Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program
The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) is a Medicaid-funded home care program in New York state.[1] The program allows eligible individuals with chronic illnesses or physical disabilities to hire, train, and supervise their own personal assistants, including family members.[1]
History
[edit]The New York State Legislature established CDPAP in 1995 under Section 365-f of the New York Social Services Law.[2] By 2024, the program served approximately 250,000 Medicaid enrollees at an annual cost of roughly $6 billion.[3] Annual spending rose from $1.3 billion in 2017 to more than half of total state home care expenditures by 2023.[3] Prior to 2025, a network of approximately 600 fiscal intermediaries administered the program's payroll and administrative functions.[4]
2024–2025 restructuring and lawsuits
[edit]In April 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation consolidating CDPAP administration to a single statewide contractor.[4] The New York State Department of Health selected Public Partnerships LLC (PPL), an Alpharetta, Georgia-based company, as the sole statewide contractor.[5]
The transition took effect on April 1, 2025.[6] Caregivers reported missed payments, incorrect wages, and lost timesheets after the transition.[7]
On March 31, 2025, U.S. District Judge Frederic Block issued a temporary restraining order halting part of the transition.[6] The Legal Aid Society filed a class-action lawsuit against PPL in federal court for unpaid wages.[7] Separate litigation alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.[8]
Bid-rigging allegations and investigations
[edit]Crain's New York Business reported that state officials met with PPL and shared a 46-page implementation plan before bidding opened.[9] These meetings contradicted the sworn testimony of the state Health Commissioner, who had denied pre-bid contact.[9][10] Senator James Skoufis presented draft budget documents from the governor's office that named PPL as the designated contractor weeks before the budget was finalized.[11]
On August 21, 2025, the New York State Senate held a joint hearing chaired by Senators Gustavo Rivera and Skoufis.[12][13] PPL Vice President Patty Byrnes testified that there had been no pre-bid contact with state officials.[12] PPL later retracted this testimony in a letter to lawmakers, acknowledging pre-bid communications with the Department of Health.[14][15]
Industry representatives, including Julian Hagmann of Caring Professionals Inc., a New York home care agency, submitted testimony on PPL's operational record in other states.[16][17] PPL President Maria Perrin announced her resignation in July 2025, and CEO Vince Coppola was replaced.[18] Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado called for a state-led investigation into the transition.[19]
The United States Department of Justice reportedly opened an investigation into the contract award process in 2025.[20][21] Senator Skoufis proposed a constitutional amendment requiring comptroller approval of large state contracts.[22] The Department of Health stated that the transition reduced per-consumer administrative costs from $1,000 per month to approximately $68.[23] Governor Hochul denied allegations of impropriety in the bidding process.[22]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP)". New York State Department of Health.
- ↑ "Social Services Law §365-f: Consumer directed personal assistance program". New York State Senate.
- 1 2 Kinnucan, Michael (December 12, 2024). "How Fast is New York's Home Care Program Growing?". Fiscal Policy Institute.
- 1 2 "NY State Budget Will Eliminate Many Fiscal Intermediaries in the State's Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program". Littler Mendelson.
- ↑ Famakinwa, Joyce (October 1, 2024). "Amid Ongoing Controversy In New York, Public Partnerships Is Awarded CDPAP Contract". Home Health Care News.
- 1 2 Yolin, Nili (April 1, 2025). "Federal Judge Issues TRO Pausing CDPAP Transition". Holland & Knight.
- 1 2 "CDPAP workers sue Public Partnerships LLC for wage theft". Crain's New York Business.
- ↑ "Caregivers Sue CDPAP's Fiscal Intermediary For Wage Theft". Home Health Care News. April 2025.
- 1 2 "NY officials held meetings with CDPAP vendor before soliciting bids". Crain's New York Business.
- ↑ "Emails Conflict with Health Commissioner's Testimony on CDPAP". Empire Center for Public Policy.
- ↑ "N.Y. senator: Hochul pushed for CDPAP bid-rigging in budget". Spectrum News NY1. August 22, 2025.
- 1 2 "Joint Public Hearing: Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP)". New York State Senate. August 21, 2025.
- ↑ "New York state Senate GOP want investigation, subpoenas over CDPAP transition". Spectrum News NY1. July 17, 2025.
- ↑ "PPL reverses testimony on CDPAP transition". Crain's New York Business.
- ↑ "CDPAP: PPL admits to 'conversations' with state officials". Spectrum News NY1. September 6, 2025.
- ↑ "Julian Hagmann, Caring Professionals Inc.—CDPAP Testimony" (PDF). New York State Senate. August 2025.
- ↑ "$11B NY Medicaid contractor accused of fiscal and operational failures in other states". New York Post. March 9, 2026.
- ↑ "PPL President Maria Perrin to resign". Crain's New York Business.
- ↑ "LG Delgado backs state-led probe into Hochul's CDPAP reforms". Spectrum News NY1. July 23, 2025.
- ↑ Gonzales, Morgan (June 2025). "DOJ Reportedly Investigates New York's Embattled CDPAP Shakeup". Home Health Care News.
- ↑ "NY's home care payroll transition reportedly facing federal investigation". CBS 6 Albany.
- 1 2 Lisa, Kate (February 25, 2026). "State Senate's bid-rigging probe prompts constitutional amendment". City & State New York.
- ↑ "CDPAP Transition Update". New York State Department of Health. August 20, 2025.