PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Sasha Guillaume, Owner of Principal Home Care, on CDPAP and Single Fiscal Intermediary Concerns
1:58:30
ยท
3 min
Sasha Guillaume, owner of Principal Home Care, testifies against the transition to a single fiscal intermediary (FI) for the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). She argues that this change would negatively impact small business owners, particularly those from underrepresented groups, and reduce patient choice in home care services.
- Guillaume emphasizes the importance of having diverse business owners in the home care industry who reflect the communities they serve.
- She urges support for state legislation (A.2735/S.1189) to reform and preserve New York's home care agencies.
- The testimony highlights the value of CDPAP in providing culturally competent care and enabling access for patients with language barriers.
Sasha Guillaume
1:58:30
Hello.
1:58:31
My name is Sacha Guillaume, owner of Principal Home Care.
1:58:35
It is an honor to present before the city council and also along with my colleagues who've been working to advocate against the single FI.
1:58:45
Also honored to present or share the stage virtual with the order, senator Gustavo Rivera.
1:58:54
I can give a speech.
1:58:55
He can move the crowd.
1:58:56
And I am hopeful that senator Rivera will move your colleagues to support your bill, which will lead to necessary reforms to preserve New York agencies so that we can continue to provide service for us New Yorkers and by us New Yorkers instead of giving away the industry to an out of town, or out of state company.
1:59:19
We welcome the support of the city council to help us send a strong message to the governor to get this right because a single FI transition, this eminent domain of sorts, will cause many businesses, business owners, to lose everything.
1:59:35
Small business owners, some from underrepresented groups where traditional financing are not available, or those who have taken out a line of credit on their homes to finance their businesses are now facing the possibility of losing everything.
1:59:52
Our origin story starts from my immigrant mother, a former caregiver, who dared to think that she can stake a claim in the American dream by starting a business in New York City no less.
2:00:06
Sometimes being naive enough to think that you can is what is needed for you to try and succeed.
2:00:12
So when our patients started inquiring about CDPAP, we created Principal Home Care to enable them to access this program.
2:00:21
CDPAP works.
2:00:22
For patients who are self directing and with a little bit of help, they can be more independent.
2:00:31
As the program evolved to allow a broader
Lynn Schulman
2:00:34
You can finish.
2:00:34
Go ahead.
Sasha Guillaume
2:00:35
Thank you.
2:00:35
As the program evolved to allow a broader application, we saw patients who previously were not able to receive care due to language and other limitations be able to access care.
2:00:46
Historically, people who look like us have been the ones providing care, and that has always been acceptable.
2:00:53
And to meet the Department of Health's value based goals, it is sometimes beneficial for the improved health care outcomes of patients and the caregivers, and that the caregivers share a common language and sometimes some cultural competencies with the patient.
2:01:08
But I just don't think it should stop at the caregiver.
2:01:11
I think there is value in having the owners look like the patients that we care for, and not just the caregiver.
2:01:18
I think there is value in that.
2:01:20
And if this law is enacted, the companies selected will not look like the members of all the communities that we care for.
2:01:27
So help us send a message to Governor Hochul to move New York forward and not to go back.
2:01:32
The governor claims to be an ally, well, now is the time to show it.
2:01:37
So let's repeal this law and do what's right for all New Yorkers.
2:01:41
Let's repeal this law and return patient choice to the consumers.
2:01:45
Let's repeal this law and empower New Yorkers to create businesses and invest in their communities.
2:01:50
Let's support the stability and oversight, in consumer directed care bills a twenty seven thirty five sponsored by Assembly member Sturpry and s eleven eighty nine sponsored by Senator Rivera.
2:02:03
Let's repeal this disastrous law and save the home care New York's home care industry.
Lynn Schulman
2:02:07
Thank you very much.