Albany, N.Y. (WNYT) – In a rally around the Capitol, five people who blocked the escalator leading to the Capitol building were arrested, charged with disorderly conduct, and given appearance tickets.

Clients and workers with CDPAP must change over to statewide fiscal intermediary PPL by April 1.

CDPAP is the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program.

It’s a New York State program that allows people who are eligible for home care to choose and hire their own personal caregiver, often family members. The person must be eligible for Medicaid.

This month, clients and workers in CDPAP have to change over to a statewide fiscal intermediary called Public Partnership, LLC, or PPL.

The problem, some say, is that there are too many hurdles– hurdles that include language accessibility, and long hold times.

“It’s been a nightmare, honestly,” said Lori Lemke of Saratoga Springs.

She is a single mother, and a paid caregiver for her daughter who requires 24/7 care.

When she called, Lemke says they didn’t seem to know the program.

“I would ask simple questions like what’s the hourly wage. What are the benefits? Simple things that if they’re taking over the program they should know these simple questions. They couldn’t answer any of my questions,” she said.

The state health department put out an update on its website about the transition progress. It says about 115,000 consumers and 115,000 workers have either started or completed the registration process, and an additional 30,000 consumers are transitioning to Personal Care Services.

According to the department, the transition saves taxpayers one billion dollars a year.

But groups like Caring Majority Rising say the transition must be put on hold or many people could lose their care or their jobs.

Lemke says caregivers are essential.

“If they don’t have that person to take care of them, they don’t get out of bed, they can’t shower, they can’t go to the bathroom, they can’t do anything they want to do, they can’t go to work if they have a job,” she said. “Their life stops.”