• Verma Speaks: CMS Administrator Seema Verma recently spoke at the American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Membership Meeting, discussing CMS' Red Tape Initiative and other changes intended to ease the transition to value-based, patient-centered care. Read Summary |Read Full Transcript

• Proposed Rule and Request for Information: On April 27, CMS issued proposed rules that would "advance administrative burden reduction, Medicare modernization, and the Meaningful Measures Initiative." The agency also released a request for information "to obtain feedback on positive solutions to better achieve interoperability or the sharing of healthcare data between providers" via My HealthEData. View Press Release

• Proposed Rule and Request for Information: In the proposed hospital payment rule issued last month, CMS announced plans to overhaul the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, which are now known as the Promoting Interoperability programs. CMS has proposed to focus the program requirements on EHR interoperability and providing patients with electronic access to their health information, so data follow the patient and consumers can take ownership of and access their records in a usable format. Read Fact Sheet | Read Proposed Rule

• Request for Ideas: The Bureau of Social Determinants of Health within NYSDOH seeks public input in identifying innovative ideas to address the social determinants of health (SDH) for Medicaid members across the state through its "Call for SDH Innovations." Submit a Response

• Report: Citizens Budget Commission released a report titled Options for Enhancing New York's Health Home Initiative. This report "addresses the challenges in extending Health Homes to all who can benefit from their services in a cost-effective manner." Download Report

• Slide Deck: Slides from MCTAC's Spring 2018 presentation "State Designated Entity and BH HCBS Quality/Infrastructure Funds: Increasing Access & Utilization for Adult BH HCBS" statewide training events are now available. View Slides

• Survey: NYSDOH and SOFA have issued a survey on barriers and gaps for New York’s long term care system. They request responses by June 18. Read Background | Take Survey

• Plan Approval: On April 13, CMS approved New York’s State Plan Amendment (SPA #17-0025). The approval of the SPA will provide Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs) with the authority to provide Health Home Care Management services to people with developmental disabilities beginning July 1, 2018. Read SPA

• Report: In case you missed it, on April 17, HSC's Commission on Value-based Care released its report, Integrating Health and Human Services: A Blueprint for Partnership and Action. This report identifies key challenges and opportunities inherent in the transition to value-based care and makes recommendations for fostering effective collaboration among health and human services providers. The release event, held in conjunction with United Hospital Fund, featured a panel discussion with LaRay Brown (One Brooklyn Health), Denard Cummings (Bureau of Social Determinants of Health, NYSDOH), and Margaret Crotty (Partnership with Children). Tony Shih of United Hospital Fund moderated the discussion. Download Report | View Release Videos

• Training - Beginning on May 15 in NYC, MCTAC+ will hold a series of trainings across the state titled "Value-Based Payment: A Guide for Direct Care Practitioners." Register

• Training - Beginning on May 15 in NYC, MCTAC+ will hold a series of trainings across the state titled "Value-Based Payment: A Guide for Managers in Behavioral Health." Register

• Webinar - On May 23rd MCTAC, with OMH and OASAS, will hold a webinar to walk providers through the proposal template for the Adult BH HCBS Infrastructure funds. Register

• Panel: On May 29, the Nonprofit Finance Fund will hold an online panel discussion titled "Addressing Social Determinants of Health: Navigating Contract Development & Launch." The discussion will feature the heads of two organizations currently engaged in innovative, outcomes-oriented, statewide contracts to improve the health of their communities. Topics include: planning for the operational and financial implications of partnership; managing relationships and negotiating contracts with state partners; and programmatic and funding considerations in scaling/institutionalizing contract pilots. Register

• Trainings - Beginning on May 30, MCTAC will hold in-person trainings across the state for providers that serve individuals under 21, who are designated to provide or plan to provide New Children's Health and Behavioral Health State Plan Services (SPA Services). View MCTAC Calendar

• Webinars - Semester 2 of MCTAC's Performance-Driven Academy (PDA) will begin in July. The PDA is a year-long educational series designed to prepare organizations for value-based payment. Semester 2 will address fiscal management practices and maintaining a successful leadership team. Learn More

• Medicaid Evidence Based Policy Assistance: The New York State Department of Health, Office of Health Insurance Programs (OHIP) is seeking proposals from bidders who can assist the Department with evidence-based research, decision making and policy design related to Medicaid basic benefit redesign efforts. This RFP is not intended for direct human service providers but could signal a change to determinations of coverage of health technologies or services. View Solicitation

• Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI): NYSOMH has issued a multi-agency RFP for the development and operation of at least 1,200 new units of supportive housing for persons identified as homeless with special needs, conditions, or other life challenges. This RFP seeks to award the third year’s commitment of funding from the Governor's plan to develop 6,000 units over five years. NYS will award service and operating funding for units of housing developed to support the needs of individuals residing in the units. Applicants must apply separately for capital funding. Projects may receive up to $25,000 per qualifying individual/unit. Applicants must respond via Grants Gateway. View Solicitation

• NYSDOH Medicaid Redesign Team homepage
• NYSDOH VBP University
• NYSDOH YouTube channel
• NYSDOH Medicaid Redesign Listserv registration
• VBP acronyms and key terms list
• MCTAC webinar archive
• Video series about the CBO perspective on VBP
• Webinar: "Ensuring Your Goals Align with a Potential Partner"
• Adult Behavioral Health Medicaid Managed Care video series
• Previous HSC VBC Newsletters