I have spoken with families, caregivers, and personal assistants about the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, where their frustrations, fears, and concerns are clear. I share their views.
The program, known as CDPAP, allows elderly and disabled people to receive care at home from someone they trust. For approximately 250,000 people in New York, the program enables them to stay in their homes and maintain autonomy.
A recent bill reshaped the program by awarding a $9 billion contract to Public Partnerships LLC, an out-of-state company. This change eliminated trusted local intermediaries and replaced it with a centralized system criticized for being disorganized. I voted against this budget bill due to the foreseeable negative impacts and, along with colleagues, have been raising concerns since last year.
The transition’s burden falls on New Yorkers. Public Partnerships LLC has been unable to process numerous cases, leaving families without information about care for their loved ones, unpaid caregivers, and a confusing system. Vulnerable New Yorkers are suffering while Albany fails to address the rollout’s issues.
New Yorkers deserve better. This isn’t about politics; it’s about people. It’s about a mother unable to secure reliable care for her child, a senior fearful of losing their caregiver, and an unpaid personal assistant.
Lawmakers have a moral obligation to protect the vulnerable. We must acknowledge the transition’s failure and correct its course. The courts have extended the transition’s deadline, and both parties call for a pause or repeal of the transition to a single fiscal intermediary. I cosponsor legislation with more than 40 state senators for its repeal.
For many, personal care assistants are essential for dignity, independence, and survival. A constituent shared the difficulty of securing care for his blind mother, who cannot be left alone.
We must stop the CDPAP program transition to a single fiscal intermediary and demand a full public review. Thousands of New Yorkers’ well-being and independence are at stake.
Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick represents the 9th State Senate District.
