CDPAP FI Transition: PA Health Assessment deadline postponed, Court Preliminarily Approves Settlement in Engesser; NYS Senate Hearing Held on PPL

Background.  The 2024-25 NYS Budget required all 280,000 Medicaid recipients who have CDPAP services to switch their "Fiscal Intermediary" (FI") -- the agency that manages payroll and benefits for their Personal Assistants ("PA")-- to a new "single FI" called Public Partnerships LLC or "PPL."    FI's have contracts with MLTC plans, mainstream managed care plans, and  -- for those exempt from managed care -- county Dept. of Social Services (HRA in NYC).  The plans or DSS decide the number of hours of home care, and the FI pays the PA.  As the "single FI,"  PPL replace dthe more than 600 FIs that currently handle payroll and benefits for all PAs in CDPAP. 

The deadline for both consumers and PAs to finish registration with PPL was originally March 28, 2025 and has been extended several times.  The final deadline was August 1st - this is a final deadline. See more below and  please see this new article with the background and earlier phases of the transition to the Single Fiscal Intermediary for CDPAP - PPL

  1. UPDATES:  Links to information below and in related new article --
  1. WHERE TO GET HELP, REPORT PROBLEMS and get MORE INFORMATION

    1. Click HERE for where to get help and report problems (NYS DOH CDPAP Hotline - 1-833-947-8666 or  StatewideFI@health.ny.gov 

    2. Facilitators  --Help Consumers  and PAs Transition to PPL

    3. WEBSITES with  FAQ's, State Guidance, and More Information 

    4. Download NYLAG PowerPoint and view recording about the Single FI Transition including PA Health insurance benefits - in presentation  by Valerie Bogart on May 15, 2025  at annual Elder Law Forum sponsored by Pierro Connor & Strauss.   Download PDF that includes all presentations here.  View all recordings here. 

    5. PAs can take the August 2025 Caring Majority survey here to report payment problems. 

  2. See this article for the timeline of transition to PPL starting in 2024, and links to all press

  3. TIMEKEEPING - PPL timekeeping apps, Paper Timesheet policy and exceptions- Paper Timesheets allowed only with an approved Exemption afte May 17th. 

  4. CDPAP Consumers and their Personal assistants (PAs) must register with PPL by July 1, 2025

  5. PA - Wages and Health Care Benefits

  6. Should a Consumer Switch from CDPAP to Personal Care? 

  7. ARCHIVE - see this article for history of transition and lawsuits 

 1. LATEST STATUS UPDATES about PPL TRANSITION

 DEADLINE for CDPAP Personal Assistant (PA) Health Assessments Extended -   As reported in the Buffalo News on Sept. 18, 2025, "the State Department of Health announced that it would no longer require caregivers in the state’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) to complete their annual health assessment by Oct. 1. Now, they only need to have scheduled an appointment in the future as of Oct. 1."    NY Department of Health to allow Caregivers More Time to Complete Compliance for Home Care Program (Buffalo News, 9/18/2025).  The state's announcement followed a rally demanding an extension of time, organized by disability advocates and the Caring Majority.  See also Syracuse.com article Sept. 23rd. 

WARNING:  PAs's must be sure to SCHEDULE an appointment by Oct. 1st -- or the PA will not get paid after that date.  The following instructions are from PPL and its contractor MobileHealth:

You can find more information and schedule an appointment on the Mobile Health website: https://www.mobilehealth.com/ny-cdpap-ppl-medical-screenings/

For questions regarding your PPL medical screening with Mobile Health, you can also call Mobile Health at 646-680-0450 or email PPL@mobilehealth.com.

You have 4 Options to complete your Medical Screening:

Option 1 – Schedule an In-Person Appointment

Go to the above website, or call Mobile Health, and select a Mobile Health clinic near you to schedule an appointment.

Option 2 – Schedule a Telehealth Appointment

Go to the above website, or call Mobile Health, and select this option. A separate lab appointment is required.

Option 3 – See Your Own Medical Provider

Go to the above website, or call Mobile Health, and select this option. This will be at your own expense. Print the Mobile Health Pre-Employment Physical Examination Form  and have your Medical Provider complete it. You will also need to complete the Drug Attestation Form  and then upload the documents using a button in the above Mobile Health website.  Guide: How to Upload Documents

Option 4 – Go to a Mobile Health Pop-Up Clinic

Mobile Health is bringing medical screenings to select areas in the state. Please go to the above website for locations and more information.  (Dates and times are here -- scroll down.) 

