The PACER program is dedicated to building and empowering consumers to be managers of their
own personal care. As an individual who is self-directed, a consumer within the PACER program is the
employer and recruits, interviews, hires, trains, supervises and or dismisses any person he/she chooses
as a personal assistant. The PACER Program is a CDPAP program.

OUR GOALS ARE:

          o To provide a program that empowers and enables community independence to all participants.

          o To be committed to serving as an alternative to the traditional medical model of home health care.

          o To improve the quality of services provided to consumers.

          o To provide technical and practical support to consumers.

What is the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP)...and Who is Eligible?

The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) is a self-directed home care model
available to Medicaid eligible consumers who are in need of home care services and are capable of
managing their own care. Consumers who are not self-directing may have a responsible adult assume
the program’s responsibilities on their behalf.

Eligibility for the CDPAP is determined by the Local Department of Social Services (LDSS), Managed Care
Organization or Managed Long Term Care organization in the county where the consumer resides.

The LDSS, MCO or MLTC conducts an assessment to determine the level of assistance and hours of care
for any of the following: personal care services, home health aide services and/or skilled nursing services
for which the consumer may be eligible to receive.

Is CDPAP right for you? CDPAP enables individuals to have control and independence over their own
care. CDPAP gives consumers:

          o CONTROL: Consumers direct and manage their own care by choosing who they work with. The
                              consumer hires, trains, supervises and (if necessary) dismisses their personal assistants;

          o INDEPENDENCE: Consumers schedules the hours for which their personal assistant will work,
                                      directing how and when their plan of care is implemented;

          o RESPONSIBILITY: Consumers, not an agency, are responsible for training personal assistants
                                       and overseeing all aspects of care. Also, consumers are responsible for making sure that
                                       care is actually delivered, and verifying the time worked for payment by the agency or fiscal
                                       intermediary.

          o How does CDPAP work? Once the LDSS, MCO or MLTC determines a consumer is eligible
             for CDPAP and determines how many hours of services are needed, the next step is to find a
             personal assistant(s) (PA).

          o The PA(s) can be almost anyone the consumer wants – a friend, neighbor, former aide, or in
             some cases, a family member. A parent, spouse or designated representative cannot be a PA. It
             is important that the consumer is comfortable with the individuals and that they can be trained
             to do the tasks necessary. Personal Assistants cannot live with the consumer unless deemed
             necessary by the evaluating nurse.

          o The PACER program is always ready to provide any assistance the consumer needs to fulfill their
             responsibilities, including but not limited to, providing a list of applicants to interview and hire if
             they cannot find someone to provide them personal assistance.

          o The PACER program acts as a fiscal intermediary for the consumer, verifying employment
             eligibility, maintaining personnel files for each PA, and a file for each consumer, payroll
             documentation (W4/I9, etc.), benefits administration for eligible PA’s, and timesheet/payroll
             processing.