Updates & Analysis

On January 9th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new voluntary bundled payment model: Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Advanced. The new model will serve as the continuation of the existing BPCI Models 2-4, which are due to expire after September 30, 2018. BPCI Models 2-4 test retrospective bundled payments…

On January 8th, the New York State Department of Health and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York released a Request for Applications (RFA) for Phase 2 of the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program (SHCFTP II). Like Phase 1 of this program, for which the RFA was issued in July 2016 and…

On January 3rd, Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered his 2018 State of the State address in Albany. The Governor called for the preservation of Medicaid and CHIP despite cuts in federal funding. The speech raised a few new health care policy proposals, including new strategies to fight the opioid epidemic, a new workforce training initiative, and…

On December 20th, Congress passed H.R.1 (formerly called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act), the largest change to the tax code in 30 years. The bill passed the Senate 51-48 along party lines, and the House 227-203. The legislation is projected to increase the Federal budget deficit by approximately $1.5 billion, which would trigger $25…

On November 29th, the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of 100 units of scattered-site supportive Housing for individuals who have serious mental illness (SMI) in New York State. Scattered-site supportive housing consists of apartments located in multiple buildings integrated into the community. The…

On November 29th, the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for organizations interested in providing services to State-confirmed Human Trafficking Victims under the New York State Response to Human Trafficking Program (RHTP). The RHTP supports OTDA’s goals to address issues facing trafficked persons, including lack…

On November 16th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a rule that proposes significant regulatory changes for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) plans, beginning in contract year 2019. For MA and Part D plans, the rule would generally ease reporting requirements, update the Medicare Star Rating methodology, remove…

On November 9th, the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) released a Request for Applications (RFA) for organizations interested in establishing new and/or in expanding existing addiction recovery activities for youth and young adults. Through this program, up to 15 awards of up…

On November 2nd, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule to update 2018 Medicare payment rates under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B payment policies for 2018. Provisions of the final rule include, but are not limited to: telehealth, biosimilars, the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP),…

On November 3rd, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development and operation of Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) teams. The IMT model provides mobile, flexible, and interdisciplinary treatment to adults in New York City who have frequent contact with the mental health, criminal justice,…

Children’s State Plan Amendment (SPA) rehabilitative services are offered under the Early and Periodic Screening and Diagnostic Testing (EPSDT) benefit to Medicaid-enrolled individuals under the age of 21. As part of the Children’s Medicaid System Transformation, starting July 1, 2018, New York State intends to implement six new SPA services. These new services are: Other…

On November 1st, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that will update Medicare payment rates for home health agencies (HHAs) in CY 2018 and update the Home Health Quality Reporting Program (HH QRP) requirements for CY 2020. For CY 2018, CMS estimates that the final rule will result in…