CDPAP Update: New York State Department of Health Provides Update on Latest CDPAP Transition Progress (2025)

Nearly 200,000 Consumers Have Taken Action in Advance of April 1 CDPAP Transition Deadline, Including Approximately 150,000 Consumers Who Have Started or Completed Registration with PPL

Nearly 160,000 Personal Assistants Have Started or Completed Registration

Department Highlights Wins Over Legal Challenges to Legislatively Mandated CDPAP Transition

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 20, 2025) – The New York State Department of Health today announced the latest progress made on the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) transition to a new statewide fiscal intermediary. Since the start of the transition on January 6, nearly 200,000 CDPAP consumers have taken action in advance of the April 1 transition deadline. This includes approximately 150,000 consumers who have either started or completed the registration process with Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) and approximately 45,000 who are in the process of transitioning from CDPAP to Personal Care Services (PCS). Additionally, nearly 160,000 CDPAP personal assistants have either started or completed the registration process. Home care users who choose to switch to PCS have the option to register with PPL in the future if they decide to return to CDPAP.

"Hundreds of thousands of CDPAP consumers statewide are taking the steps to secure their care by transitioning to PPL or choosing to switch to Personal Care Services as we remain on track for the April 1 deadline," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "For those who have not yet transitioned, don't delay. As companies continue to work to disrupt this transition by pushing a misinformation campaign, the dedicated DOH staff, PPL and its facilitators will continue to deliver the facts so home care users can make the best choice for themselves and their families."

The Department is also highlighting wins over legal challenges levied against the transition to a single statewide fiscal intermediary. To date, the court rulings on the challenges to the CDPAP amendment, the Department's Request for Proposal, and the selection of PPL as the single Fiscal Intermediary have been resolved in the Department's favor and have had no impact on the timing of the transition.

Most recently, federal district courts in New York have outright dismissed two lawsuits challenging the CDPAP amendment and a request for injunction was denied:

• Violette Jeannot v. New York State: The Eastern District Judge held that the plaintiffs had no legal standing to bring the case and lacked sufficient evidence.
• Principle Homecare LLC v. McDonald: The Southern District Court concluded the plaintiffs failed to state a claim under any constitutional theory. Subsequent requests for a stay or restraining order in this case were denied by the trial court and the Second Circuit.
• Glidedowan LLC d/b/a All-American Home Care Agency, Inc. v. NYSDOH: The Western District Court held that Plaintiff could not show a likelihood of success on of its constitutional claims and denied Plaintiff's motion for an injunction.
• Eckert v. McDonald: Petitioners sought a preliminary injunction to halt the Department of Health's implementation of the statewide FI contract with PPL, including the transition of all CDPAP consumers to the selected statewide fiscal intermediary. On March 13, the Supreme Court of Cattaraugus County denied the Petitioners' request for an injunction, allowing the Department to continue transitioning all CDPAP consumers to PPL by April 1.

The transition is proceeding on track toward the April 1 deadline, as the Department continues to combat misinformation spread by companies seeking to disrupt the legislatively mandated transition. The Department recently sent a letter to the Alliance to Protect Home Care, Inc ("Alliance") urging them to take action to publicly call on Fiscal Intermediaries (FIs) in New York to refrain from spreading false, deceptive or coercive information regarding the transition and to publicly commit to working with all stakeholders, including member organizations and financial contributors, to ensure New York consumers and PAs have accurate information regarding the CDPAP transition.

Additionally, Cease and Desist letters were issued to Fiscal Intermediaries (FIs) and Licensed Home Care Service Agencies (LHCSAs) who are alleged to be providing false, deceptive or coercive information about CDPAP and PCS options to consumers and workers. At least two organizations cited in complaints has made financial contributions to the Alliance, which purports to be committed to protecting the integrity of home care services.

LHCSAs and FIs have been directed to immediately cease and desist from making the following statements or taking the following actions:

• Providing false information to consumers about the requirements of the Statewide Fiscal Intermediary transition.
• Charging a fee to potential personal care workers for the minimum 40-hour training and assessment to become a personal care assistant.
• Falsely telling PAs that they can provide personal care services (PCS) to their family member currently participating in CDPAP, in violation of 18 NYCRR 505.14.
• Falsely telling PAs that they can provide PCS without meeting PCS requirements, including training and other assessments, registrations, and background checks.
• Falsely telling consumers that as of April 1, 2025, they no longer qualify for CDPAP services, or that their PA will no longer qualify to provide PA services.
• Falsely telling PAs or consumers that a personal care worker in a LHCSA can provide the same services as a PA under the CDPAP in violation of scope of practice regulations.

