The Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) is a Medicaid-funded program that gives consumers more control over how they get home care. It allows the you to choose your own home care aides, rather than having them assigned by an agency.

To qualify for CDPAP a you must be Medicaid-eligible and have a medical need for physical assistance with regular self-care. Once enrolled in the program, you, or an approved surrogate, will manage your own care by hiring, training, and supervising your own Personal Assistants. If necessary, you will be able to replace any of your Personal Assistants with PAs you recruit and hire.

Who Can be a CDPAP Personal Assistant?

You may hire any adult to be your Personal Assistant, except for a spouse, a parent of a child under 21, or a legal guardian. Other family members, such as an adult child, a son or daughter-in-law, or parent of a child over 21, are eligible to provide care as a Personal Assistant. PAs are trained by you or a surrogate to perform services usually provided by personal care aides, home health aides, and even some skilled nursing services, like giving medication and injections.

Getting Started

Contact the North Country Center for Independence for full details on how to enroll in the CDPAP program. Once enrolled, you will be able to start interviewing possible Personal Assistants. You may hire as many PAs as you feel you need, as long as their hours are approved by Medicaid. Once the person you select finishes an enrollment package and passes a medical exam, you will be able to hire and train them as your new PA.

You are not responsible for paying your PAs. CDPAP personal assistants are independent contractors whose wages and benefits are paid by a third party contracted by the North Country Center for Independence (NCCI).

Program Support

Contact the North Country Center for Independence for full details on how to enroll in the CDPAP program. Once enrolled, you will be able to start interviewing possible Personal Assistants. You may hire as many PAs as you feel you need, as long as their hours are approved by Medicaid. Once the person you select finishes an enrollment package and passes a medical exam, you will be able to hire and train them as your new PA.

You are not responsible for paying your PAs out of pocket. CDPAP personal assistants are independent contractors whose wages and benefits are paid by a third party contracted by the North Country Center for Independence (NCCI). However it is your responsibility to keep and report accurate time sheets so your Personal Assistants can be paid properly and on time.

Contacts for the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program:

  • CDPAP referrals: Ext: 117 or 518-564-0434

  • If you are a current CDPAP Consumer - Ext. 117 or 518-564-0434

  • If you are interested in being a CDPAP Consumer - Ext. 117 or 518-564-0434

  • If you want to be on our Personal Assistance aide list - Ext. 115 or 518-564-0384

  • Time sheet issues - Ext. 121 or 518-564-0177

  • Payroll issues - Ext. 121 or 518-564-0177

  • Enrolling a new Personal Assistant - Ext. 115 or 518-564-0384