Local Officials Call Time Out on Program Changes that Affect Elderly and Disabled New Yorkers
Changes to a state program are putting the squeeze on the 280,000 elderly and disabled New Yorkers it serves and local officials are calling for a time out.
Under the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) program, residents could hire the caregiver of their choice. But now the state is requiring them to register with a single intermediary, a transition more than 100,000 have not yet completed.
“This process is being rushed, and it’s putting vulnerable individuals in danger,” said Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano of the April 1 deadline. “Extending the deadline to July 1 is the only responsible way to ensure nobody loses access to critical care.”
DeStefano was joined by Josh Jensen, the ranking minority member of the Assembly Health Committee and Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio in calling for the delay. Their bill to extend the deadline has a companion in the Senate sponsored by Patrick Gallivan.
Senator Dean Murray sent a letter to U.S Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. looking for support on the issue. “Gov. Hochul’s proposal lacks clarity, is poorly planned, and the rushed implementation has created chaos and uncertainty for consumers and caregivers alike,” Murray said. “For now, the best course of action is to hit the pause button, reassess the situation, and find a responsible path forward that protects those who depend on this program the most.”
A memo released by the new intermediary, PPL, said service providers will continue to get paid after the April 1 registration deadline as long as proper paperwork is submitted.