Understanding the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP): Key Terms and Definitions
The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) is a Medicaid program that empowers consumers to take charge of their own personal care services. This program provides consumers with greater flexibility and control over the care they receive, allowing them to manage their own care plans and hire personal assistants of their choice. In this blog post, we will explore the key terms and definitions related to CDPAP to help you understand the program better.
In the context of CDPAP, a consumer is a Medicaid recipient who is determined by a social services district or Managed Long-Term Care (MLTC) plan to participate in the program. Consumers have the ability to hire, train, and supervise their own personal assistants.
Consumer directed personal assistance involves providing support to a consumer with personal care services, home health aide services, and skilled nursing tasks. The consumer or their designated representative instructs, supervises, and directs the personal assistant in carrying out these tasks.
A consumer directed personal assistant is an adult who provides assistance to the consumer under the consumer's instruction, supervision, and direction. This individual can be any adult relative of the consumer, except the consumer's spouse or parent. The assistant must not reside with the consumer unless their presence is necessary due to the level of care required.
Continuous personal services refer to uninterrupted care provided by more than one consumer directed personal assistant for more than 16 hours per day. This type of care is necessary for consumers who need total assistance with activities such as toileting, walking, transferring, and feeding at unpredictable times.
A designated representative is an adult to whom a self-directing consumer delegates authority to instruct, supervise, and direct the personal assistant. For non-self-directing consumers, the designated representative may be the consumer's parent, legal guardian, or a responsible adult surrogate approved by the MLTC plan.
A fiscal intermediary is an entity that contracts with a social services district to manage wage and benefit processing for consumer directed personal assistants. It also handles other fiscal intermediary responsibilities such as taxes and payroll.
Home health aide services involve providing simple health care tasks, personal hygiene services, housekeeping tasks essential to the consumer's health, and related supportive services. These services may include administering medications, providing special skin care, and using medical equipment.
Live-in 24-hour personal care services involve providing care by one personal assistant for a consumer who needs assistance throughout the day. This care includes activities such as toileting, walking, transferring, feeding, and skilled nursing tasks. The assistant is expected to obtain five hours of uninterrupted sleep daily during their eight-hour sleep period.
Personal care services include nutritional and environmental support functions, personal care functions, or both, as specified in the relevant regulations. For consumers with limited needs, personal care services should not exceed eight hours per week.
A self-directing consumer is someone capable of making choices regarding their activities of daily living and the management of their personal assistance. This individual understands the impact of their choices and takes responsibility for them.
Skilled nursing tasks refer to tasks within the scope of practice of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse that a consumer directed personal assistant may perform under the supervision of the consumer or designated representative.
Some assistance refers to a specific personal care service, home health aide service, or skilled nursing task that the consumer performs with the help of another individual.
A stable medical condition is a condition that is not expected to suddenly deteriorate or improve. It does not require frequent medical or nursing evaluation or changes in the consumer's plan of care.
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Understanding these definitions and concepts is essential for anyone interested in or involved with the CDPAP. This program offers a unique approach to personal care services, allowing consumers to have more control and flexibility over the care they receive.
Source: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/publications/adm/11adm6.htm
