homecarereform

CPC Fully Supports Home Care Workers' Call to End 24-Hour Shifts and Make Two 12-Hour Split Shifts Universal

CPC and our subsidiary, CPC Home Attendant Program (CPCHAP), have long histories as proud union agencies. Similar to our daycare workers with DC37 and school-age directors with CSA, we respect our home care workers’ continued election of 1199SEIU as their advocate and representative. We are in full support of home care workers in their call to end 24-hour shifts and to make two 12-hour split shifts universal.

CPC Statement on Home Care Workers' Call to End 24-Hour Shifts and Make Two 12-Hour Split Shifts Universal

CPC and our subsidiary, CPC Home Attendant Program (CPCHAP), are in full support of home care workers in their call to end 24-hour shifts and to make two 12-hour split shifts universal. Unfortunately, 24-hour shifts are mandated by State law and determined by insurance companies. Like all home care agencies, CPCHAP does not have the power to split 24-hour shifts on our own. Aging Committee Chair Assembly Member Ron Kim recently acknowledged that health insurance companies determine split shifts, not home care agencies. 

CPC Renews Call for State Legislators to Take Action on Home Care Reforms

With the primary elections now concluded, CPC is renewing our call to action for our state legislators to address critical issues facing AAPI and immigrant communities. It is time to push forward reforms that will improve schedules and living wages for home care workers and that will ensure quality care for home care clients, who are predominantly older adults and people with disabilities. CPC looks forward to collaborating with legislators, allies, workers, and community members during the next state legislative session to build a just, dignified home care sector.

CPC Statement on the New York State FY 24-25 Enacted Budget

CPC acknowledges the passage of New York State's FY25 $237 billion budget that makes some key investments into Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), immigrant, and low-income communities. However, as the cost of living soars, the budget fails to make deep investments that meet the immediate, growing, and long-term needs of our most marginalized communities. In the midst of one of the worst housing crises as well as a home care workforce shortage, the State has continued to take half measures that fail to address the root causes of these issues. 

CPC Advocates for Home Care in the State's Final Budget

On March 27th, CPC joined the NY Caring Majority, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, and legislators in Albany to advocate for prioritizing home care in the State's final budget. Together, we called for the inclusion of the Home Care Savings and Reinvestment Act and #FairPay4HomeCare in the budget to ensure that individuals receive the essential care they need and that home care workers are fairly compensated for their services. 

CPC Holds 6th Annual State Advocacy Day in Albany

On February 27th, CPC held its 6th Annual State Advocacy Day in Albany, followed by a virtual event on February 28th. Over 350 staff and community members gathered in Albany for discussions with over 50 elected officials regarding budget and legislative priorities aligned with the needs of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), immigrant, and low-income communities. Key priorities highlighted include fully funding human services, investing in the AAPI Equity Budget, implementing a COLA for human services workers, increasing home care workers’ wages, and more.

CPC Statement On New York State FY25 Executive Budget & New York City FY25 Preliminary Budget

On January 16th, the Governor released New York State’s $223 billion FY25 Executive Budget, and the Mayor released New York City’s $109.4 billion preliminary budget. CPC is grateful for the critical investments and restorations made in these budgets. We urge both the Governor and the Mayor to ensure that the needs of all New Yorkers, especially Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), low-income, and immigrant communities, are meaningfully addressed in their respective budgets. 

CPC and Partners Push for State Legislation to Raise Pay for Home Care Workers

On March 22nd, CPC joined the "Dance & Rally" event at City Hall to advocate for the Fair Pay for Home Care Act, which would increase pay for home care workers to 150% of the regional minimum wage. The rally was joined by the NY Caring Majority, home care workers, older adults, people with disabilities, Comptroller Brad Lander, and Council Members Carmen de la Rosa and Crystal Hudson. Our Open Door Senior Center's older adults, whose average age is 82, also danced at the rally to show their support.

CPC Joins the Community Homecare Consortium's Call for Full Funding of Home Care

On March 20th, CPC, along with advocates, legislators, home care workers, older adults, and people with disabilities, joined the Community Homecare Consortium's State Advocacy Day in Albany to support the Fair Pay for Home Care campaign. The Community Homecare Consortium consists of 10 nonprofit home care agencies, including CPC Home Attendant Program Inc, that have been advocating for home care workers to earn 150% of the regional minimum wage.

CPC Statement on Home Care Reform

New York, NY – The Chinese-American Planning Council Home Attendant Program Inc. (CPCHAP) provides critical, life-saving home care services to Medicaid patients, who cannot afford such services otherwise. CPCHAP has no choice but to provide home care by following New York State Medicaid rules and requirements, as well as Department of Labor laws, court decisions, and union agreements.

