Week Starting – August 23, 2024 Note: To attract PCA’s to Consumer Job Searches, the following link http://edlitcher.hypermart.net/ListofAvailableJobs.txt has been added to both Craigslist Advertisements https://newyork.craigslist.org See the recently modified advertisement. Search: (consumerdirectedservices) - in Jobs – for the PCA Advertisement Search: (consumerdirectedservices) - in Services – for the Consumer Advertisement Hopefully this will help. Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) Scope and Procedures https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/publications/adm/11adm6.htm List of CDPAP Provider Contract Awardees https://www.health.ny.gov/funding/rfo/20039/docs/awardees_names_and_counties.pdf Articles August 22, 2024 Register today for Stronger Together: CDPAANYS 21st Annual Conference! August 22, 2024 Senator Gallivan Calls on Governor to Reverse Planned Cuts to Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program August 21, 2024 Questions mount over New York State's timeline to change Medicaid program August 21, 2024 Bond Sues NYDOH Over Change in CDPAP Program August 20, 2024 Lawsuits Push Back Against Looming Changes To New York’s Consumer-Directed Home Care Program August 19, 2024 CDPAP Legal Storm Continues: New Lawsuit Targets DOH's RFP Implementation, Single FI Structure August 19, 2024 Businesses sue N.Y. in attempt to halt shakeup of CDPAP program July 05, 2024 Urgent message about CDPAP July 03, 2024 Questions submitted to DOH concerning the Statewide FI RFP Intro Statement – Pages 01 Consumer Listing – Pages 03 PCA Information – Pages 07 PCA Candidates – Page 08 Articles – Pages 13 Finding a New PCA - DIA Information -Page 30 Able News – Page 31 Independent Living Centers – Page 32 Alternative Resources - Page 33 Find My (FI) - Questions to consider when changing your (FI) CDPAP Provider - Page 34 On September 16, 2013, the New York State Department of State accepted the Certificate of Incorporation submitted by Consumer Directed Services, Inc. under section 404 of the Not-for-Profit Law. A certificate that included the following statement: We are pilgrims on a journey; we are travelers on the road. We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load. Excerpt from - The Servant Song- Richard Gillard (1974) To assist Consumers with the problem of finding new Personal Care Assistants, Consumer Directed Services, Inc. created a FREE Employment Information Bridge between Consumers and Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Candidates. Consumers / Advocates To search for a PCA Candidate, complete the form at the following link Consumer / Advocate - Search for a PCA Candidate. When your information is received it will be enrolled in the email database, and posted on the website for a month, distributed to all of the members of the Consumer Directed Services database (Consumers, PCA Candidates, and a variety of other Employment Resources), and published in the Consumer Directed Services Newsletter for a month. To just add your information to the Consumer Directed Services database, a Consumer or Advocate need only send me an email to elitcher@consumerdirectedservices.com and include your name and the text Newsletter Request. When your information is received it will be enrolled in the email database and you will begin receiving future issues of the Consumer Directed Services Newsletter and other emails related to the program's goal. Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Candidates To include your information in the Newsletter and email database, complete the form at the following link: Look for a PCA Job (FREE) - New York City Metro. When your information is received, your information will be published in the Newsletter for a month, and you will begin receiving future issues of the Consumer Directed Services Newsletter and other emails related to the program's goal. Also, to access our list of Currently Available Jobs, please use the following link: JOBS Previously distributed Newsletters have been archived on the Consumer Directed Services home page. Finally, if you have any questions, comments, or recommendations about this service, or should you wish to remove your address from this list, please contact send an email to elitcher@consumerdirectedservices.com. Best Regards Ed Litcher Consumers Searching Consumers Wanted: For an Employment Information Bridge to work it requires traffic to flow in both directions. If you are in a Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, you will eventually need to find a new Home Care Worker. And up to now you may have relied upon Friends, Family, an Agency or you may have chosen to put your own advertisement on the Internet (See the list of Internet resources on the PCA Employment Agency page of this newsletter). Therefore, to help you find the PCA Candidate of your choice, I urge you, to do everything you ordinarily do, to consider an Internet resource and to try www.ConsumerDirectedServices.com. Finally, if you try Consumer Directed Services, please spread the word. Tell your friends and associates about this FREE service. Y.C. () on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 15:01:37 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neighborhood Name: Union Square City, Town, County or Borough: Manhattan Available Transportation: Subway, Bus, Train, Auto, Phone: 913-626-2913 E-mail: jinz01776@gmail.com Email Authorization: Yes Consumer Age: Younger than 21 Consumer Gender: Male Payroll Method: Agency Type of Candidates: Personal Care / Home Health Candidate Experience: Seniors, Paraplegia, Quadriplegia, Wheelchairs, Preferred Candidate Gender: Male Required Documentation: Proof of Identity, Recommendations Hours: 8 Days: 5 Comments: -Male quadriplegia NYU student seeking home aide to help with morning and evening routine including transfer to and from wheelchair -Ideal candidate would be someone upbeat and interested in nursing/physical therapy/fitness -Hours can be determined based on candidate's availability, ranging from 8hr/week to 45hr/week Lyn () on Friday, August 16, 2024 at 14:46:39 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- City, Town, County or Borough: Queens, NY Available Transportation: Subway, Bus, Train, Other Transportation, Description of Other Transportation: uber (wav), access-a-ride Best Time: 352-287-3642 E-mail: usa.vl60@aol.com Email Authorization: Yes Consumer Age: Between 51 and 70 Consumer Gender: Female Payroll Method: Agency Type of Candidates: Other Employees Description of Other Type of Candidates: Domestic/Homemaker, Personal Care/Home Health Candidate Experience: Seniors, Paraplegia, Quadriplegia, Wheelchairs, Lifters, Other Equipment, Visual / Auditory Impairments, Special Diets, Languages Description of Special Diets: allergies & intolerance Description of Languages: English Preferred Candidate Gender: Female Required Documentation: Social Security Number, Proof of Identity, Recommendations Description of Schedule: part time &/or full time hours (cd-pap via Freedomcare) Pay Per Hour: $17 Comments: Rheumatology, Cardiology, Vascular, Orthopedic, Autoimmune, Physical Therapy, etc. (a Plus+) Consumer / Advocate Confirmation: Yes Joseph C or Elizabeth () on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 07:13:34 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neighborhood Name: Hastings / North Yonkers / Westchester county City, Town, County or Borough: Hastings / North Yonkers / Westchester county Available Transportation: Bus, Train, Auto, Phone: 914-837-0854 Best Time: 3:00 pm E-mail: Maxhouse333@gmail.com Email Authorization: Yes Consumer Age: Between 51 and 70 Consumer Gender: Male Type of Candidates: Personal Care / Home Health Candidate Experience: Quadriplegia, Wheelchairs, Lifters, Description of Languages: English / some Spanish Preferred Candidate Gender: No Preference Required Documentation: Social Security Number, Proof of Identity, Recommendations Hours: 12 Description of Schedule: Day and night shifts available Comments: $240 per shift / $30 hr. overtime. Time x 1.5 Holidays Consumer / Advocate Confirmation: Yes Tabitha () on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 20:05:47 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neighborhood Name: Tribeca Available Transportation: