The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) allows Medicaid consumers to choose their own caregivers and have more control over who provides care, and how care is provided.
This program is great for a caregiver to earn extra income. CDPAP permits parents of adult children (21 years of age or older) be hired to work as a Personal Assistant. This means that an adult who is not legally responsible for the eligible individual's care may become a Personal Assistant for that eligible individual. Parents of children who are younger than 21 cannot be hired as that minor's Personal Assistants. Consistent with current regulations, spouses and designated representatives also cannot be hired as CDPAP assistants. Any other adult relative of the CDPAP eligible individual may serve as a Personal Assistant, even if the patient and the assistant live in the same household. In all cases, the CDPAP authorization is based on the eligible individual's assessed needs.
