NYS Contracts with Georgia Company to Run CDPAP and a Vulnerable Population Is Left Reeling

Despite fierce opposition to the planned overhaul of the state’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, Gov. Kathy Hochul has awarded the multibillion-dollar contract to Georgia-based firm Public Partnerships, LLC.

Public Partnerships, which will move its headquarters to New York, will take over management of the program by mid-2025 and will subcontract with about 30 regional home care companies across the state, according to the governor’s announcement.

This single corporation is replacing the state’s existing network of approximately 600 fiscal intermediaries (FIs). The process of choosing the agency was done without oversight from the NYS comptroller’s office.

Advocates are up in arms, with many fearing the program hitting the state’s most vulnerable population will lead to chaos. Fox 5 News did a report on the change, and spoke with a recipient and a parent.

CDPAP is a Medicaid program that provides at-home health care services for eligible chronically ill or physically disabled individuals who have a medical need for help with activities of daily living (ADLs). It gives recipients — roughly 250,000 New Yorkers participate in the program — flexibility and freedom in choosing their caregivers, and enables them to live in their communities of choice instead of, say, in institutions.

Some advocates argue that Hochul hopes to reduce the number of approximately 250,000 clients served, and that recipients could lose the long-time caregivers critical to daily living, and with whom they’ve created important ties. There are also anecdotal reports that caregivers risk a cut in wages.

Additionally, according to a report from Spectrum News 1 in late September, PPL has a history of delaying home care worker pay. It’s currently being sued in Pennsylvania for federal and state wage violations, and has faced allegations it fraudulently obtained its former contract in Pennsylvania.

Here are some of the the articles that came out after the announcement:

‘We’re flexible’: New York leaders eye leeway in home care program changes (State of Politics)

NY finalizes massive home care contract with Georgia company (Times-Union)

Public Partnerships, LLC to manage Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (Spectrum News 1)

Gov. Hochul picks Georgia firm to run NY home health care program over objections (Gothamist)

Statewide Protests against changes to CDPAP (wgrz.com)

State Celebrates Disability Rights Employment Awareness Month by Gutting Homecare Program that Employs and Serves People with Disabilities Press release from the New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL)

Concerns over changes coming to Medicaid program, CDPAP (Rochester First)