CPC and JASA Release Joint Op-Ed on Reforming Home Care in the Gotham Gazette

CPC President/CEO Wayne Ho and JASA President/CEO Kathryn Haslanger co-wrote an op-ed for the Gotham Gazette that “It’s time for Albany to equitably and fairly compensate home care workers.” They urge State legislators to pass Fair Pay for Home Care to increase wages by 50% and the A3145A Epstein/S359A Persaud bill to ensure 24-hour home care cases are split into two, separate 12-hour shifts. The State must fully fund these reforms to better support home care workers and patients.

CPC Speaks with FAQ NYC on Home Care Reform

CPC President and CEO Wayne Ho joined hosts of FAQ NYC on March 23rd to discuss the New York State budget and legislative changes needed in order to provide critical, life-saving home care services to Medicaid patients.

CPC Joins Home Care Workers and Providers to Call for Gov. Hochul to Fully Fund Fair Pay for Home Care Act

On March 18th, CPC joined home care workers and providers outside Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Manhattan office at the #Providers4FairPay rally to demand funding for the Fair Pay for Home Care Act be included in the final State budget.

CPC Advocates for Fair Pay for Home Care on International Women's Day

CPC joined home care workers, community members, advocates, and union leaders to advocate for Fair Pay for Home Care on International Women's Day.

Statement on Home Care Grievance Decision

On February 25th, 2022, a decision was reached in the 1199SEIU grievance process, which established a Special Wage Fund of at least $30 million with contributions from 42 home care agencies in order to compensate current and former 1199SEIU home care workers in a resolution of wage and hour claims. The Chinese-American Planning Council Home Attendant Program Inc. (CPCHAP) is among the 42 home care agencies involved in the process, of which arbitration was the final step.

CPC Joins Caring Majority for Fair Pay for Home Care Advocacy Day

On February 14th, CPC joined the NY Caring Majority -- which includes seniors, people with disabilities, providers, advocates, and labor leaders -- to advocate for #FairPay4HomeCare.

Community-Based Home Care Work Group Policy Priorities

The Community-Based Home Care Workgroup consists of 11 nonprofit home care agencies collectively serving nearly 11,000 community members a year across the five boroughs of New York City. The Workgroup Policy Priorities, including ending the Medicaid global cap, fully funding 24-hour home care, and passing Fair Pay for Home Care and the New York Health Act.

Facts By The Numbers: Home Care in New York State

We care deeply about our 4,500 home care workers and our 3,000 home care patients. We recognize that 24-hour shifts are unsustainable and unfair to the 2.5% of our workforce who takes on those cases, which is why change at the State-level is needed. More facts about home care and the changes that can help relieve these challenges can be found in this infographic.

CPC Statement on Home Care Rally and Report 

The Chinese-American Planning Council Inc. (CPC) has no choice but to point out the lies, untruths, and distortions that are being said by the Ain’t I a Woman Campaign and Assembly Member Ron Kim about its subsidiary Chinese-American Planning Council Home Attendant Program Inc. (CPCHAP) in the provision of critical, life-saving home care services to Medicaid patients, who cannot afford such services otherwise. CPCHAP has no choice but to provide home care by following New York State Medicaid rules and requirements, as well as Department of Labor laws, court decisions, and union agreements.

Community-Based Home Care Workgroup's Statement on Governor Hochul’s State of the State Address

The Community-Based Home Care Workgroup consists of 11 nonprofit home care agencies, including Chinese-American Planning Council Home Attendant Program, Inc. We urge the Governor to include Fair Pay for Home Care (S5374 May/A6329 Gottfried), fully funding 24-hour care (A3145A Epstein/S359 Persaud), and lifting the Medicaid Global Cap in her FY23 Executive Budget, as well as key investments in innovation, training, and oversight.

CPC Statement on Assembly Member Ron Kim’s Report 

The Chinese-American Planning Council Home Attendant Program Inc. (CPCHAP) – a subsidiary of the Chinese-American Planning Council Inc. (CPC) – provides critical, life-saving home care services to Medicaid patients, who cannot afford such services otherwise. We have no choice but to do so by following New York State Medicaid rules and requirements, as well as Department of Labor laws, court decisions, and union agreements. We have long called for the State to replace 24-hour home care cases with two 12-hour split shifts, which would be best for both workers and patients. This requires changes to State labor law and Medicaid funding rates.

CPC Calls on Governor and Legislative Leaders to Reform Home Care

CPC continues its advocacy on home care reform by calling on New York State Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Heastie to end 24-hour shifts and raise home care worker wages.