Subway, Bus, Phone: 845-480-6882 E-mail: tabi119@yahoo.com Email Authorization: Yes Consumer Age: Between 31 and 50 Payroll Method: Agency Type of Candidates: Personal Care / Home Health Candidate Experience: Lifters, Preferred Candidate Gender: Female Required Documentation: Social Security Number, Proof of Identity, Hours: 12 Days: 3+ Start Time: 7 Eula Woodberry () on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 15:53:04 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neighborhood Name: MANHATTAN NEW YORK Available Transportation: Subway, Bus, Phone: 702-596-3123 Best Time: 11:00 am E-mail: nonony3565@gmail.com Consumer Age: Between 51 and 70 Consumer Gender: Male Payroll Method: Agency Type of Candidates: Personal Care / Home Health Candidate Experience: Quadriplegia, Wheelchairs, Lifters, Other Equipment, Description of Languages: English Preferred Candidate Gender: Male Required Documentation: Social Security Number, Proof of Identity, Hours: 12 Days: 3-4 Start Time: night Pay Per Hour: Open Pay Per Day: Open Pay Per Week: Open Comments: I need a caregiver at night for a paraplegic. Night shift 9pm-9pm but can offer 6-hour shifts if necessary. PCA Information Consumer Directed Services is not an Agency and makes no representation (positive or negative) regarding the appropriateness of any PCA Candidate, or the terms and conditions of any employment relationship. All employment and payment decisions are the exclusive responsibility of the Consumer. Although there is no specific training, certification or licensure prerequisite, beyond that required or provided by the Consumer, if you are seeking employment from a Consumer who is receiving their service authorization from a New York State Medicaid funded Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, the Consumer is permitted to consider your employment only if you can pass ALL of the following New York State reviews. 1. You are an adult of at least 18 years of age. 2. The Consumer is not your spouse or (if the Consumer is younger then 21) is not your child. 3. You do not live in the home of the Consumer (unless their service requires it). 4. You are not the Designated Representative (Surrogate) of the Consumer. 5. You do not have any financial control over the Consumer. 6. Your information must pass a Federal and State Government Exclusion List Review. 7 You have a verifiable Social Security number and the qualified documents needed to prove that you are eligible to work in the United States. The State of New York also requires each Personal Care Assistant to complete a Health Assessment BEFORE you begin work. The Health Assessment includes: - A basic physical exam - blood pressure, height, weight, etc. - A TB (Tuberculosis) Screen (PPD) or a chest x-ray if the test is positive or if the test would not be appropriate - A Measles and Rubella Screen or Vaccine - A drug test of Urine (forensic toxicology) - Documentation of vaccination against influenza, or wearing of a surgical or procedure mask during the influenza season In addition to the above New York State requirements, the municipality in which the Consumer lives may also impose additional health assessments or legal reviews. The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program your Consumer chooses will require the completion of a Memorandum of Understanding (Consumer / Personal Care Assistant Agreement) to clarify the employment relationship, and they may require other documents to help them effectively complete their role as the Consumers Fiscal Intermediary. PCA Candidates Katie Marino () on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 13:56:01 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Address: Nassau County area or Suffolk County Phone : 917-880-6970 E-mail : Marinonicole45@gmail.com Gender: Female Type of Position: Personal Care / Home Health Description of Other Type of Position: 18 years medically experienced Experience: Children, Teens, Young Adults, Seniors, Paraplegia, Quadriplegia, Amputation, Ventilators, Wheelchairs, Other Equipment, Visual / Auditory Impairments, Special Diets, Can pass the New York State Review: Yes Had a Health Assessment in the past 12 months: Yes Have or can get a copy of my recent Health Assessment: Yes Other Documentation Available: Proof of Identity, Recommendations Certificate/License: Personal Care, Driver's License, Hours per Week: 60 Days per Week: 6 Preferred Start Time: 9:00 pm Days I Would Like to Work: Monday thru Saturday I am willing to work a 24-Hour Sleep-In schedule: Only over nights weekends Saturday or Sunday Target Salary Per Hour: 20.00 Melony Rwnovales () on Monday, July 29, 2024 at 12:58:25 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Address: 1463 Vyse Ave Bronx NY 10460 Phone: 347-992-2615 Best Time: All day E-mail: Melonyr19@gmail.com Email Authorization: Yes Gender: Female Type of Position: Personal Care / Home Health Worked with a CDPAP Consumer/Surrogate: Yes Consumer/Surrogate References Available: Yes Years Employed with a Consumer/Surrogate: 7 years Enrolled with a CDPAP: Yes CDPAP Agency Name(s): Friends and Family Experience: Young Adults, Seniors, Wheelchairs, Languages Description of Languages: English and Spanish Can pass the New York State Review: Yes Had a Health Assessment in the past 12 months: Yes Have or can get a copy of my recent Health Assessment: Yes Other Documentation Available: Proof of Identity, Recommendations Certificate/License: Driver's License, Hours per Week: 30 Days per Week: 5 Preferred Start Time: 9am I am willing to work a 24 Hour Sleep-In schedule: No Target Salary Per Hour: 20 Mary Wilkins () on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 23:01:47 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Address: 620 West State Street, Trenton NJ 08618 Phone: 757-749-6534 Best Time: anytime E-mail: chinawilkins44@gmail.com Gender: Female Type of Position: Personal Care / Home Health Worked with a CDPAP Consumer/Surrogate: No Enrolled with a CDPAP: No Experience: Teens, Young Adults, Seniors, Amputation, Wheelchairs, Description of Languages: English Can pass the New York State Review: Yes Had a Health Assessment in the past 12 months: Yes Have or can get a copy of my recent Health Assessment: Yes Other Documentation Available: Proof of Identity, Certificate/License: Personal Care, Hours per Week: 40 Days per Week: 5 Preferred Start Time: Now Target Salary Per Hour: $20 Comments: I have 20 years of experience. I'm very interested in the position 757-749-6534 Mary Wilkins Ashley Santos () on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 22:12:15 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Address: 1005 Walton Avenue Bronx NY 10452 Phone: 582-262-6939 Best Time: 12:30 pm E-mail: asantos1@generations.edu Email Authorization: Yes Gender: Female Type of Position: Other Type of Position Description of Other Type of Position: Personal Assistant Worked with a CDPAP Consumer/Surrogate: No Enrolled with a CDPAP: No Experience: Children, Teens, Young Adults, Seniors, Languages Description of Languages: Spanish/English Can pass the New York State Review: Yes Had a Health Assessment in the past 12 months: Yes Have or can get a copy of my recent Health Assessment: Yes Other Documentation Available: Proof of Identity, Recommendations Certificate/License: Driver's License, Hours per Week: 30 Preferred Start Time: 9 Days I Would Like to Work: Wednesday & Thursday I am willing to work a 24 Hour Sleep-In schedule: no Target Salary Per Hour: 26 Target Salary Per Day: 180 Target Salary Per Week: 800 Comments: I work in an Internal Medicine Clinic. off on Wednesday and Thursday. Depending on the job rate willing to pay, more additional days I may be available. Most prefer 12 hrs. shifts. Josephine Madeline Vieux () on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 14:06:26 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Address: Bronx Queens Manhattan Brooklyn Phone: 813-650-7969 Best Time: Anytime E-mail: josephinevieux52@gmail.com Email Authorization: Yes Gender: Female Type of Position: Personal Care / Home Health Description of Other Type of Position: Open to domestic work as well, Worked with a CDPAP Consumer/Surrogate: No Enrolled with a CDPAP: No Experience: Children, Young