NY Dept. of Health Commissioner Faces Medicaid Privatization Suit

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A class action has been filed against New York state Department of Health Commissioner Howard Zucker and others alleging thousands of severely disabled and homebound metropolitan area residents have been deprived of vital in-home care as a result of how the state has handled the privatization of Medicaid services. Plaintiffs claim Zucker, HF Management Services, Senior Health Partners, Inc., Healthfirst, Inc. and others responsible for administering New York’s Medicaid plan have put them and “thousands of indigent and disabled adults” in the metro area at serious risk for failing to guarantee that they will continue to receive home care that addresses their health needs and allows them to remain safely at home.

According to the complaint, plaintiffs have repeatedly asked the defendants for an increase in home care services. The defendants reportedly ignored plaintiffs’ requests and/or used flawed assessment systems that “systematically and unlawfully deny or reduce the needed services.” As a result, plaintiffs claim they’ve sustained injury to their legal rights and dignity, as well as physical and psychological harm due to the defendants’ alleged misconduct.

The proposed class includes thousands of disabled adults in the New York metro area who require assistance with basic daily living activities who are at risk of institutionalization due to the defendants alleged failure to ensure they will receive the at-home services they need.