Can a Family Member Get Paid to be a Caregiver in New York?

The CDPAP program is managed through the New York State Department of Health. This Medicaid program provides people with physical disabilities or chronic illnesses with the medical support they need for activities of daily living or skilled nursing services. Those services may be provided through a personal care aide, home health aide, or nurse. What’s more, the person receiving the care has the ability to select someone to provide this type of care for them.

A part of the program allows you to hire family members and friends to provide these services for you. In doing so, you may feel more comfortable getting the support you need. For some, it is about getting care from someone you trust. For others, factors like a language barrier or mental health needs make it hard for a stranger to provide these services.

For a family member to get paid to be a caregiver under this program, there are several eligibility requirements to consider. If you meet the criteria, you may be paid by Medicaid to provide these services to your family member. A family member who provides these services is referred to as a Personal Assistant. To qualify, you’ll need to meet the following:

• The person you provide care for must be willing to allow you to provide these services. They must be approved for Medicaid.
• The caregiver must be authorized to work in the US and must be at least the legal working age in the state. 
• You must complete the Personal Assistant application package. 
• You must complete a pre-employment physical exam to make sure you are physically fit to assist a person who is older with their needs.

There are some situations that may disqualify you from providing these services. First, you cannot be the spouse or a proxy or designated representative of the person you are providing care for, and you cannot be the parent of the person or legal guardian with limited exceptions.

The CDPAP program requires individuals to go through a formal application process with a fiscal intermediary. Special Touch Home Care provides this service. If you wish to work as a family caregiver, you will need to call our team at (718) 627-1122 to answer a few key questions. That includes gathering information about how you are related to or know the person, as well as providing health insurance and doctor information. 

The application process involves receiving a medical order, which is then given to the patient’s doctor to state that this level of care is necessary. Then, if you are still ready to move forward, you will complete a consumer agreement package supplied by our organization. This gives you the step-by-step insights you need to get into the program. 

We assign a care representative to work with you to enroll in the program and provide insight into what needs to be done and how to enroll. You receive the support and guidance you need to learn how to provide services to the person you are providing caregiving services to.

Managing the Process of Working as a Paid Family Caregiver in New York

You have a lot of flexibility in providing care for your family member or friend. However, to receive family caregiver compensation, you must meet the program requirements on an ongoing basis. Special Touch Home Care will handle the paperwork and logistics for you so you can focus on providing care. 

The person receiving care will work through their insurance provider to set a mutually agreed-upon schedule. This information is passed on to our team. We have a phone system where Personal Assistants can call in and out of every day they work, and those calls need to match your schedule and work hour requirements.  

You may be providing care on a daily basis, or you may be able to provide care on a normal schedule during the day, one day a week, or otherwise, based on the individual needs of that person.

The New York CDPAP pays a caregiver a specific rate for the care they provide. This is not the same for every person. Rather, it is based on the state, health plan, and the fiscal intermediary to select to work with, such as Special Touch Home Care. Typically, the pay rate for a personal assistant is between $13.20 and $19.09 per hour, and if you are working overtime, that increases to $19.80 and $28.63 per hour.

Rates change annually, and they may be different based on the county in which you provide care.

If you want to work as a paid family caregiver in New York, the process is made simpler and direct by working with Special Touch Home Care. Our team will help you to qualify for the CDPAP program, provide you with the education and training you need, and help you to navigate getting paid for the work you do.

To learn more about how to become a paid family caregiver in New York, contact Special Touch Home Care today and let us get started on supporting your family’s needs.