Disability rights advocates fear changes to home care program

DELMAR, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Governor Kathy Hochul announced changes to a Medicaid home care program that allows family and friends to care for their loved ones who need assistance. Disability rights advocates fear those changes may interrupt home care and make it difficult for people to access the services they need.

The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program – known as CDPAP for short – makes sure people like Nancy Heffelfinger get paid for administering care to her family and friends, like John Vandenburgh. 

He used to make parts for blackhawk helicopters. In 2015 he had a stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side.

“He’s put in his whole life being American and serving the country, the town and everything. He’s put his taxes in. And there’s no light at the end of the tunnel for him,” said Heffelfinger.

She left an accounting job to provide homecare full-time. Heffelfinger provides care to Vandenburgh 24 hours a day for five days a week. But she only gets paid for 40 hours a week.

She said it’s getting harder. She wants to make a livable wage and needs health insurance.

“They gave me a list of consumer direct programs and all of these people here, and every person I’ve called is paying me less than they’re supposed to, by law, and they don’t want to pay over time,” said Heffelfinger.

In September, Governor Hochul awarded a $9 billion contract to Public Partnerships, LLC (PPL). Hochul said it would protect and strengthen CDPAP. The company would be in charge of paying all CDPAP home care workers.

However, advocates say PPL has troubling results in other states. In Pennsylvania a class action lawsuit was filed against the company by employees claiming ppl denied them overtime pay.

Jose Hernandez uses CDPAP and advocated at the capitol on Wednesday. He called the move disheartening.

“Having the program being administered by a company that has a history of not paying home care workers. It scares me because if that were to happen to me, then my home care worker is not going to be there for me and I’m gonna go without care,” said Hernandez.

Heffelfinger echoed those concerns. She fears thousands of people will suffer.

“You’re gonna get suicides. You’re gonna get people who are homeless. You’re taking away from one program to what? Are you going to fund the homeless shelters? Are you going to put more money into the state nursing homes? Cause that’s what’s gonna happen,” said Heffelfinger.

NEWS10 reached out to Public Partnerships, LLC about the allegations. A company spokesperson could not speak with us Thursday, but added they could comment on Friday.

Meanwhile, state Senator Gustavo Rivera has introduced a compromise to reform the program and improve enforcement.

PPL will host an informational meeting for New Yorkers on November 21.