Maryland Community Personal Assistance Services (CPAS)
Community Personal Assistance Services (CPAS) is a Maryland Medicaid state plan program that pays for personal assistance at home for people who need help with daily activities but do not meet the institutional level of care needed for Community First Choice. This page is part of our Maryland Long-Term Care Medicaid guide.
Figures change periodically. Double-check current amounts before relying on them.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Type of program | Medicaid state plan personal care benefit |
| Who runs it | Maryland Department of Health (MDH) |
| Age | Medicaid members |
| Care need | Needs help with daily activities but does not meet an institutional level of care |
| Maryland 2026 income rule (long-term care) | No fixed cap for nursing home care: medically needy route (income goes toward care) |
| Maryland 2026 asset limit (single applicant) | $2,500 (medically needy, used for nursing home care); $2,000 categorically needy |
| Waiting list | No |
CPAS in brief
Put simply, responsibility for CPAS sits with Maryland Department of Health (MDH). It serves medicaid members, and the care requirement is: Needs help with daily activities but does not meet an institutional level of care. On waiting lists, the current picture is: No. More detail on each point follows, and the Maryland state guide covers the shared financial rules. Other Maryland programs, and general guides on care at home, are linked at the end of this page for comparison with CPAS.
What the program is
CPAS uses the same supports planning and provider system as CFC. It is limited to personal assistance and related supports.
Personal care offered through the Medicaid “state plan” is an ordinary Medicaid benefit, not a waiver. Anyone with full Medicaid who is assessed as needing hands-on help can receive it, without the slot limits that waivers have. The trade-off is that state plan personal care is narrower: it focuses on help with daily activities and lacks the wider menu of supports a waiver offers. See In-home care.
Who qualifies in 2026
In Maryland, the basic requirements for CPAS are that the person:
- Has full Maryland Medicaid in a community category
- Needs help with at least one activity of daily living
- Does not meet an institutional level of care (otherwise CFC applies)
Financial eligibility. The person must already have full Maryland Medicaid. Maryland’s rules are in our state guide. The table’s figures are Maryland’s 2026 long-term care numbers, taken from our state guide. The home (up to the equity limit, when the person or a spouse lives there or plans to return), one vehicle, belongings and a small burial fund are generally not counted by Maryland Medicaid. When one spouse applies for CPAS and the other stays at home, the spouse at home keeps a protected share of the couple’s assets and may receive part of the applicant’s income. See Spousal impoverishment rules.
How the care assessment works. Maryland Medicaid’s assessment covers daily activities, from bathing and dressing to toileting and medications, plus memory and safety. A nurse or social worker working with Maryland Medicaid usually does it in person, wherever the person is living. Families should describe the worst days honestly and bring a list of conditions and medicines. See Nursing home level of care and Activities of daily living.
What services it can pay for
Services depend on the person’s assessed needs and written care plan. Depending on the plan, they can include:
- Personal assistance with daily activities
- Supports planning
- Nurse monitoring
The menu is broad, but the plan is built from need, and unpaid family help is factored in. If needs change, ask for a new assessment.
How to apply
There are two tracks, a financial one and a care one, and both must say yes. The usual path for CPAS is:
- Contact Maryland Access Point.
- Complete the assessment.
- Choose a supports planning agency and provider.
Our documents checklist and Applying for a waiver guide list the paperwork.
Waiting lists
CPAS has no waitlist.
General advice is in Waiver waiting lists.
How it relates to nursing home Medicaid
CPAS serves people with lower needs. If needs grow, CFC or the waiver may apply.
Where the nursing home rules still apply. As in nearly every state, Maryland’s financial rules for home and community programs follow its nursing home rules closely. The five-year look-back still matters: a transfer for less than fair value can delay payment for long-term care services. Estate recovery also applies: the state can seek repayment from the estate of a person who received long-term care services after age 55. People who keep income above a set allowance may have to pay part of it toward their care each month.
If a nursing home becomes necessary. A Maryland nursing home resident keeps a 2026 personal needs allowance of $106 a month, and most other income goes to the facility. The state guide explains the nursing home side.
Tips for families
- Begin before it is urgent. Every step of CPAS takes time, and an early request protects your place.
- Document everything, from forms and letters to who you spoke with at Maryland Medicaid and when.
- Read every notice. If services are denied, cut or ended, the notice explains how to request a fair hearing and the deadline. Requesting one before the deadline often keeps services in place during the appeal.
- Tell Maryland Medicaid about changes in money, address or household as they happen.
- Plan for renewals. Medicaid and the care assessment are both renewed, usually once a year. See Renewals.
- Think about the spouse at home. Couples have extra protections, but they have to be claimed. A certified Medicaid planner or a legal aid office can explain how the rules apply to a particular family.
Common questions
What is the difference between CPAS and CFC? CFC requires an institutional level of care. CPAS is for people who need hands-on help with daily activities but do not meet that level. If your needs grow, a new assessment can move you to CFC.
Is there a waiting list? No. CPAS is a state plan benefit with no slot cap.
Can a family member be paid? Under Maryland’s rules, someone who acts as your representative generally cannot also be your paid worker; other worker rules vary by program.
Do I need Medicaid first? Yes. CPAS is only for people who already have full Maryland Medicaid in a community category.
Related pages
- Maryland Long-Term Care Medicaid guide
- Maryland Community First Choice
- Three kinds of Long-Term Care Medicaid
- PACE programs
Last updated for 2026. General information only, not legal or financial advice. Medicaid Answers is a free educational resource published by Medicaid Answers Foundation.