The Hochul administration had initially set a deadline for more than 280,000 home care recipients to transition to a new firm for payment processing by April 1. However, due to chaotic rollout, the administration has softened the deadline. Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) was handpicked by Gov. Hochul to consolidate payroll services, with the intention to unionize aides under the program. However, the transition has been riddled with issues, with the firm struggling to handle the high volume of calls and meet the demands to hit the deadline.
Workers at PPL have reported that the phone lines are inundated with callers, leading to long wait times and abandoned calls. The firm’s workforce is working remotely, with additional agents brought in from outside New York to cope with the workload. Critics of the transition have also voiced their concerns, with protests taking place outside PPL’s office in Albany. As the deadline approaches, it is evident that thousands of consumers are still missing essential documentation needed to sign up with the new firm.
Despite the challenges faced during the transition, the Hochul administration had initially insisted that the rollout was going according to plan. However, with only 200,000 consumers having started the transition as of Thursday, the deadline remains in question. PPL has been accused of cutting corners, such as not reviewing I-9 employment verification forms and not requiring personal assistants to have their timecards approved by their consumers. The lack of oversight has raised concerns about potential fraud within the system.
Critics have also highlighted deliberate misinformation being spread by existing fiscal intermediaries, some of which have launched a multi-million dollar lobbying and advertising campaign to stop the transition. The Department of Health has spent millions on efforts to promote the benefits of the transition, in contrast to warnings from healthcare plans about the potential consequences of not completing the transition. Powerful healthcare union 1199SEIU has urged for a delay in the deadline, citing the need to avoid disruption for consumers and workers.
Lawmakers, including state Sen. Leroy Comrie, have expressed doubts about the transition and the ability of the chosen organization to handle the process effectively. Calls for a delay in the deadline have been supported by various groups, including unions and lawmakers who were involved in approving the deal during last year’s budget process. As pressure mounts on the administration to address the challenges faced during the transition, the fate of the home care system remains uncertain.
