Governor Cuomo did not get rid of the harsh cuts to Consumer Directed Personal Assistance (CDPA) in his 30-day amendments. His plan continues to put future services of 70,000 disabled and senior New Yorkers in jeopardy.
Therefore, we have to turn to the Legislature to save us.
The Governor’s arbitrary redefinition of who is eligible to serve as a fiscal intermediary would throw the services of over 50,000 consumers into limbo. His draconian cuts to funding represent a 500% cut in funding. These failed ideas are based on a misguided idea that everyone’s services cost the agency the same amount to administer, and a lack of understanding of the basic costs of doing business.
In fact, these cuts discriminate in favor of people who require the fewest hours weekly – making it impossible for fiscal intermediaries to continue serving people with more complex disabilities or illnesses.
We all know that CDPA is a lifeline and is what holds the long term care system together. CDPA provides necessary services at an overall savings to the state, and most importantly, allows people freedom to make their own decisions about their health care.
The Governor’s refusal to acknowledge the needs and wants of 70,000 seniors and people with disabilities and their 100,000 personal assistants will put New York’s most vulnerable people at risk of institutionalization or worse. The Assembly and the Senate have shown a great deal of support and concern for their constituents and their families, and we are calling on them to restore the program in the one-house budget bills, due in a few weeks’ time.
If you haven’t already, please take a moment to email your Assembly and Senate representatives and tell them to reject the Governor’s cuts to the program and #SaveCDPA in the one-house budget bills!
The time to act is now. Click here to #SAVECDPA:
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