CDPAP hearing postponed at request of Hochul administration

A senate inquiry into the controversial transition of a popular home care program that serves about a quarter of a million vulnerable New Yorkers has been postponed.

The delay in the July 9 hearing comes at the request of the state Department of Health, which indicated to the state Senate that it would only have the capacity to answer questioning at a later date, according to the office of Sen. James Skoufis, who was scheduled to co-chair the hearing with Sen. Gustavo Rivera.

“As the agency with oversight of the [Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program], it is imperative that DOH is present to provide their unique perspective as it relates to the transition and ongoing operations of CDPAP. We are currently reviewing dates in August and will advise of the new date once confirmed,” a spokesperson for Skoufis said. “DOH has unequivocally committed to participate in the rescheduled hearing.”

Rivera, a Bronx Democrat who leads his chamber’s health committee, teased the possibility of a hearing on The Capitol Pressroom in the spring. The joint hearing with Skoufis, an Orange County Democrat who leads his chamber’s government operations and investigations committee, was originally scheduled to examine CDPAP’s transition to a single statewide fiscal intermediary.

“While we are incredibly disappointed about this recent development, our commitment to hold this crucial hearing this summer has not wavered and we will notify stakeholders and the public as soon as we have a new date,” Skoufis and Rivera said in a statement.

Ilana Berger, New York political director for Caring Majority Rising, said in a statement that the Hochul administration must face accountability for the state of the CDPAP transition, which she argues has been a failure.

“Governor Hochul and DOH Commissioner McDonald pushed to transition CDPAP to PPL even in the face of repeated warnings from consumers, workers, and advocates that the plan would fail. They’ve continued to back the transition even as evidence of PPL’s failures have piled up,” Berger said. “Governor Hochul and DOH can’t continue to hide any longer … We look forward to them appearing at the Senate hearing soon.”

Asked about the need for a delay in the hearing, a spokesperson for the DOH did not address why they would need extra time or dispute that they had requested a delay.

“New York State prevented a fiscal crisis by cutting out hundreds of wasteful middlemen, preserving the future sustainability of CDPAP. We have made great progress in transitioning to the new CDPAP model, with hundreds of thousands of consumers and personal assistants registered with PPL, ensuring continuity of care and timely payments for workers. The Department looks forward to the opportunity to provide an update on these CDPAP reforms that are crucial to successfully maintaining the program for the New Yorkers who rely on home care,” said department spokesperson Cadence Acquaviva.