Adults, Seniors, Paraplegia, Quadriplegia, Hemiplegia, Amputation, Ventilators, Wheelchairs, Lifters, Other Equipment, Mental Impairments / Alzheimer's Disease, Visual / Auditory Impairments, Description of Languages: English Spanish Creole French etc. Can pass the New York State Review: Yes Had a Health Assessment in the past 12 months: Yes Have or can get a copy of my recent Health Assessment: Yes Certificate/License: Personal Care, Home Health Aide, Other, Description of Other Certificate/License: CNA / Phlebotomy Technician LPN in the process Hours per Week: 40 Days per Week: 7 Preferred Start Time: 8 am Days I Would Like to Work: Monday -Sunday I am willing to work a 24 Hour Sleep-In schedule: Sure Target Salary Per Hour: 22.00 Target Salary Per Day: 200 Comments: Very experienced caregiver with long term work history great background and skills . You won’t be disappointed Jessy () on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 14:44:49 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Address: New York E-mail: Jbraffith@gmail.com Email Authorization: Yes Gender: Female Type of Position: Personal Care / Home Health Worked with a CDPAP Consumer/Surrogate: Yes Consumer/Surrogate References Available: Yes Years Employed with a Consumer/Surrogate: Over 10 Enrolled with a CDPAP: Yes CDPAP Agency Name(s): Chinese American Planning, concepts of independence Experience: Children, Teens, Young Adults, Seniors, Paraplegia, Quadriplegia, Ventilators, Wheelchairs, Lifters, Other Equipment, Mental Impairments / Alzheimer's Disease Can pass the New York State Review: Yes Had a Health Assessment in the past 12 months: Yes Have or can get a copy of my recent Health Assessment: Yes Other Documentation Available: Proof of Identity, Recommendations Certificate/License: Other Description of Other Certificate/License: Certified nursing assistant Hours per Week: 6/8 Preferred Start Time: Morning Days I Would Like to Work: Thursday Comments: I am Jessyka. I am a PCA and CNA. I have been doing this for over 10 years. I have experience with elderly as old as 105, special needs individuals, dementia, hospice, wheelchairs, walkers, lifts, visually and hearing impairments to name a few. I am A very understanding and patient individual. I am available on Thursdays. Akil Peters () on Monday, July 8, 2024 at 01:29:59 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Address: 376 Montgomery St Phone: 929-345-5450 Best Time: AM E-mail: C_alike@yahoo.com Email Authorization: Yes Gender: Male Type of Position: Personal Care / Home Health Worked with a CDPAP Consumer/Surrogate: No Consumer/Surrogate References Available: No Enrolled with a CDPAP: No Experience: Seniors, Wheelchairs Can pass the New York State Review: Yes Had a Health Assessment in the past 12 months: Yes Have or can get a copy of my recent Health Assessment: Yes Other Documentation Available: Proof of Identity Certificate/License: Personal Care, Driver's License Description of Other Certificate/License: Help as a home assistant Hours per Week: 60 Days per Week: 6 Preferred Start Time: 6:00 am Days I Would Like to Work: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday I am willing to work a 24 Hour Sleep-In schedule: Yes Target Salary Per Hour: $60 Target Salary Per Day: $480 Target Salary Per Week: $2400 Comments: Have 10 years’ experience as a HHA just never got the HHA license. Articles Related to the CDPAP Register today for Stronger Together: CDPAANYS 21st Annual Conference! August 22, 2024 CDPAANYS will gather on September 18, 2024 at the Albany Capital Center for our 21st Annual Conference. This year, we've chosen the theme "Stronger Together," as we find ourselves more than ever in need of unity in the face of challenges. This will be a full-day conference, featuring opportunities to network, socialize and learn. If you are coming from out of town (or are in town), we also invite you to join us for a hosted pre-conference reception the evening before, providing an opportunity to unwind and get to know other conference attendees! Conference Program & Schedule The final conference program, including general & breakout sessions, will be announced soon. For planning purposes, the conference starts at 8:00 AM and will end around 4:00 PM. The pre-conference reception will begin at 7:00 PM the night before. Registration Information Click here to register for Stronger Together: CDPAANYS 21st Annual Conference. CDPAANYS members and consumers will receive discounts with use of appropriate coupon codes. https://cdpaanys.regfox.com/cdpaanys-21st-annual-conference Senator Gallivan Calls on Governor to Reverse Planned Cuts to Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program Jim Ranney August 22, 2024 CDPAP Provides Critical Services to Vulnerable New Yorkers Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C, Elma) and members of the Senate Minority Conference are calling on Governor Hochul to reverse planned cuts to the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) and restore Comptroller oversight. Recently, the Governor indicated she would not rule out delaying and changing CDPAP cuts. The approved 2024-2025 budget included shifting the CDPAP program to a single statewide fiscal intermediary (FI). Members of the Senate Minority Conference warned that this would have a rippling effect and result in a lesser quality of care for vulnerable New Yorkers who are chronically ill and physically disabled. At the same time, between 600-700 FIs, that employ more than 10,000 New Yorkers, will be shut down, adding to more job loss here in New York State. "Planned cuts to the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program will jeopardize the care and support provided to thousands of elderly and disabled New Yorkers,” said Senator Gallivan, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health. “Efforts to reform and improve this program must be transparent and enhance, not diminish, the quality of services provided. These planned cuts must be reversed.” In a letter to the governor, lawmakers pointed to instances of mismanagement by the Department of Health who should be held responsible not the CDPAP program: “Unfortunately, the Department of Health’s (DOH) mismanagement of the program, not the program itself, coupled with the misplaced priorities of the Democratic led Legislature, has contributed to the current challenges. Recent reports indicate DOH will not provide basic programmatic information such as the exact number of FIs operating in the State or the exact number of residents enrolled in the program. Withholding key public information raises serious concerns about the Department’s ability to effectively oversee such a substantial change to the program,” the letter reads. “It is for these reasons we urge you to reverse the disastrous cuts to the CDPAP program and restore Comptroller oversight. We look forward to your prompt action on this critical issue,” the letter concluded. https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/patrick-m-gallivan/senator-gallivan-calls-governor-reverse-planned Questions mount over New York State's timeline to change Medicaid program By Kate Lisa New York State PUBLISHED 7:44 PM ET Aug. 21, 2024 A growing number of lawmakers are calling on the federal government to intercept New York's enacted changes to a Medicaid program that helps disabled and elderly people stay in their homes as more stakeholders express concern about the timeline. The state Health Department is expected to contract with a single company to oversee its Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program by Oct. 1. More than 250,000 New Yorkers depend on the program, which allows the disabled and elderly to receive care by a loved one and live independently. "We're really very concerned about the changes that would occur," said Sen. John Mannion, who chairs the Senate Disabilities Committee. Dozens of state lawmakers Tuesday, including several Democrats, sent a letter to the U.S. Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services to prevent the state from contracting with one fiscal intermediary (FI) by the upcoming deadline. Changes to the program are slated to take effect April 1, 2025. "Is this going to work for individuals? Is it going to save the dollars that have been projected?" Mannion asked Wednesday. "...We're reaching out to the federal government to say 'We really need an analysis of this.'" A total of 25 of the lawmakers who signed the letter voted in favor of the state budget legislation that imposed changes to the program. Mannion said he and several of his colleagues took issue with the change, but voted for the budget because the spending plan as a whole had many provisions that lawmakers support. "We did not have the time to dedicate to this issue in a manner it really deserved," he added. State lawmakers aren't the only ones concerned the state is moving too quickly to transition CDPAP to one fiscal intermediary down from nearly 700 entities that currently manage the $9 billion program. Larry Spencer is CEO of Tempus Unlimited Inc. — the sole fiscal intermediary that oversees CDPAP in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. He said the company more than cut the time in half to process payments for Pennsylvania caregivers since taking over the program two years ago — down to six days from 13 days -— which shows a single FI model to run CDPAP can be successful. "There’s no question that the single FI model can be successful in a state, and we’ve proven that… but it takes a lot of planning," Spencer said Wednesday. "It takes, quite frankly, the state not getting in the way of the transition.” Massachusetts transitioned its CDPAP, which serves about 50,000 people, to one FI over an eight-month period, Spencer said. New York will implement the change over six months with a program that's five times larger. And Massachusetts transitioned from two FIs to one in that longer time period — not hundreds. Spencer said it will be difficult for the state Health Department to smoothly transition New York's large program in the allotted timeframe. "That's an enormous task," he said. "You have to take the time and do it right. I don't think they've allotted enough time to do it right." Gov. Kathy Hochul has said the annual $9 billion is unsustainable. The governor says the state must cut down on hundreds of middlemen that absorb millions of dollars that could be better spent on care. She told reporters last week the state continues to work through a trial period to improve the program without hurting the people who need it. "This was never about them getting less, it's about making sure we have enough money to take care of more," Hochul said Thursday. The governor did not clarify comments she made earlier this month that the state may consider contracting with more than one FI. State leaders continue to evaluate other states that successfully manage CDPAP using one company. Tempus Unlimited has been a fiscal intermediary for over 25 years, but the company will not bid to manage New York's program after concerns about how the state Health Department plans to contract with a single agency. The state does not plan to pay the company in advance for payroll, which Spencer argues is not feasible. DOH requires a company to have a $100 million line of credit to be eligible. Spencer estimates New York's program would cost about $150 million per week, and a company would need to spend between $600 and $900 million up front before reimbursements from the state kick in weeks later. "We don’t have the ability to come up with between $600 and $900 million to fund the start of the program — I don’t know that any FI in the country does," he said. "So I don’t know how this gets pulled off the way it’s currently put together." Meanwhile, a group of FIs that provide care in the state under CDPAP, filed a lawsuit in state Supreme Court Aug. 12, challenging the Health Department's ongoing process accepting bids. Petitioners argue the department's Requests for Proposals favor out-of-state companies and denies New York entities equal protection. "We don't want that here in New York — we're better than that," said Carlos Martinez, CEO and executive director of BRIDGES, a petitioner in Article 78. A judge will hear arguments in the case Aug. 30 before making a decision to grant or dismiss petitioners' request for an injunction to delay the bidding process. DOH's process to select a single FI is on track to continue its current timeline, or to award a contract by the Oct. 1 deadline, according to the governor's office. "CDPAP is an important program that empowers New Yorkers to choose their own care at home," a spokesperson with Hochul's office said in a statement Wednesday. "We’re committed to protecting home care patients, strengthening CDPAP and ensuring the program is sustainable. Our reforms will advance that goal by making sure taxpayer dollars are effectively serving the patients who need them." https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/politics/2024/08/21/questions-mount-over-n-y--s-timeline-to-change-cdpap?cid=share_clip Bond Sues NYDOH Over Change in CDPAP Program August 21, 2024 Bond, Schoeneck & King attorneys have filed a legal challenge to a request for proposals (RFP) issued by the New York State Department of Health that incredibly favors out-of-state companies over New York State businesses. The five-year, $40 billion contract that will result from the RFP would replace a network of hundreds of fiscal intermediary service providers in the Consumer Directed Personal Services Program (CDPAP) with one single, statewide fiscal intermediary that would oversee $8 billion of Medicaid spending. CDPAP is an innovative program of self-directed home care that allows seniors and individuals with disabilities to hire their own personal assistants and direct their own care. The program currently supports over 250,000 seniors and individuals with disabilities, and the fiscal intermediaries collectively employ nearly 20,000 New Yorkers. The intermediaries provide administrative supports such as Medicaid billing and payroll services. Bond is representing nine New York-based fiscal intermediaries that are fully capable of bidding for and delivering fiscal intermediary services statewide. The Department of Health’s RFP, however, requires out-of-state experience but disregards New York State experience. That, the legal challenge argues, is unconstitutional, arbitrary, capricious and an abuse of discretion. Bond attorneys Hermes Fernandez, Roger Bearden, Nicole Macris and Jackson Somes are on the suit, filed August 19 in state Supreme Court in Albany. https://www.bsk.com/news-events-videos/bond-sues-nydoh-over-change-in-cdpap-program Lawsuits Push Back Against Looming Changes To New York’s Consumer-Directed Home Care Program By Joyce Famakinwa | August 20, 2024 The pushback against looming changes to New York’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) continues. A group of businesses are fighting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s shake up of the program in a recent lawsuit. New York’s CDPAP allows people who need home-based care to hire a caregiver of their choosing. Generally, this means informal caregivers. The program compensates caregivers for their services, and there are about 700 businesses that serve as fiscal intermediaries. As part of New York’s 2025 budget passing, the State Department of Health has announced its intention to cast aside the majority of fiscal intermediaries, in favor of just one. The lawsuit — which was filed against the Department of Health in Albany Supreme Court on Friday — alleges that the state’s changes are unlawful, as it excludes New York bidders. “This is about survival for them,” Emina Poricanin, founder and managing attorney of the New York-based Poricanin Law, told Home Health Care News. “Their businesses are going to be gone, essentially, overnight. Everything that they’ve spent years building, they will be required to turn over to this newly appointed entity, which is not even going to be a New York entity. They’re hoping to either invalidate the law permanently, or at least stop this RFP from taking effect on Oct. 1.” The law requires that companies hoping to serve as the sole fiscal intermediary need to have experience in another state. Poricanin believes that the lawsuit has a fair chance of seeing success. “There are a number of missteps in how the law was passed,” she said. “There’s a significant difference that is accorded to laws that are passed by the full legislature, which is what has happened here, and that are signed into law by