About assessment appointments

An assessment is a process used by the New York Independent Assessor Program to help determine if you meet the requirements to request personal care services and/or consumer directed personal assistance services. It also helps determine if you meet the requirements to request to enroll into a Managed Long Term Care plan. An assessment consists of a community health assessment appointment and a clinical appointment.

A community health assessment appointment is a meeting between you and a nurse assessor from the New York Independent Assessor Program. The nurse will ask you about your current health and the medicines you are taking. The nurse will ask about your ability to do everyday tasks, like getting around in your home, dressing, and bathing. The nurse will also want to know if you need any equipment, like a wheelchair or special bed, and if you have any support at home from family or friends.

A clinical appointment is a medical exam, which takes place after your community health assessment appointment, conducted by a clinician from the New York Independent Assessor Program. The clinician, whether a doctor, licensed nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, will ask about your medical history and the medical care you are getting now. The clinician will want to know what help or support you need with your care. If needed, the clinician will talk with your doctor to learn more about your care needs.

Getting started

Individuals who are 18 years of age or older and who have Medicaid, or both Medicaid and Medicare, can be assessed for personal care services and/or consumer directed personal assistance services or to request to enroll in a Managed Long Term Care plan. 

Individuals who do not have Medicaid should contact their Local Department of Social Services.

If you have Medicaid, or both Medicare and Medicaid, call the New York Independent Assessor Program to schedule an assessment at 1-855-222-8350 (TTY: 1-888-329-1541).  You can call Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm, or Saturday, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. We are closed on state holidays. 

What to expect during your assessment

During your community health assessment appointment, you will meet with a nurse assessor. The nurse assessor will ask questions to learn about your health care needs. Then, you will have a clinical appointment where you will meet with a clinician who will ask about your medical history, the medical care you are getting now, and what help or support you need with your care. 

This will help determine if you meet the requirements to request personal care services and/or consumer directed personal assistance services. The assessment also helps determine if you meet the requirements to request to enroll in a Managed Long Term Care plan.  

You will receive a call from the New York Independent Assessor Program before the assessment appointments to confirm the scheduled date and time.

The appointments will be conducted at your home, a family member or friend's home or apartment, or at a facility where you are receiving services.

There are two ways to have your appointments conducted.  You can either choose to have an in-person appointment or a video visit.

An in-person appointment means a nurse assessor or clinician will meet with you at your home, a family member or friend's home or apartment, or at a facility where you are receiving services. The nurse assessor or clinician can see and talk to you in person.

A video visit is very similar to an in-person appointment, but instead of meeting face to face, the appointment will be conducted by video. The nurse assessor or clinician can see and talk to you using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

If you want to have a video visit, you must have access to a smartphone, tablet, or laptop with a camera and Wi-Fi internet connection. If you do not have access to one of these devices and Wi-Fi, you also have the option of having a friend or family member with you who does have access to a device and Wi-Fi.

You must also have an email address or a smartphone for us to send the invitation link for you to join the appointments.

You should have your identification card, a list of medications you are taking, and any medical records you have from recent hospital stays and/or appointments with your doctors. 

Yes. You can have a family member or caregiver with you during the assessment appointments. You can also name this family member or caregiver or another person you trust as an authorized representative who can make health care decisions for you. To designate someone as your authorized representative, you must complete the Authorized Representative Designation Form.

The New York Independent Assessor Program can provide interpreting services in any language, including sign language, during your assessment appointments.  

It is important that you inform the New York Independent Assessor Program if you need interpreting or sign language interpreting services when you schedule your assessment appointments.

Assessments are done yearly, unless you have a sudden and significant change in your medical condition. If you are enrolled in a plan, you must call your plan. If you are receiving services through Medicaid, you must call your Local Department of Social Services. 

After your assessment

After your assessment, you will get a letter from the New York Independent Assessor Program with the assessment results. Discuss this letter with a family member or caregiver if you need help to understand the assessment results. If you have questions about the letter, call the New York Independent Assessor at 1-855-222-8350 (TTY: 1-888-329-1541). 

A person-centered service plan is a written plan created by you and your plan or Local Department of Social Services, that focuses on the needs identified by your assessment and the services and supports that are necessary to meet those needs. 

If you disagree with the assessment results reported in the outcome notice you received from the New York Independent Assessor Program, you have the right to a conference and a Fair Hearing.

A conference is an informal meeting where you can review the notice with the New York Independent Assessor Program and point out information you feel is not accurate. If the New York Independent Assessor Program discovers at the conference that the wrong decision was made based on the information you provided, they will take corrective action and send you a new notice.

You can also request a Fair Hearing to appeal the actions of the notice you received. A Fair Hearing allows you to present your case to an administrative law judge. You will need to request a Fair Hearing within 60 days of receiving the assessment outcome notice. You can request a Fair Hearing by phone, fax, or mail. You can request copies of documents in your case file to prepare for a Fair Hearing. 

Changes or impacts to care services

If you have an immediate need for personal care services and/or consumer directed personal assistance services and do not have Medicaid, contact your Local Department of Social Services for assistance.

If you need personal care services and/or consumer directed personal assistance services, call the New York Independent Assessor Program to schedule an assessment. Once your assessment is complete, your Medicaid Managed Care plan will review the results of your assessment and go over the next steps. 

If you are not currently receiving personal care services and/or consumer directed personal assistance services, you will need to contact your Local Department of Social Services or your Medicaid Managed Care plan to request assistance in scheduling an assessment right away. If you are already in a Medicaid Managed Care plan, you should contact your plan.  If you are not enrolled in a health plan, contact your Local Department of Social Services. They will call NYIAP with you on the line to schedule an assessment.

If you are currently receiving personal care services and/or consumer directed personal assistance services through your Local Department of Social Services or your Medicaid health plan and need more hours, you must contact them to schedule a reassessment.