A home health care agency is laying off 280 workers across Western New York, including roughly two-thirds of its Jamestown office.

Venture Forthe Inc., based in Niagara Falls, provides health care services to seniors and individuals with chronic illnesses, mental health disorders and disabilities with 417 total workers. A WARN notice posted by the state Department of Labor on Jan. 17 states the company is laying off 280 of its 417 workers because of a contract loss. The notice states layoffs are supposed to begin March 31 and end April 13.

The agency’s Jamestown office, located at 560 W. Third St., Suite 5, Jamestown, will lose 26 of its 37 employees while Niagara Falls is laying off 133 of its 225 employees. Venture Forthe’s Rochester office is laying off 56 of 68 employees, its Olean office is laying off 46 of its 58 employees, its Bath office is laying off 18 of its 25 employees and the Elmira site is laying off one of its four employees.

Venture Forthe’s layoff notices come 10 days after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced changes to the state’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program. Rather than dozens of agencies throughout the state, Hochul said the New York State and Public Partnership LLC are partnering with 11 independent living centers as part of the State’s plan to strengthen the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program for New York’s home care users. The centers are among 30 agencies that will streamline the CDPAP program, with a transition eyed by April 1. Public Partnerships LLC, the agency Hochul has chosen to administer the program, collectively operates nearly 100 offices with service to all 62 counties throughout the state.

“Our statewide partnership will protect CDPAP and ensure continued access to high-quality home care for New Yorkers across the state,” Hochul said Jan. 7. “I’m pleased that independent living centers will play an important role as partners in this effort, as we create a better and stronger CDPAP for home care users and caregivers.”

Western New York Independent Living Inc., a nonprofit based in Buffalo, is among the centers the state has identified as partners. CDPAP consumers may choose to work with one of the centers as their CDPAP facilitator.

“The inclusion of the Independent Living Centers into this partnership is a recognition of the standard we expect from this program. Thousands of people with disabilities will be assured ILCs will continue to be available to support them as they transfer to the single FI,” said Doug Usiak, Western New York Independent Living Inc. CEO.

The $9 billion CDPAP program is paid for through Medicaid. Hochul has estimated changes to the program could save $500 million. There have been questions raised whether or not the state needs more time to make the transition to Public Partnerships LLC’s partners since only a small number of CDPAP users have begun the process to change providers.

State Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, has been critical of changes to the CDPAP program since they were first broached by Hochul. He reiterated that criticism in December.

“The plan is reminiscent of similar efforts in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, where consolidating fiscal intermediaries led to payment delays and care interruptions,” Borrello said in August. “New York’s abrupt approach, lacking sufficient preparation and stakeholder input, raises serious concerns about potential chaos and negative impacts on both caregivers and recipients. Governor Hochul and the state Health Department must thoroughly reevaluate this drastic cut, ensure a smooth transition, and prioritize the well-being of the vulnerable New Yorkers who rely on CDPAP for their daily care!”