New York State Senate to Investigate CDPAP Transition

News Summary

The New York State Senate will hold a hearing to scrutinize the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program’s transition to a single administrator, Public Partnerships LLC. Stakeholders have voiced concerns about potential service disruptions and payment delays. As the April enrollment deadline approaches, only a fraction of participants have registered, prompting calls for deadline extensions. Advocates warn of negative impacts on care quality, while state officials maintain that the transition will eliminate fraud and save costs.

Albany, NY – The New York State Senate is set to hold an oversight hearing on July 9 to investigate the transition of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) to a single administrator, amid escalating concerns from both participants and workers. This transition, which aims to consolidate the administration of the program from over 600 brokers to one entity, Public Partnerships LLC, is part of a broader $9 billion Medicaid program overhaul.

The hearing will be chaired by Senate health committee head Gustavo Rivera and James Skoufis, who leads the committee on investigations and government operations. They are expected to address significant opposition from many stakeholders worried about service disruptions and payment delays associated with the new management structure.

The CDPAP allows individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses to hire and manage their own caregivers. The New York State Department of Health has instructed that enrollment for both users and caregivers in the new management system must be completed by April 1, with a staggering 280,000 individuals required to register. Unfortunately, only about 108,000 participants had successfully completed registration as of the latest report, raising alarms about the potential impact of failing to meet the deadline.

Challenges in the registration process have been reported widely, with users facing long wait times and unreturned phone calls. In response, State Senator Leroy Comrie is advocating for an extension of the registration deadline. He is circulating a bipartisan letter among fellow lawmakers to request that Governor Hochul implement a delay to provide adequate time for users to complete their registrations.

The concerns surrounding the CDPAP transition have manifested into protests by caregivers and consumers at Public Partnerships’ offices, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Advocacy groups and individuals relying on the program are alleging mismanagement during the implementation phase, which they believe has obstructed access to necessary information and assistance regarding the new system.

Critics of Public Partnerships LLC have pointed to the company’s track record and lack of experience in managing such a large-scale program. There are fears that the transition may negatively impact the quality of care for vulnerable populations that depend on CDPAP for essential services. Despite this, Governor Hochul has asserted that the switch will help eliminate fraud and is projected to save taxpayers up to $1 billion annually.

The transition timeline remains tight, and as the April deadline looms closer, pressure continues to mount on the state officials to ensure that users can navigate the new system without interruption in their care. The state Health Department has declared that the transition remains on track and is committed to providing resources to assist users through the registration process. Importantly, the initiative is designed to maintain eligibility requirements for current CDPAP recipients, meaning they will not need to reapply due to changes in program management.

Despite the assurances from state officials, legislative leaders have yet to propose any amendments to extend the registration deadline, aligning their actions with the governor’s intentions. Advocates have expressed that the consequences of losing home care without timely registration could lead to increased hospitalizations and additional institutional care costs for the state.

Moreover, projections from between 2019 and 2025 indicate a substantial rise in Medicaid spending in New York related to the CDPAP program, which has attracted scrutiny and review from federal authorities. As the hearing approaches, all eyes will be on the discussions and decisions made by the Senate that could shape the future of home care for thousands of New Yorkers.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Investigation into New York’s Medicaid Homecare Program
Home Care Workers Sue PPL Over Wage Issues in NYC
Extension Granted for CDPAP Enrollment Deadline in New York
New York’s Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program Faces Enrollment Deadline
New York Lawmakers Propose Bill to Improve Medicaid Program
New York Lawmakers Address Medicaid Home Care Payroll Issues
New York Extends Registration Deadline for Home Care Program
New York’s Home Care Program Receives Extension

Additional Resources

• Bloomberg: No Job Says New York Like Home Health Care Aide
• Wikipedia: Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program
• Spectrum Local News: Advocates, Lawmakers Make Last-Ditch Effort
• Google Search: Home Care Transition New York
• Silive: Changes to Home Health Care in New York Move Forward
• Google Scholar: Home Health Care New York
• Times Union: Thousands in New York Lose Home Care
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Home Health Care
• Home Health Care News: New York Consumers, Home Care Workers Protest CDPAP
• Google News: Home Health Care Protests New York