New York State Department of Health Provides Update on Latest CDPAP Transition Progress, Including New Testimonials Demonstrating Positive Transition Experience (2025)

Nearly 140,000 Consumers and Nearly 150,000 Workers Have Either Started or Completed the Registration Process

State Estimates Additional 40,000 Consumers in Process of Transitioning from CDPAP to Personal Care Services

New Video Testimonial Details Positive Experience of CDPAP Consumer and Personal Assistant who Attended PPL Registration Session

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 17, 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 140,000 consumers and nearly 150,000 personal assistants have either started or completed the registration process with Public Partnerships LLC (PPL). The transition is proceeding on track toward the April 1 deadline.

"Hundreds of thousands of CDPAP consumers and workers have already taken action as a part of this transition, which remains on track for April 1. If you're a CDPAP consumer or worker who hasn't started the process yet, don't wait to get your registration underway -- get it started today," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "It's disappointing that some business interests continue to spread false claims, but here's what you need to know: If you want to keep using CDPAP for home care in New York, reach out to PPL or its facilitators now to start your transition. We'll keep working with all stakeholders to ensure consumers and workers can get the facts, get any questions answered, and make the best choice for themselves and their family."

Additionally, the State estimates that another 40,000 consumers statewide are already in process of transitioning to Personal Care Services (PCS). Home care users have always had the option to choose the care program that is best for them and consumers who choose to switch to PCS can still register with PPL in the future if they decide to return to CDPAP.

The Department continues to combat misinformation spread by companies seeking to disrupt the legislatively mandated transition. 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.

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.

Despite the misinformation being spread by certain companies attempting to disrupt this transition, the Department released regional data showing the vast majority of CDPAP consumers in the Capital Region, Southern Tier and the North Country have already used the facts provided by the Department, PPL and the network of community based facilitators to take action in advance of the April 1 deadline.

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.

PPL President Maria Perrin said, "We are seeing incredible turnout at our registration sessions and are thrilled to be partnering with health plans, community organizations, and our network of CDPAP facilitators to provide personalized support to consumers and personal assistants. As more and more New Yorkers move forward with the transition, we're inspired and focused on delivering a stronger CDPAP that serves their needs for years to come."

In addition to the nearly 140,000 consumers who have either completed or started the registration process, PPL's support center has fielded approximately 770,000 inbound calls to assist consumers with questions and PPL has also conducted more than 100,000 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.

In a new video, CDPAP personal assistant Ramon A. and consumer Regina S. detail their experience attending a PPL registration session in partnership with Centro De Amigos, a social adult day center.

Ramon said, "Yesterday we started the process and today we finished up. It was great!"

Regina S. spoke about her experience with PPL's registration process, saying, "[They] were very welcoming. I was very happy with it."

PPL currently has 41 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.

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.