the governor. There’s a presumption of legality and lawfulness about a statute like this. However, where I think the lawsuit is more likely to be successful is invalidating how the law has been implemented. With the way that the state has rolled it out through the Department of Health — there are many areas that are open to challenge.” Last week, a group of home care companies filed a lawsuit that also took aim at New York’s plan to reduce the number of fiscal intermediaries. Poricanin noted that she believes these will be the first of many lawsuits that will follow. “If the lawsuit is successful, New York has to go back to the drawing board and find other ways to save money,” she said. “The reason that this was passed is because the governor erroneously thinks that she can save money by consolidating all of these fiscal intermediaries. While many will agree that this program needs a change, this is not the way to go about it.” Ultimately, Poricanin pointed out that programs like New York’s CDPAP are integral to the provision of home care services. “These services that we refer to as consumer directed, there’s some form of it in every state,” she said. “New York, obviously, with the population size and the Medicaid size, has probably one of the biggest consumer-directed programs. This is a bad way to go about restructuring, and putting some regulatory controls over this program. The governor has indicated, over the last few days, that she’s open to reconsidering this. I hope that is actually correct and that she will give a more thoughtful look to how this program goes forward.” https://homehealthcarenews.com/2024/08/lawsuits-push-back-against-looming-changes-to-new-yorks-consumer-directed-home-care-program/ CDPAP Legal Storm Continues: New Lawsuit Targets DOH's RFP Implementation, Single FI Structure August 19, 2024 Holland & Knight Healthcare Blog Nili Yolin | Harshita Rathore A second lawsuit has been filed challenging recent changes to New York's Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP or the Program), this time taking aim at the new single fiscal intermediary (FI) structure that will displace the 600-plus businesses currently serving approximately 246,000 consumers and their personal assistants. On Aug. 12, 2024, Save Our Consumer Directed Home Care, Inc., a not-for-profit association representing FIs and other entities participating in the Program, argued in its petition that the New York State Department of Health's (DOH) implementation of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for FI services and the changes made to the CDPAP violate several legal and constitutional standards. This action comes on the heels of another lawsuit filed on July 22, 2024, detailed in a prior blog post, in which several FIs contested DOH's revised reimbursement methodology for the Program as procedurally flawed and arbitrary. Both lawsuits highlight the significant legal challenges facing the state's management of the Program. In the current lawsuit, the petitioner alleges that the amendments to Section 365-f of the Social Services Law replacing the FIs with a single Statewide FI (SFI) chosen at DOH's sole discretion and without the usual oversight of the Office of the New York State Comptroller represent a significant deviation from established legal norms. Federal regulations require that procurements involving federal funds, such as those in the CDPAP, must adhere to stringent standards ensuring transparency, competition, and fairness. New York State law similarly mandates comptroller oversight to ensure contracts are awarded fairly and in the best interest of taxpayers. The petitioner alleges that the failure to clearly outline all necessary requirements for potential contractors and the lack of specified criteria for evaluating bids or proposals of SFI bidders, combined with granting DOH unilateral discretion to reject applications and select proposals based on subjective judgment without the Comptroller's oversight, violate these mandates and undermine the integrity of the procurement process, increasing the risk of fraud, waste and abuse. Additionally, this consolidation, according to the petitioner, risks abrupt transitions for consumers, disrupting established care relationships. The petitioner further asserts that the RFP imposes excessively restrictive and anticompetitive requirements creating nearly insurmountable barriers for entities aiming to qualify as the SFI. These requirements include having provided statewide FI services in another state as of April 1, 2024, securing a $100 million line of credit, and adhering to collective bargaining agreements and New York's prevailing wage laws. The petitioner claims these criteria are irrelevant to the core services required of an FI and primarily serve to limit competition, which will prevent current FIs from continuing their operations and supporting the consumers and personal assistants they serve. The lawsuit also alleges that the requirement for SFI bidders to have provided statewide FI services in another state since April 1, 2024, and for subcontractors to have done so since April 1, 2012, is arbitrary and lacks a rational basis. Additionally, the RFP's adoption, which impacts the $8 billion per year CDPAP, allegedly occurred without sufficient public dialogue or stakeholder input. The petitioner asserts that the RFP and the amendments to Section 365-f impose an undue burden on interstate commerce by restricting competition through out-of-state experience requirements, violate the U.S. Constitution's Contracts Clause by impairing existing contracts and breach the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by discriminating against certain groups. The petitioner further claims that the amendments and RFP function as a bill of attainder that targets entities for punishment without trial, infringe on Medicaid beneficiaries' freedom of choice by selecting a single FI provider without proper waiver and unjustifiably segregate individuals with disabilities. Finally, the petitioner alleges that DOH failed to provide requested records under New York's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) concerning the amendments and RFP development, thereby compromising transparency and accountability. The petitioner seeks an injunction preventing DOH from taking further action on the RFP and an order declaring the amendments to Section 365-f invalid. Holland & Knight will monitor the lawsuit, the court's decision and any other legal actions that may be taken to halt, modify or eliminate the RFP and the CDPAP amendments. https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2024/08/cdpap-legal-storm-continues-new-lawsuit-targets-dohs-rfp Businesses sue N.Y. in attempt to halt shakeup of CDPAP program Pressure mounts as businesses file lawsuit to halt the industry-wide shakeup of the popular Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program. By Raga Justin, Capitol Bureau August 19, 2024 ALBANY — The ongoing opposition to the controversial shakeup of a popular Medicaid program intensified Monday as a group of home care agencies asked a state Supreme Court judge to block an upcoming statewide contract they allege infringes on their constitutional rights to do business in New York. The lawsuit was filed Monday in state Supreme Court in Albany as the state Department of Health is set to consider bids for a large medical vendor that will supply administrative services for the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, which allows people with disabilities or long-term medical needs to choose who they want to be their caretakers, including family members. Those caretakers are then reimbursed with federal and state funding. The plaintiffs are a handful of “fiscal intermediaries,” or companies who act as brokers between home care patients and Medicaid through the CDPAP program. In a last-minute budget proposal earlier this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul and top budget officials announced they would be forging ahead with an industry-wide shakeup, eliminating the role of hundreds of the fiscal intermediaries to streamline the services they provide through a single large vendor who would receive a multi-billion-dollar state contract. The existing program has proven enormously popular