Tara Himmel, Chief Marketing OfficerSelf-directed care makes that possible. Through Medicaid and other public programs, older adults and people with disabilities have the freedom to choose their caregivers and live independently at home. Behind that choice is a complex financial and administrative infrastructure that keeps caregivers paid, public funds accounted for and programs running smoothly.
For over 25 years, Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) has helped build and manage that infrastructure, combining financial management expertise, technology and operational experience to support public programs while preserving participant choice. Much of this work happens behind the scenes, but for people like Bradley and for their families, the impact is felt every day.
“Every program has unique needs,” says Tara Himmel, Chief Marketing Officer. “Our national experience allows us to navigate that complexity while delivering the consistency and accountability our partners deserve.”
Making Self-Direction Easier
Choosing a caregiver is only the beginning. Enrollment, employment documentation, timekeeping and payroll all come with requirements that can be difficult to navigate.
That's where PPL comes in. Once a state agency or health plan authorizes services, PPL guides participants through enrollment and caregiver registration, coordinating background checks and required paperwork. When caregivers submit timesheets, PPL verifies recorded hours against those authorizations, then processes payroll and supports tax administration. That way, participants can monitor available hours and balances, while caregivers track time and payments.
Demonstrating Results in New York
PPL's work in New York illustrates its ability to manage these responsibilities across complex public programs.
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Every program has unique needs. Our national experience allows us to navigate that complexity while delivering the consistency and accountability our partners deserve.
As sole fiscal intermediary for the state’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), PPL assumed functions previously handled by over 600 entities. The transition standardized financial controls, timekeeping verification and reporting, which put the program on track to save taxpayers more than $1 billion annually.
That progress is reflected in the experiences of New Yorkers. In a 2026 survey of nearly 95,000 respondents, PPL received an overall satisfaction rating of 4.31 out of 5, with 67 percent of caregivers reporting a better experience than with their previous fiscal intermediary.
Technology that Connects the Pieces
Technology helps make these programs easier to manage for administrators, participants and caregivers.
Instead of relying on paperwork, caregivers can clock in and out, submit timesheets and receive notifications through PPL’s Time4Care app, leveraging electronic visit verification (EVV). Participants can then review and approve hours on their devices. Available in 14 languages, the app supports more than 383,000 daily users and has earned ratings of 4.6 out of 5 on Google Play and 4.7 out of 5 on Apple’s App Store.
By connecting information across functions, PPL’s systems give state agencies and health plans better visibility into operations, helping them identify potential issues quickly and make informed decisions.
National Scale, Local Expertise
Today, PPL supports more than 700,000 participants and caregivers across 50 self-directed care programs in 18 states. Each program has unique needs, and PPL tailors its financial management systems to meet the state's Medicaid requirements, labor laws and program rules.
Caregiving is essential work that deserves proper recognition. By helping formalize and pay for that work while equipping states to sustain self-directed programs, PPL helps keep care personal, as it is for Bradley and his family. That commitment, backed by decades of experience and national reach, underscores PPL’s recognition as the Top Financial Management Services 2026.