Engesser et al v. McDonald  lawsuiit  

As  described in NYLAG's press release, the key provisions of the settlement agreement include:

  1. DOH will order MLTC plans, Mainstream Managed Care plans and Local Districts of Social Services  (DSS) to send a letter to all CDPAP consumers who have registered with PPL. This letter will give CDPAP consumers information about how to get help if they are having problems using their CDPAP services.
     
  2. Facilitators will have the same access to PPL systems as PPL call center staff do and will have the ability to flag issues for expedited help. Consumers will get a form  to select a facilitator. Facilitators are able to assist consumers and their Personal Assistants (PAs) in enrollment, onboarding and training, and also by resolving day-to-day issues as they arise.
     
  3. For consumers who are not yet registered with PPL or whose PAs are not registered, or who is registered but did not use their CDPAP services in June --
    1. They will receive a letter telling them that their deadline for registering is August 1. This letter will explain all of the ways they can register and the resources that are available to assist.
       
    2. DOH will order MLTC Plans to make additional efforts to contact CDPAP consumers who have not used their CDPAP services recently. This includes a letter, at least one home visit and reaching out to an authorized representative.
       
    3. Ultimately, every CDPAP consumer who does register with PPL, switches to another long-term service or begins using their CDPAP services through PPL by August 1 will be sent a notice explaining their right to a fair hearing.
       

  4. DOH will issue guidance that will help managed care organizations, local districts of social services and PPL understand some of the CDPAP program rules better.  These guidance documents should help consumers receive services without interruption.  This includes sending "authorizations" for CDPAP services promptly to PPL to ensure continuity of care.  

    • On and after August 1 2025, DOH issued some of the guidance referenced here. See GIS 25 MA/08 - CDPAP Service Authorization Renewal Timelines  (requires local DSS to complete reassessments 14 days before the end of an authorization period and upload them 10 days before. 

    • Managed care and MLTC plans must also complete reassessments 14 days before the authorization expires and upload them 7 days before.  See Service Authorization Renewal Timelines  for Managed Care Plans (8/1/2025) 

    • See other policy documents here. 

  5. DOH CDPAP Transition Hotline will continue to operate in its current capacity through December 31 and will remain open in some form after that.

  6. Plaintiffs’ counsel will continue to have the ability to escalate individual cases for timely resolution.

.For earlier history of the Engesser lawsuit, including press ane earlier injunctions, see https://nylag.org/engesser/ and this article

New York bill isntroduced proposing new CDPAP compromise (NYState of Politics, Spectrum News One May 15, 2025) - describing bills  that would require the State to contract with more FIs in addition to PPL.  The legislative session ended for the summer without any of these bills passing for the time being. 

Paper timesheets no longer allowed without an "exception"- since May 17, 2025. 

After May 17, 2025, Personal Assistants may use paper timesheets (fill-in-able version here) only if they obtain an Exception from PPL.    See more here for how to complete and submit paper timesheetsand about how to request an exception to allow paper timesheets after May 7th. 

Starting Sunday May 18th, PAs must log hours on Time4Care, PPL@Home, or Telephony  unless they obtain an Exception.  See more here.  

2.  Where Does Consumer or PA Go if They have Problems with Transition? 

CALL IN THIS SUGGESTED ORDER: 

  1. PPL at 1-833-247-5346 (English).  See numbers for other languages here.   Make sure to keep a log of dates of calls, who you talked to, hold time, what was said., any language barriers. Always call or email them first.  Other contacts at PPL: 

  1. NYS DOH CDPAP hotline   1-833-947-8666 or    StatewideFI@health.ny.gov  (NEW)

  2. ORGANIZATIONs THAT BROUGHT LAWSUITs: 

  1. If PPL has not received your "authorization" for CDPAP from your plan or local DSS:- or for other problems caused by your plan or DSS/HRA -
    • If you are in a MLTC plan - E-mail a Complaint to the NYS Dept. of Health Managed Long Term Care Technical Assistance Center (TAC)     mltctac@health.ny.gov.

  1. ICAN - the Independent Consumer Advocacy Network   TEL 844-614-8800    (For members of MLTC plans or Managed care or HARP plans) 

TTY Relay Service:  711   Website:   icannys.org      ican@cssny.org

  1. NYS Department of Labor Wage Theft Hotline  833-910-4378 or visit https://dol.ny.gov/labor-standards-complaint-process..  Failure to pay wages in full on a timely basis is a serious crime in New York, one that the Legislature has made even more serious in recent years. It is a Class E felony to commit wage theft.  
  2. Fle a wage theft complaint with the Attorney General’s office. Submit an online complaint or contact the Attorney General’s Office Helpline at 800-771-7755.
  3. Contact your NYS elected official and the Governor's office

2a.  "Facilitators" can help consumers transition to PPL   

PPL has subcontracted with 40+ CDPAP Facilitators around NYS.  These were former  FIs that will  continue as subcontractors to PPL -- but they will NO LONGER serve as FI's.  Instead, they  help consumers and PA's transition to the new FI PPL.  See list here of the Facilitators with the counties they  cover,  languages spoken, and contact information.