with the 200,000 or so patients enrolled in it, but has been criticized for rapid growth in recent years. Hochul has blamed it for runaway growth and uncontrolled spending, though proponents of CDPAP have pushed back on that framing. The group of agencies who are now suing the state Department of Health have argued that the contract framing is designed to purposefully exclude the several hundred or so such businesses that currently operate in the state; some estimates point to as many as 700 fiscal intermediaries. The businesses “would like to bid on the (request for proposals) but have been prohibited from bidding due to unconstitutional, arbitrary and capricious qualification standards,” the lawsuit alleges. The agencies are represented by Albany-based law firm Bond, Schoeneck and King. They are seeking to thwart the rollout of the new contract, which is anticipated to begin Oct. 1. Attorneys for the provider agencies have called the state’s plan unconstitutional and are asking for a judge to issue a temporary restraining order halting the Department of Health’s bidding process, which has posted a deadline of Wednesday for qualified bidders to submit their proposals. https://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/businesses-sue-n-y-attempt-halt-shakeup-cdpap-19664320.php Urgent message about CDPAP July 05, 2024 As consumers of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), we find ourselves in uncertain times. The program, which was built by our community to keep individuals with disabilities living independently in the community where we want to be, will be fundamentally changed forever if we do nothing. Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Speaker Carl Heastie, and Assembly Speaker Andrea Stewart-Cousins have decided to award one out-of-state corporation the responsibility of administering the entire CDPAP program for 250,000 consumers and even more personal assistants (PAs), creating a monopoly. This corporation is required to be a non-New York-based company, meaning the 600 New York companies currently providing CDPAP services will no longer exist. This includes your current company. If you think you're safe because you are a consumer of an Independent Living Center or a nonprofit that is an FI, you are not. The single statewide FI does have to provide subcontracts to Independent Living Centers and certain FIs; however, they will have no power to make any changes or set wages, according to the DOH's own document. Further, at no point in the Department of Health’s request for proposals are consumer rights or due process considered. Subcontractors are not allowed to directly perform any of the following: • Set wages or establish benefits for personal assistants (PAs) • Maintain workers' compensation, disability, or employment insurance for our PAs • Maintain personal records for each PA or maintain records for consumers' service authorization or plan of care. Subcontractors are only able to maintain copies or duplicate records. We, as consumers, are merely going to exist within a subcontractor. The single statewide FI will control all aspects of our care. We don’t need to guess how that will work, we have Con Edison to show us how effective monopolies are at answering customer concerns. What do these changes mean for you? As a consumer, you will see widespread chaos, interruptions in services, failure to deliver paychecks, and the subsequent loss of PAs. For some of us, this will mean being placed in nursing homes. Being placed in a nursing facility can mean the loss of everything you have, everything that you have accomplished, and in some instances, death. The governor states that this is not her intent; however, intent is irrelevant. Experience from other states shows it will be true. Right now, we have choices. If one agency’s pay and benefit structure doesn't work for you and doesn't give you the ability to hire and retain PAs, you can go to a different company that does. That will no longer be the case. The single statewide FI was put in place to save money by cutting our services, and the only way they're going to achieve that is by lowering wages to the state minimum wage, cutting PTO, and not allowing PAs to do overtime. Now, ask yourself or your PA if they will work for you for less than what they earn now. If the answer is no, we need you to stop this from happening. What can you do: • Visit Alliance to Protect Home Care’s website o Follow on social media: Twitter/X • Contact your elected officials by sending a message. • Share the Alliance to Protect Home Care PSA on social media. • Tell your story and your fears by clicking here. • Ask your fiscal intermediary to contribute to the Alliance to Protect Home Care. They can contact info@cdpaanys.org or call 518-813-9537 x1 for more information. • Help by making a donation toward the Alliance to Protect Home Care. Urgently, José Hernandez A person with a Disability CDPAP Member Concepts of Independence Consumer Questions submitted to DOH concerning the Statewide FI RFP July 03, 2024 As a longtime user of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) I was disappointed to learn of the rapid overhaul of this life-sustaining program. Please find below my personal questions concerning the RFP and they should not be attributed to anyone other than myself, T.K. Small. Questions Re: RFP # 20524 4.1 Required Fiscal Intermediary Services Question Category # 1, 1. Does the processing of wages include a limitation of overtime? 2. If there is a limitation, what is the limit? 3. How will emergency situations which require overtime be handled? 4. Will the consumer need to get permission to use overtime? Question Category # 2, Will the payment of various insurances be attributable to the PMPM administrative payment or to the direct care budget line? Question Category # 3, Relating to the annual health assessment of the PA, will be scheduling and payment be covered by the new statewide FI? Question Category # 4, Section 4.1 1. Who will be paying for a background check? 2. Will the background check be an administrative or direct care cost? 3. Is there an anticipated length of time that a background check should take to perform? 4. What in a background check will preclude a PA from working? 5. Will the results of the background check be conveyed to the consumer? 6. Will the consumer have any right to accept what's discovered in the background check? 7. How long will it take for the background check to be completed? 8. What will be covered in the training of PAs? 9. How long will the training take for completion? 10. Will the training occur before or after the background check? 11. Will the new statewide FI assume liability for any injuries which will occur because of information presented in PA training? Question Category # 5, Will there be exceptions or special procedures for the maintenance of personal records if either a consumer or PA has a legitimate claim of privacy and confidentiality due to being a domestic violence victim? Question Category # 6, 1. What criteria or factors will be considered in the “monitoring” of consumer’s ability to self-direct? 2. How will the consumer be notified that they are being monitored? 3. What are the procedures of the monitoring? 4. Will the consumer be able to contest/appeal the decision? Question Category # 7, 1. What will be included in the memorandum of understanding with the consumer? 2. Does the consumer have any opportunity to amend or propose new terms to the agreement? 4.1 Responsibilities of Consumer Question Category # 8, 1. Will payment for training be provided to the potential PA be covered by the statewide FI? 2. If payment for training is available, how much? 3. Is payment for training paid by the hour? 4. Will the consumer need to get permission to use payment for training? 5. Will the training provided by the consumer occur before or after any training provided by the statewide FI? 6. How will conflicts preamble between the different trainings? 7. Will the consumer be required to cover specific topics of training? 8. The responsibility of consumer to “train” is in conflict with the obligations of the requirements of 4.1 (e) which calls for the Statewide FI to “train” the PA. Which obligation to “train” takes priority? 