Long Island parents of adults with chronic illness and physical disabilities will be eligible to serve as full-time paid caregivers according to new legislation recently signed by Governor Cuomo. Previously, under the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), parents were not allowed to serve as paid caregivers for their adult children. This posed a problem for many families as the responsibilities and demands involved with caring for an adult child with a chronic illness or disability require an abundance of time and energy. This responsibility, paired with a full-time job sounds nearly impossible, but without being eligible for payment for care provided to the adult child, there was no other option.
As of April 1, 2016 parents will be allowed to become paid full-time caregivers as long as they are not legally responsible for the individual. Spouses and designated representatives are also not eligible to become paid full-time caregivers. Any other adults can assume this role and receive payment for their services. The service recipient must be enrolled in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, which is a Medicaid program that provides services for those with a medical need for assistance with activities of daily living. Services are provided within the individual’s home, and recipients are able to choose their caregivers. Under this program the consumer is entirely responsible for hiring, training, supervising, and terminating service providers.
For more information about the CDPAP program including how to enroll and requirements of the program, please visit https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/longterm/cdpap.htm. You can also read the bill signed by Governor Cuomo here: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2015/s5712.