2c.    WEBSITES with FAQ's and Guidance about CDPAP SIngle FI - and Link to View Recording of NYLAG Webinar of March 10th

3.  LATEST PRESS  (some is behind paywall) 

Sept. 23, 2025    Syracuse.com  Thousands of NY home-care workers get extension on health exam; new Syracuse site set

Sept. 18, 2025 Buffalo News  NY Department of Health to Allow Caregivers More Time to Complete Compliance for Home Care Program 

Sept. 8, 2025 Crain's Health Plus Home care company admits to meeting with state officials before getting contract to overhaul program

Sept. 5, 2025 NYState of Politics  CDPAP: Company awarded state contract admits to 'conversations' with state officials after denying them under oath  

Sept. 5, 2025  NY Times  Questions Arise Over Hiring of Firm to Run $11 Billion Health Care Program

Sept. 5, 2025  NY Focus  Home Care Employer Walks Back Testimony, Fueling Concerns of Rigged $11 Billion Contract

Aug. 27, 2025  NY Focus   After Criticism, Home Care Employer Will Look for Better Health Insurance

August 22, 2025 NY Focus Complete Waste of Our Time’: Lawmakers Get Few Answers on Home Care Chaos

August 21, 2025 - Albany Times-Union  Lawmakers blast NY health commissioner over CDPAP rollout

August 21, 2025 - NY Post  State senator unveils new evidence suggesting NY’s massive $11B homecare contract was rigged

August 21, 2025 - City & State  State planned to give no-bid contract to PPL, lawmaker claims

August 21, 2025 updated Aug. 25th  New York TImes  N.Y. Lawmakers Press Officials About Home Health Program’s Issues

August 5, 2025 Documented NY  Criticism Mounts Over CDPAP Overhaul as Immigrant Workers Go Unpaid

August 5, 2025 Albany Times Union Commentary: PPL is the solution to New York state's home care problem - Op Ed by the CEO of PPL 

FOR EARLIER PRESS SEE THIS ARTICLE

4  TIMEKEEPING - How PAs Keep and Consumers Approve Time Each Week  . 

Starting Sunday May 18th, 2025 PAs must log hours on either PPL's Time4Care app, PPL@Home online portal, or Telefony system.  Until that date, PAs could use paper timesheets here (fill-in-able version here), but starting May 18, 2025  these are allowed only if PPL grants an EXCEPTION..    

PPL has posted some guides on how to use the timekeeping apps and portal -  on https://pplfirst.com/cdpap-resources/ click on TIMEKEEPING on the left, and scroll down to find various videos. Also see How to Manage Time with PPL, note some complicated rules, especially pp. 5-7.   Also see PAYROLL and PAYMENT section on PPL resources page. 

In-person assistance is also available at certain sites.  See https://pplfirst.com/cdpap-events/.

Some other rules from PPL PAYROLL website:

 If you continue to have difficulty with these systems, please call PPL at 1-833-247-5346 (English)(See numbers for other languages here). Also file complaints with DOH and lawsuit contacts here. 

 4a How PA MAY REQUEST EXCEPTION TO USE TIMESHEETS AFTER May 17th - and tips on  paper Timesheets.  

If a Personal Assistant will have an ongoing need to use a paper timesheet beyond May 17 – for instance, as a religious exception or in an area where the use of Time4Care or telephony is not reliable – there is a process to request an individualized exception to use paper timesheets. PPL's NY CDPAP Paper Timesheet Exception Form NEW is here (Fillable version here).  PPL’s description of the timesheet exception process can be found in this document at page 5 (this is the How to Manage Time with PPL Guide that can be found in PROGRAM DOCUMENTS on PPL website)(Espanol).  Make your request right away..

 5.  Registration Required for  CDPAP Consumers by  May 15, 2025? - and PAs   by June 6, 2025 (extended dates under Preliminary Injunction)

The NYS Dept. of Health is requiring all 240,000 CDPAP consumers and all of the more than 500,000 Personal Assistants to sign up with PPL.  The NYS CDPAP website  and the PPL-NY website explain the FOUR ways that a consumer and their PA may make the transition -- by phone, online, with a "facilitator," or at an in-person registration session.  The transition does not happen instantly and may take several contacts over a period of time -- therefore consumers should not wait until the last minute to begin the process. 

