How to Enroll in CDPAP

If you’re a New York resident, and you have ongoing disabilities, then you might have heard about the Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP).

CDPAP is an NY state Medicaid program that allows you to hire a care provider of your choice who helps you with various daily living activities, so you don’t have to move into a nursing home.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at what are the eligibility requirements, how to enroll, and answer some common questions about CDPAP.

What are the qualifications for enrolling in CDPAP? 

The requirements to enroll in CDPAP are as follows:

You must be enrolled in (or eligible for) Medicaid

CDPAP is a program funded through the New York State Medicaid. 

So, that means you need to be currently enrolled in Medicaid to be eligible for CDPAP. If you’re not currently enrolled, but you’re eligible for Medicaid, then you need to enroll first before applying for CDPAP. 

Must be a New York Resident

You must be living in the state of New York. If  you’re already enrolled in NY Medicaid, then you’ve already fulfilled this requirement.

You must need help with daily activities 

Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) is meant for Medicaid recipients with disabilities who need help with activities of daily living.

That means you must have a stable (ongoing) medical condition that makes it difficult to perform daily tasks like personal hygiene, grooming, dressing, preparing meals, etc.

Through CDPAP, you can hire a care provider of your choice, and they can help you with daily activities, so you can continue living in your home with comfort and dignity.

You must be self-directing

Self-directing means that you must be able to interview, hire, and train your care provider. So, you 

So you should have the ability to assess what your daily activity needs are, how a caregiver can best help you, and then create their tasks and responsibilities.

What is the CDPAP enrollment process

If you meet all the eligibility requirements for CDPAP, the next step is to get the enrollment process started. 

Here’s what you need to do next.

Step 1 – Call our intake representative 

Give us a call at 718-568-7371 to speak to one of our intake representatives. 

You can get all your questions answered on the call, and your representative will also help you get the required authorization from your Medicaid insurance provider.

Step 2 – Fill out the required CDPAP forms 

Once you complete the call with our intake representative, we’ll send you all the necessary forms you need to fill out to enroll in CDPAP. 

The forms include nurse assessment and medical forms to be completed by your doctor. 

To give you an idea, one of the forms your doctor would have to complete is the Physician’s Order for CDPAP form.

In this form, your doctor will provide some basic information about your disability, and then validate all the points necessary for you to qualify for CDPAP.

For example, that your disability is ongoing, your current treatment plan, you’re able to direct your caregiver, and more.

Once you complete all the forms, you’d have to send them in to your Medicaid provider for approval. But we will help you with all the details in this process.

Step 3 – Choose your CDPAP caregiver 

The third step in the process is to choose your caregiver. 

One of the biggest benefits of CDPAP is that you can pick a caregiver that you’re comfortable with, someone who fits your specific needs.

You can pick your daughter or son, a relative (other than your spouse or legal guardian), a friend, or any other person that you think would be ideal. 

You get to receive care from someone you trust. And your caregiver gets paid through NY Medicaid to look after someone they care about.

Step 4 – Complete the in-house visit 

The final step is to have one of our CDPAP onboarding specialists come to your home to conduct an in-home orientation.

They will work with both you and your care provider to make sure that everyone is on the same page with all aspects of CDPAP.

The onboarding specialist will make sure that both you and the caregiver are familiar with the entire process. Things like how many hours they’re expected to work, how they report their hours, how they get paid through Medicaid, and more.

They’ll also make sure that you’re both aware of the exact responsibilities and the tasks that are involved in the caregiving process, in order to ensure that it is most effective in helping with your daily activities.

How long does it take to enroll in CDPAP?

The time to enroll in CDPAP can range from as quickly as two weeks to as long as three months.

The quickness of the process mostly depends on how fast your Medicaid provider approves your application, so that your caregiver can start working and get paid. 

There are some things that you can do to increase your chances of a faster approval.

  • Be familiar with your current situation – if you’re already enrolled in Medicaid, if you’re already receiving some other type of home care through Medicaid, etc.
  • Make sure that all your information is correct in the forms.
  • Make sure you send in all the required documentation both for you and your caregiver (again, we can help make sure you’re not missing anything).
  • Be prompt in your responses if someone from your Medicaid provider contacts you with questions.

Do I have to travel to an office to enroll in CDPAP?

You don’t have to travel anywhere to enroll in CDPAP.

We will provide you with all the forms and instructions that you’ll submit either via email or fax.

We come to your home for the orientation process, and once approved, your Medicaid provider will send all the other documents and information for you and your caregiver.

FAQs about CDPAP enrollment 

Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about CDPAP. 

Can I enroll in CDPAP in NJ? 

CDPAP is specifically meant for New York state residents. So you cannot enroll in CDPAP in New Jersey.

But NJ does have a similar program called Personal Preference Program (PPP) that might be suitable if you live there.

Can I enroll with Medicare?

You won’t be eligible to enroll in CDPAP through Medicare. It is specifically funded through NY Medicaid, and you need to enroll in Medicaid.

Can I enroll with Medicaid spend down? 

Medicaid spend down is a method for you to qualify for Medicaid by spending your excess income or assets. By spending anything extra, you bring your income/assets down to a level that allows you to qualify for Medicaid.

But you must spend them on qualified expenses.

Once you spend down adequately, then you can enroll in Medicaid, and go on to apply for CDPAP.

So, technically, yes you can indirectly qualify for CDPAP through Medicaid spend down. But you must enroll in Medicaid first.

Can my parent who is on SSI enroll in CDPAP?

In New York, typically anyone eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is automatically also eligible for Medicaid. 

If your parent is eligible for Medicaid, and they meet the other criteria for CDPAP (discussed above), then they can enroll in the program.

Can my parent who is on disability benefits enroll in CDPAP?

If your parent is eligible for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI), then they’re typically also eligible for Medicare.

Medicare does not play a role in eligibility for CDPAP. 

But many people qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid at the same time. So, if your parent qualifies for Medicaid separately, then they can also enroll in Medicaid.

Key Takeaways

CDPAP can be a win-win situation for both you and your caregiver. 

You get to live in the comfort of your own home and receive care from someone you like and trust. And your caregiver gets compensated for work that is rewarding to them.

If you meet the eligibility requirements discussed above (or if you have questions about your eligibility), take the first step today and give us a call at 718-568-7371 to speak to one of our intake representatives. 

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