Here Are the Facts on PPL’s Commitment to Strengthening CDPAP and Protecting New Yorkers Who Rely on Home Care

In recent months, a well-funded campaign by business interest groups has pushed false claims about the future of home care in New York under the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). Much of that misinformation has targeted Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) as we transition into our new role as the statewide fiscal intermediary to administer CDPAP.  

The most troubling piece of misinformation I’ve seen are claims that PPL’s transition into CDPAP will result in home care services being taken away from New Yorkers who currently rely on those services. That’s completely false.  

Here’s the truth: Our diverse team at PPL is committed and ready to ensure that New Yorkers who rely on CDPAP continue to receive the high-quality home care they deserve, regardless of their disability, cultural background, preferred language or other needs. We have the deep experience, resources, and record of success to deliver a stronger CDPAP that protects home care for New Yorkers now and for the long term.  

In this open letter to New Yorkers, I’m writing to provide more of the facts that New Yorkers need to know about this transition and our organization, as well as facts about the current problems facing NY CDPAP today and why those problems are contributing to the misinformation campaign against PPL.  

I also want to encourage New Yorkers to visit our website at pplfirst.com/cdpap to get the facts about the CDPAP transition, including frequently asked questions, details about upcoming info sessions, and how to contact our team directly with any other questions you may have.  

The Facts About PPL and our Record of Delivering for Home Care Users  

PPL is the national leader in fiscal intermediary services for consumer direction programs. We have been in business for 25 years and are successfully serving 50 programs in 21 states. Regarding state-specific concerns highlighted in these ads:  

• Colorado: PPL has been a trusted provider in Colorado for many years. Despite the presence of multiple fiscal intermediaries, 80% of consumers choose PPL because of our reliable support and services. 

• New Jersey: PPL has been serving New Jersey since 2016 with high satisfaction ratings among consumers — in the 90% to100% range. We are deeply integrated into the community, having just recently hosted a self-direction summit with participation from state officials and advocacy organizations.  

• Pennsylvania: There is a class action lawsuit in Pennsylvania that has nothing to do with PPL’s performance. PPL paid the class action plaintiffs in accordance with contractual requirements, and the class action plaintiffs do not dispute this. The claim in this case is that home care attendants who live with their consumers were legally entitled to overtime pay, even though the Pennsylvania program rules did not allow it. Plainly, the lawsuit is not about PPL; it’s about whether the Pennsylvania program should allow for this type of overtime. This has nothing to do with CDPAP because overtime is allowed in this program. 

These states are a few of the many we serve with consumer direction, and consumer direction is our sole focus as a company.  

We understand the New York healthcare landscape, the complexities of CDPAP’s fiscal intermediary transition, and the necessity of making it as seamless and least disruptive as possible for consumers and caregivers.  

PPL is hiring more than 1,200 New Yorkers to help operate the program, opening offices throughout the state, and moving our headquarters to New York. Our employees speak more than 35 languages and are from diverse backgrounds. Importantly, they have dedicated their lives to helping consumers get the home care they need. 

The Challenges Facing CDPAP Today and How PPL Will Help Deliver a Stronger CDPAP 

Under the current structure, CDPAP is administered by more than 600 disparate fiscal intermediaries, making effective oversight of the program challenging and leaving it highly susceptible to fraud and waste. For example, in October 2024, the United States Department of Justice indicted eight New York companies with $68 million in fraud involving CDPAP.  

Consolidating to a single, accountable fiscal intermediary will bring transparency and accountability to the program so that it can operate sustainably for those who need it. Having a single statewide fiscal intermediary also enables better reporting, compliance with federal and state laws, and assurance that consumers and PAs are supported in accordance with the program’s requirements. 

Why Are Business Interest Groups Spreading Misinformation About PPL? 

Commercials, mailers, and other media resembling political ads show a heavily funded effort to spread inaccuracies about PPL because the entities behind this campaign want to stop the transition. The ads, sponsored by organizations with a monetary interest, are misleading at best — grounded in self-serving efforts to interfere with the process by undermining confidence in PPL’s capabilities.  

Consumers who are the targets of these deceptive ads likely don’t know that current CDPAP fiscal intermediaries get paid administrative fees between $150 and $1,050 per consumer per month. Those fees are just for administrative services, not for the care delivered to the consumer, which is paid separately. These administrative fees amount to $1,800 – $12,600 per year per consumer. In contrast, the national average for fiscal intermediary fees is below $100 per month. The transition to a single fiscal intermediary will bring administrative costs in line with national averages and enable CDPAP funds to be focused on services to consumers instead of providing excessive revenue for administrative services. If consumers are wondering where all the money is coming from to fund these deceptive ads and mailers, that should give you a clue.  

The Bottom Line 

For the sake of the CDPAP community, I am appealing to those loudly opposing the fiscal intermediary transition and spreading misinformation to lower the rhetoric. It is unproductive, unnecessary, and a diversion to prevent consumers from receiving the information they need to continue their services within the transition timeline.  

To CDPAP consumers and personal assistants: Please do not let these ads scare you. Get the information you need directly from us. Visit our website at pplfirst.com/cdpap, review our long list of frequently asked questions, join an information session, or get in touch with our team. We are here to help you. 

Our number one focus is on the successful transition of CDPAP and ensuring it is a strong program well into the future. That is where we are fully dedicating our time and resources to making sure consumers continue to receive the care they need. It is our hope that all program stakeholders can focus their efforts on the same. 

Sincerely, 

Vince Coppola 
Chief Executive Officer 
Public Partnerships LLC