CPC Op-Ed in Gotham Gazette: It's Time to End Substandard Working Conditions in Home Care

CPC President and CEO Wayne Ho's op-ed, published on Labor Day, September 6th, describes the systemic devaluation of care work and New York State's current home care system that pays chronically low wages and rations care.

CPC Calls for Ending 24-Hour Shifts at NY State Hearing on Homecare

On July 27th, CPC Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer Carlyn Cowen presented testimony on behalf of the CPC Home Attendant Program Inc. at the New York State Senate Joint Public Hearing on Nursing Home, Assisted Living, and Homecare Workforce. The testimony makes clear that New York State must end the 24-hour rule in homecare in favor of 12-hour split shifts and use its resources to meet the growing need for long-term care. The current system rations care and worker compensation. The system must change.  

CPC Statement on Ending the 24-Hour Rule in NYS Home Care

The New York State legislative session ended on Friday, June 11th. While some critical pieces of legislation were passed, CPC and its subsidiary, the CPC Home Attendant Program Inc. (HAP), are disappointed that A3145 (Epstein) – the bill to end 24-hour shifts for home care workers and replace those live-in shifts with 12-hour split shifts – did not pass. It is an urgent priority to end this practice, and we are grateful to the long-time legislative champions and the seven new co-sponsors that signed in support of A3145 this session. We will continue building momentum around this important issue by advocating for change ahead of the next legislative session.

CPC Statement on the Close of 2021 NYS Legislative Session

The New York State legislative session ended early in the morning on Friday, June 11th. While some critical pieces of legislation were passed, CPC is disappointed that key pieces of legislation aimed at improving the lives of essential workers and community members went unaddressed. Not enough has been done at the State level to address the deep-rooted inequalities that communities in New York have been facing for years, which have only been exacerbated during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

CPC Statement on Ending the 24-Hour Rule in NYS Home Care

The Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. (CPC) and its subsidiary, the CPC Home Attendant Program, Inc. (HAP), are each in full support of home care workers who are calling for the end of the “24-hour workday.” The State must immediately end the 24-hour rule in favor of two 12-hour split shifts where home care workers are fully compensated for each hour worked.  

CPC Meets With 57 Legislators to Discuss Community Needs on State Advocacy Day

CPC held our 3rd Annual State Advocacy Day on Thursday, January 28th. CPC staff and community members met with 57 New York State legislators to discuss how CPC has been supporting our communities during COVID-19, why it is critical that we fund our programs and human services staff, and how we need guaranteed healthcare, housing relief, and more for a just recovery. 

CPC Policy and Advocacy Priorities- New York State FY20-21

Founded in 1965, CPC is a social services organization that creates positive social change.  We empower Asian American, immigrant, and low-income communities in New York City by ensuring they have equitable access to the resources and opportunities needed to thrive.

CPC Joins United Neighborhood Houses in Albany to End "13-Hour Rule" in Home Care

CPC joined United Neighborhood Houses and fellow settlement houses St. Nicks Alliance and Sunnyside Community Services in Albany on June 5th to meet with state lawmakers to advocate for ending 24-hour shifts in favor of two 12-hour split shifts and for supporting fair pay for home care workers.

CPC Mentioned in CityLimits Opinion Piece on Home Care Workers

Tara Klein, policy analyst at United Neighborhood Houses, wrote an opinion piece in CityLimits on May 19th, 2019 titled "Stop Pitting Home-Care Workers Against Employers."

CPC President and CEO Wayne Ho Testifies at Council Hearing About Need to Increase Medicaid Funding

On April 13th, CPC President and CEO Wayne Ho testified at the New York City Council on why we need to increase Medicaid funding and transform our home care sector to meet the needs of aging New Yorkers, New Yorkers with disabilities, and home care workers, a workforce largely staffed by imm

CPC Holds Inaugural State Advocacy Day

On January 28, 2019, thirty-five CPC staff and community members met with forty NY State legislators during the inaugural “Advancing Our CommUNITY” State Advocacy Day. 

CPC Testifies at New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Aging

CPC testified at the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Aging on November 14th.

CPC Testifies at NYS Department of Labor Hearing on Meal and Sleep Time in Home Care

Amy Torres, CPC’s Director of Policy and Advocacy presented testimony at a New York State Department of Labor hearing on July 11th, 2018 on meal and sleep time in home care. The testimony and recommendations linked here outline the urgency for coordinated clarification of regulations that stretches across the NYS Department of Labor (DOL), to NYS Department of Health (DOH) and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) and the Human Resource Administration (HRA) contracts and labor groups.