9. As scheduling is the responsibility of the consumer, how will the usage of overtime be handled? 4.2 Best Practices Question Category # 9, 1. What are the variables suggesting “high-quality FI services”? 2. Who determines what is "high-quality FI services"? 3. Will the suggested "high-quality FI services" be provided by the statewide FI or by any subcontractors? 4. Will the consumer have any opportunity to work with any specific subcontractors? 5. Will the consumer have the right to refuse peer mentoring provided by the statewide FI or subcontractor? 6. Will the consumer have the right to refuse a home visit as a "high-quality FI services"? 7. Who will be held responsible if the website or email system is not ADA compliant? 8. Who will be held responsible if the website or email system is not maintained? 9. Who will be held responsible if questions/complaints are submitted through the website or email system are not promptly answered or resolved? 10. Will DOH monitor the consumer satisfaction with the email system or website of the statewide FI? 11. Will the consumer be able to submit complaints directly to DOH concerning accessibility, functionality or lack of response to questions/complaints submitted through the email system or website? THE CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHOULD BE A MANDATORY COMPONENT OF THIS RFP AND LIMITED TO CONSUMERS. 1. If the consumer advisory committee includes PAs, FI staff, MCOs & LDSS how many of each category? 2. What is the frequency of consumer advisory committee meetings? 3. Will travel expenses to attend the consumer advisory committee be provided? 4. Will the consumer advisory committee the statewide or regional? 5. Would the consumer advisory committee be the responsibility of the statewide FI or the subcontractors? 4.3 FI Employment Related responsibilities & Joint Employment Responsibilities Question Category # 10, 1. In terms of "tabulating appropriate hours" does this include limitation on overtime? 2. Does the "coordinating of annual leave" include scheduling when/if a PA takes time off? 3. Does "making wage benefits information to consumers" include a periodic breakdown of actual pay received by the PA? 4. Will PAs be notified that wage information has been provided to consumers? 5. What information is collected and evaluated in auditing a consumer's billing records? 6. Will overtime hours be included in auditing a consumer's billing records? 7. Does the auditing process of billing records include a total assessment of the cost of a consumer's care? 8. How often will a consumer receive the results of such auditing of billing records? 9. Will a consumer be given the opportunity to contest or explain the results of the auditing of billing records? 10. Will consumers receive a detailed description of billing records auditing process? 11. Does the auditing of consumer billing records average out overtime hours over an entire care team of the individual? 4.4 Statewide FI Compliance Requirements Question Category # 11, 1. Will the regulations found in 505.28 need to be formally changed to reflect the requirements of this RFP? 2. Will DOH publish any new regulations for 505.28 for public comment and review? 3. Other than civil litigation, can consumers file complaints as to lack of compliance with 505.28? 4. What are the procedures for filing a 505.28 regulatory compliance complaint? 5. Will the procedures for filing a 505.28 regulatory compliance complaint be published on the DOH website? 6. Will the regulations found in 504.3 need to be formally changed to reflect the requirements of this RFP? 7. Will DOH publish any new regulations for 504.3 for public comment and review? 8. Other than civil litigation, can consumers file complaints as to lack of compliance with 504.3? 9. What are the procedures for filing a 504.3 regulatory compliance complaint? 10. Will the procedures for filing a 504.3 regulatory compliance complaint be published on the DOH website? 11. Will the statewide FI be required to provide alternative EVV compliance systems? 12. Will subcontractors be subject to DOH guidance regarding marketing of FI services. 13. Will DOH guidance concerning marketing be made available to the public? 14. Will the results of regular reporting requirements be made available to the public? 15. Will the public have an opportunity to comment on regular reporting submissions? 4.5 Fiscal Intermediary Organizational Requirements Question Category # 12, 1. Will the organizational chart of the statewide FI be made available to the public? 2. Will contact information to individuals in the statewide FI organizational chart be provided? 3. Why doesn't the list of restrictions relating to ownership suggesting a conflict of interest include that of a current privately owned Fiscal Intermediary? 4. How does DOH intend to oversee the compliance with the requirement to provide services sufficient linguistic and cultural understanding? 5. Will sufficient linguistic and cultural services include meeting the needs of the deaf community? 6. Will sufficient linguistic and cultural services include meeting the needs of the blind and visually impaired? 7. How many accessible locations in each region will the statewide FI provide? 8. How many local presence offices in each region will the statewide FI provide? 9. Will local offices of subcontractors count towards determining whether the statewide FI has a sufficient regional presence? 10. Will pending audit information be available to the public? 4.6 Fiscal Monitoring and Oversight Requirements Question Category # 13, 1. Will the annual cost report information be available to the public? 2. Will the public have an opportunity to comment on the annual cost reports? 3. Will the written fiscal procedures be published or made available to the public to review? 4. Will subcontractors use the same written fiscal procedures? 5. How can a statewide FI contractor objectively oversee and investigate itself for fiscal integrity? 6. Will the quarterly EVV compliance report be made available to the public? 4.7 Quality Monitoring and Reporting Requirements Question Category # 14, 1. Will the Quality Management Plan be made available to the public? 2. When will DOH announce the factors/variables of what is included in Quality Management Plan reports? 3. Will the public have an opportunity to offer additional factors of what constitutes quality FI services? 4. Will Quality Management Plan reports be available to the public? 5. Will consumers have an opportunity to comment on that Quality Management Plan reports? 4.8 Information Technology Requirements Question Category # 15, 1. Will the accessibility requirements of other sections of this RFP apply to Information Technology considerations? 2. Will the Information Technology used to comply with EVV be fully ADA compliant and accessible? T.K. Small, JD Finding a New PCA United Spinal Association, https://unitedspinal.org/ Best tips and strategies for finding and hiring a PCA. https://unitedspinal.org/best-tips-and-strategies-for-finding-and-hiring-pcas/ Annie Streit, Grassroots Advocacy Manager, Aug 23, 2023 How to Secure Housing and Manage PCA Services at College https://newmobility.com/how-to-secure-housing-and-manage-pca-services-at-college/ Annie Tulkin, March 29, 2022 Managing Personal Assistants: A Consumer Guide https://pva.