Maryland · state plan
Community Personal Assistance Services (CPAS) in Maryland
Community Personal Assistance Services is a Maryland Medicaid state plan benefit for people who need help with at least one daily activity but do not need an institutional level of care. It pays for personal assistance, nurse monitoring and supports planning. Like CFC, it can be delivered through an agency or self-directed, and relatives can be hired as the personal assistant.
Also called: CPAS · Community Personal Assistance Services Program · Maryland CPAS · Medical Assistance Personal Care
Who do you care for?
Quick facts
- Pay
- $16–$20/hr reported wage; agency rate $25.58/hr (FY2025)
- Adult children & other relatives
- Yes
- Spouse
- Sometimes
- Parent of a minor child
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- none
Who qualifies for CPAS
- Already has full Maryland Medicaid (red and white card).
- Needs help with at least one activity of daily living, such as bathing, dressing or eating.
- Lives in a community setting.
- No age limit.
Who can be paid as the caregiver
- Adult children & other relatives Yes
- relatives such as adult children can be hired as personal assistants, as in CFC.
- Spouse Sometimes
- the same uncertainty as CFC: older state guidance barred spouses and parents of minors, while current sources report spouses can be hired; confirm with your supports planner.
- Parent of a minor child Sometimes
- not confirmed; older guidance barred parents of minor dependent children.
- Living together
- the worker does not need to live with the participant.
Who employs the caregiver: Either. A personal assistance agency can employ the worker, or the participant can self-direct with a fiscal intermediary for payroll.
Spouse rules differ by program — see spouse pay in Maryland.
How much CPAS pays
$16–$20/hr reported wage; agency rate $25.58/hr (FY2025). CPAS uses the same personal assistance rate as CFC: $6.3962 per 15-minute unit ($25.58/hour) from July 1, 2024 per the FY2025 CFC/CPAS rate transmittal. Workers are paid less than the rate. The family-caregiver wage is not published by the state; third-party sources report about $16–$20/hour.
Hours and budget: Hours come from the interRAI assessment and plan of service, using the Department's standardized times for help with daily activities and household tasks.
Compare with other Maryland programs on the Maryland caregiver pay page, or across states in pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist?
CPAS is a Medicaid state plan benefit, so there is no waiting list.
How to apply for CPAS
- Get full Maryland Medicaid if you do not already have it.
- Call Maryland Access Point at 844-627-5465 or the Community First Choice Program at 410-767-1739 and ask about CPAS.
- Complete the interRAI assessment to show you need help with at least one daily activity.
- Work with a supports planner on the plan of service and choose the family member or agency worker you want.
- Community First Choice Program (handles CPAS) · 410-767-1739 · official site
- Maryland Access Point · 844-627-5465 · official site
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CPAS questions
Who is CPAS for?
People on full Maryland Medicaid who need help with at least one daily activity but do not need nursing-home-level care. People who need that higher level of care usually get CFC instead.
Can a family member be paid through CPAS?
Yes, relatives such as adult children can be hired. Whether a spouse or the parent of a minor can be paid is not clearly stated in current state materials, so check with your supports planner.
Is there a waiting list for CPAS?
No. CPAS is a state plan benefit, not a waiver, so there are no limited slots.
What services does CPAS cover?
Personal assistance, nurse monitoring and supports planning, plus all regular Medicaid benefits.
What rule governs CPAS?
The Code of Maryland Regulations, COMAR chapter 10.09.20.
Sources: health.maryland.gov · health.maryland.gov · health.maryland.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated 2026-10-08. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Maryland caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Maryland — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Maryland
Each state writes its own rules, and they differ more than people expect — a spouse who can be paid on one side of the line often cannot be on the other.