Also, a consumer's transition will not be complete unless all of their PAs also register with PPL, which can involve uploading extensive paperwork. The consumer is being tasked with responsibility for making sure their PAs register. 

View recording of webinar given by Valerie Bogart, NYLAG on March 10, 2025 and download NYLAG PowerPoint about the Single FI Transition - dated March 10, 2025, here. 

NEW PPL Brochure On HOw to Transition - with Screen Shots 

CONSUMERS REGISTER WITH PPL:

Personal Assistant  (PA) Registration

Ask a FACILITATOR to help troubleshoot problems. 

6.  PA - Wages and Health Care Benefits

 PPL wages are on its website - click on Frequently Asked Questions and scroll down to PA Wages and Benefits.   DOH has issued an FAQ: CDPAP Caregiver Healthcare Benefit Options Offered by PPL - (PDF) Updated 4/25/2025

Here are two expert analyses of the two PPL plans

The two PPL plans are:

  1. PPL’s Anthem BasicWellness plan with a FlexCard – In the “Wage Parity” area including New York City, Long Island and Westchester, all workers both part-time and full-time are automatically enrolled in the BasicWellness plan, which covers only a few preventive services. PPL calls this coverage “free,” but workers’ pay is reduced by $0.87/hour in NYC or $1.03 in Westchester and Long Island to pay for this plan.  Plan document here. (Note PPL changed the name of this plan from "Minimum Esential Coverage (MEC) to BasicWellness). 

DOH”s own FAQ about PPL Health Insurance admits that this plan is “not comprehensive health insurance coverage because it only covers services the plan considers preventive. For example, if you injure yourself and make an appointment to see a provider, your primary care visit to treat the injury is not covered by the PPL Anthem BasicWellnessPlan.”

MANDATORY enrollment in the Anthem BasicWellness plan for all PAs in NYC, Long Island and Westchester.  At this time, PPL Is only allowing Medicare beneficiaries to opt out of the MEC plan.  They are not premitting others to opt out, which may interfere with their other coverage from a spouse or a retiree plan, depending on the terms of the particular plan.

  1. PPL’s “Anthem SecureHealth plan is an option for workers statewide to choose instead of the MEC plan if they work 130 hours/month or more (about 30 hours/week). The monthly premium is $212 ($692 for family) and deductible is $6,350 ($22,700 for a family).  No one earning $32,000 can afford these sky-high costs – which is why NYS is proud of its Essential Plan, which provides comprehensive free coverage to  single New Yorkers earning up to $39,000 (250% Federal Poverty Line).   As the State recently admitted in the FAQ,  merely being offered this MV plan disqualifies workers from the Essential Plan and from premium subsidies for Qualified Health Plans through the Affordable Care Act -- despite their low income -- even if they do not enroll in the PPL plan.  So low-wage workers will face bankruptcy if they need significant treatment, skip treatment for chronic conditions, or be forced to find another job – leaving the consumer without care. A worker may also lose coverage under a spouse’s job or retiree coverage – just because this MV option is available, but this varies among employment plans.

View recording of webinar given by Valerie Bogart, NYLAG on May 15, 2025 and download NYLAG PowerPoint about the Single FI Transition - including PA health benefits (pp. 17-21 of this PDF).  Presentation given as part of all-day annual Elder Law Conference sponsored by Pierro Connor & Strauss on May 15, 2025.. View all presentations recorded at this forum here and download PDF that includes all presentations here. 

CLICK HERE for PRESS investigating PPL's insurance and other benefits, and Leading Edge, the administrator of PPL's insurance plans and Editorials about Health Insurance

7.  Should a Consumer Switch from CDPAP to Traditional Personal Care in order to avoid having to switch to PPL?

Many consumers and PA's are being told they should switch to traditional Personal Care agencies (called Licensed Home Care Services Agencies or "LHCSA").   Many FI's are operated by companies that also operate LHCSAs - so if the consumer and PA switch to the LHCSA this is a way for that company to keep the business.   Consumers are NOT required to switch in order to maintain services.   Consumers should keep several factors in mind before making this switch:

5.   All PCA’s must go through a 2-week training to get certification.  Some LHCSA’s offer this training.  

6.   The PA will now be an employee of the LHCSA personal care agency - and will not only work for the consumer.  They might be reassigned to another case.  


06 Oct, 2025
CDPAP FI Transition: PA Health Assessment deadline postponed, Court Preliminarily Approves Settlement in Engesser; NYS Senate Hearing Held on PPL
http://health.wnylc.com/health/news/97/