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/persasstfc6d.pdf Paralyzed Veterans of America, 2000 Disabled in Action of Metropolitan New York The "DIA Activist" News Letter can be found online at: http://largestminority.net/activist.html or https://www.disabledinaction.org/ The Largest Minority is a news, opinion and resource web site on issues of concern and interest to the community of people with a disability. It is produced in conjunction with Disabled In Action of Metropolitan New York. DIA Membership: A civil rights organization committed to ending discrimination against people with disabilities that believes in the motto, "Nothing about us without us!" Everyone is welcome. For Dues and Meeting information, please visit https://www.disabledinaction.org/ If you're on Twitter or Facebook - http://www.twitter.com/DIA_ New York https://www.facebook.com/ Disabled-In-Action-of- Metropolitan-New-York The next DIA meetings will be held Selis Manor 135 W 23rd Street between 6th and 7th Avenues - 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. Sunday July 7th We will discuss issues we are working on. Come for lively discussion and brainstorming on changes we can make as well as learn what we have been up to and are planning to do to advance the cause of disability rights. In case of extremely bad weather, you can call the DIA phone number - 646-504-4342 - after 6pm the Saturday night before to find out if the meeting will be cancelled. Our meetings are usually held on the 1st Sunday of the month. We only do the second Sunday if a holiday falls right on that day or if there is a big NYC event that makes getting around extra difficult such as the marathon, or if the weather is impassable or dangerous. Our new phone number is 646-504-4342. Our new mailing address is Disabled In Action PO Box 1550, New York, NY 10159 Able Newspaper As March begins, we’re happy to share that the latest digital edition of Able News is now live! With expanded original reporting on wheelchair sports, transportation accessibility, local news, and more, you won’t want to miss this issue. We’re glad you’re part of our growing community as our journey continues under new editorial leadership at The Viscardi Center. Thank you for reading! With appreciation, Emily Ladau Editor, Able News https://ablenews.com/latest-edition/ SUBMIT NEWS ITEMS TO ABLENEWS@VISCARDICENTER.ORG. Ablenews@viscardicenter.org Local Independent Living Centers • Bronx Independent Living Services, Inc. (BILS) 4419 Third Ave, #2C, Bronx, NY 10457 TEL 718 515-2800 x 116 / TTY 718 515-2803 / FAX 718 515-2844 • Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled (BCID) 27 Smith St, #200, Brooklyn, NY 11201 TEL 718 998-3000 / TTY 718 998-7406 / FAX 718 998-3743 • Center for Independence of the Disabled in NY (CID-NY) (Manhattan) 841 Broadway, #301, New York, NY 10003 TEL 212 674-2300 V / TTY 212-674–5619 / FAX 212-254-5953 • CID-NY/Queens - 137-02A Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354 Phone: 646-442-1520 / Sorenson VP 866-948-1064 / TTY 718-886-0427 / Fax 718-886-0428 • Harlem Independent Living Center (HILC) (Manhattan) 289 St. Nicholas Ave, #21 Lower Level, New York, NY 10027 TEL: 212-222–7122 / Sorenson VP 646-755-3092 / Relay 866-326-5876 / FAX 212-222-7199 / info@hilc.org • Staten Island Center for Independent Living (SIILC) 470 Castleton Ave, Staten Island, NY 10301 TEL 718-720-9016 / TTY 718-720-9870 / FAX 718-720-9664 • Long Island Center for Independent Living (LICIL) (Nassau Co) 3601 Hempstead Turnpike, #208, Levittown, NY 11756 TEL 516-796-0144 / TEL (Espanol) 516-796-6176 / TTY 516-796-0135 / FAX 516-796-0529 / licil@aol.com • Self Initiated Living Options, Inc. (SILO) (Suffolk Co) 2111 Lakeland Ave, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 TEL 631-880-7929 / TTY 631-654-8076 / FAX 631-946-6377 / contact@siloinc.org • Westchester Independent Living Center (WILC) (Westchester/White Plains) 200 Hamilton Ave, White Plains, NY 10601 TEL 914-682-3926 / TTY 914-682-0926 / Sorenson Video Phone 866-933 5390 / FAX 914-682-8518 • Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc. (WDOM) Westchester/Yonkers) 984 No. Broadway, #L-10, Yonkers, NY 10701 TEL 914-968-4717 V & TTY / FAX 914-968-6137 Alternative Resources The following resources MAY help Consumers find new Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Candidates and manage the CDPAP. (Suggestions Welcome) Employment Kingsborough Comm. College, Marisa Joseph 2001 Oriental Blvd, Brooklyn, NY 11235 marisa.joseph@kbcc.cuny.edu 718-368-5563 NYC Technical College Placement Office pdc@citytech.cuny.edu (718) 260-5050 Advertising Able Newspaper Cost $5 for each 5 word line (or part) – 30days Phone: 516-939-2253 www.ablenews.com Classified Ads, Cost Free http://www.classifiedads.com/post.php Craigslist, Cost $45.00 (30 days) http://newyork.craigslist.org/ Barefootstudent.com - $75 per month Employment site for recruiting college grads and nearby students. System Navigation Homecare Planning Solutions http://www.hpsny.org/learning-center/home-care/enroll-in-cdpap/ 718-215-0926 Assistance with enrolling in a CDPAP, or questions about CDPAP Call to speak with a specialist. Never any charge for their help Independent Consumer Advocacy Network (ICAN) ICAN helps people in New York’s Managed Care Plans Call (844) 614-8800 TTY Relay Service: 711 https://icannys.org/ Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program Focus - Medicaid, Medicare, home care services, and public benefits issues affecting older adults & people with disabilities 212.613.7310 Monday through Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm EFLRP@nylag.org Find My FI https://cdpaanys.org/findmyfi/ CDPAANYS recommends doing thorough research before selecting a fiscal intermediary. Wages, benefits, and programs can vary between providers. Your Medicaid service coordinator or plan care manager should provide you with a list of all options. The fiscal intermediaries listed on this site are current provider members of CDPAANYS. Our members have all been screened and interviewed before joining to ensure they operate according to the principles and philosophy of Consumer Direction. Your FI should never ask for your workers to sign a non-compete agreement. Questions to consider if changing your (FI) CDPAP Provider In addition to considering the items you already value such as personal recommendations, information contained in company advertisements, or other local factors; when considering a new CPAPA provider agency, you may wish to consider some of the following questions. Please note: the agency may choose not to answer any of your questions, but even that may help you to decide if the agency is a good fit for you and your circumstances. • Name of Agency • Address • Contact Person • Contact Telephone • Contact Email Address • Website • Counties Served • Managed Care Providers • Direct County or DSS Contracts • Number of Years Providing Home Care Services • Number of Years Providing Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services • Percent CDPAP Consumers verses total Home Care Consumers. • Will your agency be required to participate in the Electronic Visit Verification Program? • If I change between provider agencies will my service authorization change? • What is included in the PCA’s wage and benefit package? • Does the agency provide a recruitment assistance resource to help me attract new PCA’s? • Positions occupied by Consumers: 1. Service Recipients 2. Client Advisory Members 3. Board Members 4. Employees 5. Other • If Consumers are on the Board of Director, what percent of the Board is controlled by Consumers? • What are some of the reasons for becoming a CDPAP Provider Agency? 1. Is the program the corporation’s primary mission? 2. Does the program help the corporation achieve its goal of consumer empowerment? 3. Does the agency also serve offer traditional home care services? 4. Did the corporation choose to become a provider because the CDPAP provided a more cost-effective service solution for consumers with more complex service needs? 5. Did the corporation choose to become a provider because the CDPAP allow you to diversify your mix of services? 6. Did the corporation choose to become a provider because the CDPAP business model offered an opportunity that could benefit both the corporation and the consumers? 7. Other • What are some of the Problems with the CDPAP (Besides inadequate reimbursement)? 1. Does the model complicate the process of utilizing the corporation’s proven systems of quality and fiscal control? 2. Does the model facilitate and encourage Consumer fraud and abuse? 3. Does the model complicate the process of complying with and controlling new regulatory requirements, such as overtime, sleep-in, and joint employment? 4. Is it difficult to maintain a clear line of separation between agency and consumer responsibilities? 5. Does the consumer’s problem of locating suitable PCA’s, and managing the delivery of services create situations that are too difficult for some consumers? 6. Is it administratively difficult to manage the problem of collecting all the required PCA documents without compromising consumer independence or program liability? 7. Other • Why Should a Consumer choose your Agency? • Other Comments about your Agency