February 24, 2025  – New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the addition of 11 independent living centers as new partners in the state’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). The announcement is part of an ongoing effort to enhance home care services for Medicaid recipients.

CDPAP allows individuals in need of care to select and employ caregivers of their choice, including family members or friends, who are then compensated through the program. In an effort to streamline the system, the state reduced the number of fiscal intermediaries from hundreds to just one. Public Partnerships LLC (PPL), a Georgia-based financial management services company, was awarded the fiscal intermediary contract in October 2024.

The latest partnerships come as part of a broader initiative announced in November, in which the state and PPL committed to working with 24 community-based home care providers to improve CDPAP services. With the addition of these 11 independent living centers, the program is expected to further expand its reach and accessibility.

“Our statewide partnership will protect CDPAP and ensure continued access to high-quality home care for New Yorkers across the State,” said Hochul. “I’m pleased that independent living centers will play an important role as partners in this effort, as we create a better and stronger CDPAP for home care users and caregivers.”

The newly announced partners include AIM Independent Living Center, ARISE Inc., Finger Lakes Independence Center Inc., Independent Living Inc., Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley Inc., Long Island Center for Independent Living Inc., Rockland Independent Living Center (Bridges), Resource Center for Independent Living, Southern Tier Independence Center, The Center for Disability Rights, and Western New York Independent Living Inc.

Advocacy groups have welcomed the expansion, emphasizing the role independent living centers play in supporting people with disabilities. Lindsay Miller, executive director of the New York Association on Independent Living, highlighted the importance of these organizations in providing essential services.

“We commend the governor’s commitment to ensuring that CDPAP consumers have access to the full spectrum of services Independent Living Centers provide, empowering people with disabilities to live independently in the community,” Miller stated. “As founders of the program, our commitment to advocating for the independence and dignity of people with disabilities will remain at the forefront of our efforts as we continue to champion the future of CDPAP.”

The announcement comes amid significant changes to CDPAP’s administration, including the launch of a new hotline designed to assist consumers with the transition process. On its first day, the hotline received 1,000 calls, prompting PPL to implement an automated message to help manage high call volumes. 

Critics have also argued that the transition plan is unrealistic, as the state needs to transition 280,000 older and disabled New Yorkers, and about 425,000 people who work for them. Failure for the transition plan to run smoothly, can significantly harm the consumers in NY who rely on it, as well as their caregivers.

As New York continues to refine its Medicaid home care system, state officials and advocacy groups remain focused on ensuring that consumers receive the support necessary to maintain their independence and access high-quality care.