eligible for NYS Medicaid.
Medicaid is a program designed to assist low-income earners in New York to access health care services. To be eligible for CDPAP home care, you need to have a Medicaid plan in place.
Before signing up for CDPAP, you need to have an understanding of who you can enlist as a CDPAP caregiver.
Most family members qualify to become CDPAP caregivers. However, you cannot enlist your spouse to be your in-home care provider. Provided the personal assistant you choose is legally able to work, they qualify to be your CDPAP caregiver.
Parents can act as their children’s caregivers. Children can also be hired to take care of their elderly parents, provided they meet the age requirement. Siblings of legal working age can as well be paid to take care of each other.
You should remember that choosing a parent as a home care provider can attract certain restrictions. For example, whether or not the caregiver lives with the CDPAP recipient will depend on how much care is needed and how often it is needed.
Ultimately, it is up to the patient to decide who they hire as their personal assistant. They can also delegate the decision to their guardian or a close adult.
Caregivers are compensated through fiscal intermediaries (FI) who work with the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program’s plans. Since the CDPAP is a healthcare plan funded by New York State, you don’t have to worry about insurance covering the expenses. Your caregiver will be paid by an FI such as FreedomCare.
CDPAP is available in all state counties, not just in New York City. Provided you’re a Medicaid consumer, you can access CDPAP home care. There are various FreedomCare locations in counties across New York that can provide Fiscal Intermediary Services to you or your loved one needing CDPAP.
If you’re not sure whether CDPAP is for you, you may want to go through some of the advantages offered by the program compared to traditional home care.
There are many reasons why people are opting for CDPAP caregivers. Here are some benefits you can enjoy:
The process of accessing CDPAP care includes a lot of paperwork and procedures. Luckily, some intermediaries can help reduce the workload involved. Fiscal Intermediaries can help you handle the formalities and paperwork involved when applying for Medicaid and CDPAP. It is also in charge of paying the selected caregivers and filing for Medicaid Reimbursement.
FreedomCare is a certified Fiscal Intermediary with several locations across New York State. This means that you have a lot of convenient locations to serve you better. Let us at FreedomCare help you navigate the process of accessing CDPAP care.
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If you have Medicaid FreedomCare allows you to choose your caregiver!
