State lawmakers are launching a hearing to investigate New York's controversial $9 billion taxpayer-funded program that connects residents with Home-Health-Care Aides.
State Senate Health Committee Chairman Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx) and state Sen. James Scorfess (D-Hudson Valley) said they would be urging people to testify about the Personal Assistance Program for Distressed Consumer (CDPAP).
The program first came from ramp-prolonged abuse and waste allegations, including an unregulated brokerage company that linked residents with aides as part of a state-funded Medicare initiative.
Governor Kathy Hochul's administration subsequently abolished the private go-betworn, but awarding a large-scale job to one company in a bid contract created more questions and protests.
“We will clearly lay out what we learn to see how the transition worked, what didn't work, how it happened, and see that the individuals being served by the program continue to be provided,” Rivera said.
Rivera said that “fallout is still felt” from the governor's merger move. Some workers either were not paid or left the program, but patients were not receiving the necessary care and others ended up in “or bad” nursing homes.
The program is under scrutiny from the Fed, which was reported earlier this month, as Post is investigating the governor's choice of public partnership LLC as CDPAP's sole “financial intermediary.”
Skoufis said how the contact was awarded would be part of the state's hearing.
“I have questions, I have concerns,” he said. “I have important concerns about how this company was awarded the contract and how they were awarded the contract fairly.”
In a statement, a representative for Hochul Administration's Sam Spokony said:
“The vast majority of consumers and workers report positive experiences with new statewide fiscal intermediaries.”
The state legislator hearing on the issue will be held on July 9th.
