Nassau Standard

Last year, the State Budget introduced a significant change affecting nearly 250,000 elderly and disabled New Yorkers who depend on the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). Under the CDPAP initiative, disabled individuals can hire, train, and manage their own personal assistants, receiving funds and benefits through a fiscal intermediary financed by Medicaid. The state is now requiring all users of this program to work with a single fiscal intermediary, Public Partnerships, LLC (PPL), an out-of-state company that won a $9 billion state contract for these services. This transition affects thousands of New Yorkers on a personal level.

The CDPAP has traditionally served as a crucial service for vulnerable citizens who might otherwise face institutionalization. However, the newly implemented system has introduced significant challenges. The fast-paced rollout has led to disorder and concerns that beneficiaries' care needs may go unmet. According to the state Department of Health, approximately 60,000 consumers have already left the CDPAP for alternative care services, while around 40,000 have not yet completed the transition to PPL despite the passing of the deadline.

Court actions have delayed the transition process, and lawmakers from both parties have urged for either a pause or a complete cessation of the new policy. The call for reconsideration highlights concerns about the potential impacts on vulnerable individuals who depend on personal assistants for their daily needs and independence.

A petition has been launched, calling for the Governor and the State Department of Health to halt the transition to a single fiscal intermediary and to undertake a comprehensive public review of the policy. The argument emphasizes the significant consequences for New Yorkers in need.