Concepts of Independence is a Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Services program (CDPAS), an alternative to traditional home care services.

Our program can give you more control over your personal care, and can include any services provided by the following:

• Personal Care Aides
• Home Health Aides
• Registered Nurses

Once enrolled in our program, you (or an approved surrogate) will be able to manage your own care by recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, scheduling, and (if necessary) dismissing your own Personal Assistant (PA).

Concepts will provide you with:

• Program guidelines and support
• Information on hiring, training and supervising your PA
• Peer counseling

Additionally, Concepts will handle such administrative tasks as:

• Billing Medicaid or Managed Care plan
• Processing payroll     
• Providing eligible PAs with a health insurance & benefits package

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

• To qualify to be a Concepts Consumer, you must be Medicaid-eligible, and a person with a disability.
• Contact a Concepts representative at 844-NY-CDPAS (844-692-3727) or info@coiny.org to obtain additional information on how to enroll in the Concepts CDPAP program.
• Once approved, you can begin to interview potential PAs (Please note that while some family members may qualify to be your PA, your parent or spouse are not eligible.)
• After the individual you select has completed an enrollment package and passed a medical exam, you will be able to train and employ him/her as your PA. You may employ as many PAs as you require to maintain your lifestyle, as long as their hours are authorized by Medicaid.

FIND OUT WHAT BEING A CONSUMER IS LIKE - FROM CONSUMERS THEMSELVES

Concepts recently followed two Consumers and a Surrogate throughout their typical day, to find out how being a part of Concepts has changed their lives. Check out what we found here.

You can also see testimonials from some of our founding Consumers and to learn what they think about Concepts.