Updates & Analysis

On March 28th, the Managed Care Technical Assistance Center of New York (MCTAC) hosted a public feedback session on value-based payments (VBP) for behavioral health (BH) services. In particular, the session discussed the proposed Behavioral Health (BH) Value-Based Payment (VBP) Readiness Program. Through this program, the State plans to offer approximately $60 million over three…

On March 9th, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for up to $700 million in capital funding through the Health Care Facility Transformation Program (HCFTP) for health care providers located in Kings County. The funding is…

On February 13th, the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) released an RFP for the development and operation of three Part 820 Residential Services programs, with one to be located in each of the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. Each program will have between 16 and 25 beds. Both capital…

On February 15th, CMS issued a proposed rule aimed at strengthening the financial stability and predictability of enrollee costs for insurers selling coverage through the ACA marketplaces. The proposed rule makes a number of changes that apply to all ACA-compliant individual market plans, not only to plans sold on the marketplaces. Because New York operates…

On February 1st, New York State released for stakeholder feedback a draft version of the Children’s System Transition Requirements and Standards for Medicaid Managed Care Organizations. This MCO Requirements document outlines the new standards and requirements Medicaid MCOs will need to meet under the Children’s Medicaid Redesign Plan. Through the Plan, the State intends to…

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has released guidance for Article 31 clinics seeking to provide Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) services. The IOP level of service allows clinics to offer time-limited, higher-intensity outpatient psychiatric services as an alternative to hospital stays, whether by avoiding an admission or readmission or shortening the length…

On February 7th, the New York State Department of Health hosted a webinar to review financial trends and projections for the New York State Medicaid program, in relation to the provisions of Governor Cuomo’s Executive Budget for fiscal year (FY) 2017-2018. The full presentation is available here. A list of major highlights from the presentation…

On February 1st, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2018 Advance Notice and draft Call Letter, which propose policy and payment updates for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans for calendar year 2018. The attached document summarizes major changes of the proposed rule. CMS will accept comments…

On February 2nd, the New York eHealth Collaborative hosted the first of two informational webinars on the Data Exchange Incentive Program (DEIP) funding opportunity. The DEIP was established by the New York State Department of Health and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to encourage providers to share data with Qualified Entities through the Statewide Health Information…

On January 25, 2017, the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) released an RFP for the development and operation of four Youth Clubhouses in New York City’s outer boroughs for adolescents (12-17 years old) and/or young adults (18-21 years old) who are at-risk of a Substance Abuse Disorder. A summary…

This past December, the State issued draft manuals for the new State Plan Amendment (SPA) services and the new Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) for children. For your reference, we have developed two charts (SPA, HCBS) that summarize the basic descriptions and requirements for each of the new services; however, the State’s guidance with respect…

On January 9th, CMS issued a final rule that will update the Conditions of Participation (CoP) for home health agencies (HHAs) that participate in Medicare and Medicaid. The final rule updates clinical record requirements and formalizes skilled professional services criteria. It requires the implementation of: an integrated communication system, a quality assessment and performance improvement…