PPL President Maria Perrin said, "For months, we've been fighting misinformation that is causing harm to vulnerable New Yorkers. This week, a protest organized by the interest group Caring Majority Rising blocked people from accessing our office for help with their CDPAP benefits. We implore these groups to stop fueling uncertainty and confusion and work collectively for the benefit of consumers who need care."

Here are the facts:

Fact: Consumers and caregivers MUST register with PPL. Completing registration before April 1 guarantees caregivers can continue to be paid for providing these vital services

Fact: Eligibility for CDPAP will NOT change. New Yorkers currently enrolled in CDPAP will keep their services.

Fact: CDPAP consumers keep their trusted caregiver. Remember, Personal Assistants must transition to the Statewide Fiscal Intermediary before April 1.

Fact: The transition saves taxpayers $1 billion a year. This is a commonsense effort that protects services for CDPAP consumers while reducing wasteful administrative spending going to middlemen and Medicaid fraud.

Fact: PPL will operate in New York State. The CDPAP Statewide Fiscal Intermediary will have 8 offices across the State and has hired more than 1,200 people.

PPL continues its engagement with consumers to promote registration through direct outreach. Personal Assistants who register with PPL before March 28 are eligible for a $100 bonus.

PPL is offering Personal Assistants competitive wages and a robust benefits package that includes paid time off, holiday pay, overtime, participation in a health benefits plan and 401(k) plan, paid professional development training, paid family leave and more.

PAs whose consumers live in Bronx, New York, Kings, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties also receive a flex card with funds to use on medical and dental expenses, medications, transportation and other health related expenses.

In addition to the nearly 150,000 consumers who have either completed or started the registration process, PPL's support center has fielded approximately 940,000 inbound calls to assist consumers with questions and PPL has also conducted more than 105,000 outgoing calls through its direct outreach efforts. The Department expects registration will continue to accelerate in advance of the April 1 transition deadline.

PPL continues to support consumers and PAs through its various channels of support, including a New York-based call center and registration sessions available both virtually and in person.

PPL currently has welcomed an additional facilitator, Crown of Life Care, to support the transition efforts, bringing the total to 42 facilitators, including 11 Independent Living Centers, supporting the transition efforts. Through this diverse alliance, New York will deliver a stronger CDPAP and ensure New Yorkers in the program will receive the high-quality care they need.

Jacqueline Morales, Administrator and CEO of Crown of Life Care, a newly approved CDPAP facilitator working with PPL said, "CDPAP is a vital lifeline for so many New Yorkers, and we're thrilled to partner with PPL to continue serving those in need We are passionate about providing holistic, compassionate care that supports individuals in maintaining their health, independence, and overall well-being at home. This opportunity reaffirms our commitment to empowering patients and their families with the highest standard of personalized care. We look forward to making a meaningful impact and continuing this mission in collaboration with PPL."

PPL will continue its outreach, but consumers and personal assistants must complete their registration before April 1 through one of the following options:

Option 1: Call PPL's support center at 1-833-247-5346 or TTY: 1-833-204-9042 and a PPL team member will help you complete the process.

Option 2: Access PPL@Home by going to PPL's website at pplfirst.com/cdpap.

Option 3: Work with PPL or another approved CDPAP facilitator, including Independent Living Centers (ILCs), who can guide you through the process. A list of approved CDPAP facilitators can be found here: CDPAP Facilitators | PPL First.

The State Department of Health continues to promote registration and maintains information on the CDPAP transition webpage.

PPL continues to actively engage with consumers through promotion and outreach activities. PPL's activities have included radio ads, print ads in 24 publications across 12 languages, thousands of fliers delivered to community and senior centers and in-person community registration sessions. Complete information about the transition and registration can also be found on PPL's website, including Frequently Asked Questions.

PPL currently has nine direct language lines up and running with native speakers available across an additional 35 languages in house and access to hundreds more through their interpretation translation services and facilitator network.

When PPL receives a call on the main line from an individual requesting a non-English language, the agent will first look to identify a PPL staff member that speaks the language. If one is not available, they can choose to utilize the interpretation service or be referred to a facilitator that has the language capability.

The reforms being made in New York directly address the runaway costs of the program and root out fraud and abuse, including a recently discovered $68 million fraud scheme and hundreds of millions more lost to administrative middlemen.