BRIDGES Consumer Directed Personal Assistance

The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance (CDPA) program is a service that helps to improve the quality of life for those who require personal assistance at home due to their disability and/or chronic illness.  On a statewide level, these services are available to individuals with Medicaid who qualify for long term care.

CDPA provides the least restrictive level of care and an alternative to the traditional medical model of home health care. BRIDGES provides technical and practical support to people living with a disability or chronic condition and empowers the individual to manage their care according to their plan of care.  Accordingly, each individual functions as the employer of their own Personal Assistant (PA).  In this manner, BRIDGES’ CDPA Program is dedicated to building and empowering individuals to be in charge of their own personal care.

BRIDGES’ serves as the Fiscal Intermediary (FI) or Employer-of-Record and is responsible to provide the benefits and payroll administration for each individual self-directed employer. Each self-directed employer has the right to choose an FI to have their employees paid. BRIDGES CDPA program enrolls new self-directed employers and provides training regarding their role and responsibilities as employers as well as guidance and materials necessary to hire their own PA.

Individuals eligible for CDPA services:

• Have active Medicaid, including dually eligible (Medicaid and Medicare).
• Is eligible for Long Term Care
• Have a stable medical condition
• Are self-directing or, if non-self-directing has a designated representative;
• Require some or total assistance with one or more personal care services, home health aide services, or skilled nursing tasks.