Albany, NY – As the left continues arguing that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency cuts will also cut medicare to Americans, it’s actually New York State Democrats who are actually cutting people off from much needed medical coverage.
Update: A 30-day grace period has been approved, although the new rules are still scheduled to begin on April 1st. Title has been adjusted to reflect latest development. You can read the new bulletin here.
With the clock ticking toward an April 1 deadline, a controversial overhaul of New York’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) threatens to leave more than 100,000 elderly and disabled New Yorkers without critical home healthcare services.
Governor Kathy Hochul and New York’s Democrat leaders are being blamed for the terminations.
Amir Bassiri, Medicaid Director for the New York State Department of Health, recently confirmed that many consumers may not be able to meet the registration deadline required to preserve their care under the revamped program, raising alarms among advocates and lawmakers alike.
The CDPAP, a Medicaid-funded initiative that allows eligible New Yorkers to hire and manage their own caregivers—often family members or friends—has been a lifeline for approximately 280,000 residents. However, Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration has pushed forward with a plan to consolidate the program’s administration under a single fiscal intermediary, Public Partnerships LLC (PPL), replacing over 600 smaller companies currently managing payroll and benefits. The transition, set to take effect tomorrow, aims to curb what Hochul has called rampant fraud and waste, projecting annual savings of $1 billion for taxpayers.
Yet, as the deadline approaches, the rollout has been marred by logistical challenges and lagging registration numbers.
Bassiri’s admission, made during a public statement earlier this month, underscores the growing concern that tens of thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers may lose access to care due to difficulties navigating the new system. As of late March, only about 185,000 consumers had started or completed registration with PPL, leaving a significant portion of the program’s users at risk of losing their healthcare plans.
It was recently announced that a 30-day extension has been approved, pushing the deadline to May 1st.
Critics, including disability advocates and a bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers, argue that the rushed timeline and inadequate outreach have set the stage for a healthcare crisis.
“Over 100,000 New Yorkers are about to lose their home healthcare unless this is stopped,” warned a source close to the Senate GOP, echoing sentiments shared across social media platforms. Nearly two dozen Democratic state senators, led by figures like Senate Health Committee Chair Gustavo Rivera, have joined the chorus calling for a delay, signing a letter urging Hochul to extend the deadline and ensure a smoother transition.
The overhaul has also drawn accusations of political hypocrisy.
Opponents claim that Democrats, who have long accused Republicans of slashing healthcare benefits for the vulnerable, are now effectively stripping elderly and disabled New Yorkers of their Medicaid-funded support.
“They’re doing everything they accuse Republicans of doing,” one observer noted, pointing to the irony of a Democratic-led administration overseeing a policy that could disrupt care for some of the state’s most needy residents.