Center for Disability Rights supporters address county panel

Patti Singer • Staff writer • July 27, 2010 • Democrat & Chronicle

Center for Disability Rights supporters tonight addressed the Monroe County Legislature’s human services committee and asked that the decision to end the contract for personal assistance be reconsidered.

“My wheelchair gave me legs; CDR gave me wings,” said Michelle Fridley, 33, of Canandaigua.

Tim McGrain, 52, of Rochester also said that if Monroe County has concerns, CDR should have been given a chance to remedy the situation.

But a news release issued in advance of tonight’s committee meeting said the county’s decision to end the contract was final.

The county sent the news release to address what it said were “common misperceptions perpetuated by CDR.”

Monroe County said that clients served by CDR would not be removed from the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program but reiterated that they would need to choose a new vendor.

The news release, in a question-and-answer format, said that clients could keep their attendants with a different agency (subject to that agency’s requirements) and said the decision to remove CDR would not cost taxpayers more.

The release also highlighted the salary of CDR chief executive officer Bruce Darling and investigations by the state attorney general’s office. County spokesman Noah Lebowitz said the county did not know the full extent, but believed it was focused on employees.

A spokesman for the attorney general said he could neither confirm nor deny any investigation into the agency or the attendants.

The county cited the 2008 IRS Form 990 in listing Darling’s salary at $184,000. The other agencies in the CDPAP program are for-profit, and Lebowitz did not have their salaries.

Lebowitz said that Darling’s salary was relevant because he said that CDR was not an effective vendor.

The consumer-directed program allows for Medicaid-eligible residents who meet certain criteria to hire, train and supervise their own attendants. Under such a program, the agency serves only as an administrator.

However, Monroe County said that an investigation of 12 cases found “widespread lapses in care,” which led the county to end its contract with CDR.

On July 21, the county informed CDR clients that they would need to choose from five other agencies. On July 22, the county detailed four cases in which clients who were supposed to have 24-hour care were left alone for stretches at a time. In one case, a person had to be hospitalized and later transferred to a nursing home.

CDR responded that the allegations of a widespread problem were false. On Monday night after a forum to mark the 20th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, attendants, clients and supporters of CDR’s consumer directed program began a vigil at the county office building.

PSINGER@DemocratandChronicle.com