Personal Preference Program

New Jersey's Cash and Counseling Program

The Personal Preference Program (PPP) began as New Jersey's Cash & Counseling Program in 1999, as part of a national research and demonstration project. The project goal was to find new and different ways for individuals to receive their Medicaid Personal Care Assistance (PCA) services, giving them more choice.

Personal Care Assistant (PCA) services are non-emergency, health related tasks. Tasks include help with activities of daily living (ADLs) and with household duties essential to the patient's health and comfort, such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and light housekeeping.

Using a "Cash & Counseling" approach, along with the idea of "consumer direction," PPP allows elderly and disabled adult Medicaid recipients to direct and manage their own Medicaid PCA services.

With a monthly cash allowance, participants - or "consumers" - work with a consultant to develop a Cash Management Plan (CMP). This plan helps them decide the services they need and the individuals and/or agencies they can hire to provide those services. Consumers who are cognitively impaired or unable to make their own decisions can choose a representative to make decisions on their behalf.

PPP also includes Fiscal Management (FM) services to help consumers with the financial aspects of the program. The FM handles all payroll responsibilities for participants and acts as a bookkeeping service.

The Personal Preference Program requires greater individual responsibility. But in return, it offers the consumers more control, flexibility and choice over the services they receive.

Personal Preference lets consumers:

• Choose the services they need and want
• Hire anyone they want: relatives, friends, neighbors
• Design a service plan to meet their schedule
• Buy equipment, devices, make home modifications
• Exercise greater control, flexibility and choice over their personal care

As a Personal Preference consumer, you can use your cash allowance to:

• Purchase services from an agency
• Pay a friend or relative to help you
• Make modifications to your home, such as a ramp or chair lift, that help you live more independently
• Buy equipment, appliances, technology or other items that increase your independence, such as a microwave oven, or front loading washing machine that you can reach from your wheelchair

To be eligible for Personal Preference, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Be Medicaid eligible
• Qualify for Personal Care Assistant Services (PCA) and need PCA services for at least 6 months.
• Be able to self-direct services or choose a representative who can act on your behalf

Printable PPP brochure (pdf)

PPP Consumer Inquiry Form

If you meet these requirements, please contact us at the New Jersey Division of Disability Services (DDS):

Toll Free: 1-888-285-3036, Option 2

Direct: 1-609-292-7800

TDD: 1-609-292-1210

Web site at: www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dds