New York state’s Medicaid spending per
\nperson dropped to a 13-year low over the past
\n12 months, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced
\nin late June.<\/p>\n
He said the significant spending decrease,
\nwhich resulted in billions of dollars of savings
\nfor taxpayers, can be attributed to the
\nreforms instituted by his Medicaid Redesign
\nTeam.<\/p>\n
“The announcement further solidifies New
\nYork state as a leader in redesigning Medicaid
\nto meet the needs of the 21st century,” said
\nCuomo. “Billions of taxpayer dollars have
\nbeen saved thanks to the work of our Medicaid
\nRedesign Team, and we are reinvesting in
\nour healthcare system as a result – improving
\ncare for millions of New Yorkers. This is
\na fundamental step forward in our work to
\nbuild a healthier New York State, and I look
\nforward to seeing the progress continue in
\nthe years to come.”<\/p>\n
“MRT continues to bend the cost curve,”
\nsaid state Health Commissioner Dr. Howard
\nZucker. “Significant savings are occurring
\nwhile health outcomes for Medicaid members
\nare improving, which means that MRT is
\nbenefiting all New Yorkers.”<\/p>\n
Under the federal Affordable Care Act,
\nmore than 500,000 New Yorkers joined the
\nMedicaid program in 2013 and 2014. At the
\nsame time of that 9 percent growth in enrollment,
\nannual spending per recipient fell
\nto $8,223, the lowest level in more than 10
\nyears, officials said.<\/p>\n
Additionally, overall Medicaid spending
\ngrowth has significantly slowed to 1.4 percent
\nper year since 2011, when Cuomo established
\nthe MRT, his office said. Prior to that, the
\n2003-2010 rate of increase was 4.3 percent
\nannually. A chart detailing total Medicaid
\nspending per recipient is available here.<\/p>\n
Cuomo also announced that the Delivery
\nSystem Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP)
\nprogram, which enables New York to invest
\n$7.3 billion of Medicaid savings over the
\nnext five years into transforming its health
\ncare system, has now made specific funding
\nallocations to 25 provider networks across
\nNew York state. The funding, a result of last
\nyear’s groundbreaking waiver between New
\nYork and the federal government, will enable
\nhealth care providers to implement reforms
\nthat reduce avoidable hospitalizations,
\nimprove care and reduce costs, Cuomo said.<\/p>\n
DSRIP requires providers to collaborate by
\nforming a Performing Provider System (PPS)
\nto implement innovative projects focusing
\non system transformation, clinical improvement
\nand population health improvement.<\/p>\n
Through community-level collaborations and
\na focus on system reform, the ultimate goal
\nof these projects is to achieve a 25 percent
\nreduction in avoidable hospital use over five
\nyears. The total includes approximately $1
\nbillion in additional federal funds which
\nwill help ensure that the state achieves all
\nDSRIP goals.<\/p>\n
Each PPS submitted a plan, upon which
\nawards (also known as ‘valuations’) are
\nbased. PPS’s that meet benchmarks and performance
\nmetrics will be eligible to receive
\nthe full amount of their valuations. Twentyfive
\nPerforming Providers Systems have
\nalready received state and federal approval,
\nand have been notified of the dollar amounts
\nthey may receive during the five-year DSRIP
\nprogram. The remainder of the waiver funds
\nare being used to enhance health homes,
\nthe long term care workforce and behavioral
\nhealth services, officials said.<\/p>\n
The Performing Provider Systems include
\nAdirondack Health Institute Inc. in Glens
\nFalls, which had a value amount of $186.7
\nPublic PPSs are led by a public hospital
\nsystem, whereas Safety Net PPSs are run by
\nnon-profit hospitals or other providers.<\/p>\n
Congressman Paul Tonko said the state
\n“must take major steps toward reforming
\nour Medicaid system to ensure its long-term
\nviability. We also need to ensure that families
\nmost in need of these crucial services do not
\nlose them in the process. DSRIP balances
\nthese two goals, putting New York state in
\nthe unique position to provide more efficient
\nand effective Medicaid services. I am glad to
\nhear about the new funds being allocated to
\nPPSs around the state, especially for those
\nin the Capital Region.”<\/p>\n
Cuomo established the Medicaid Redesign
\nTeam upon taking office in January 2011,
\nbringing together stakeholders and experts
\nfrom throughout the state to work cooperatively
\nto reform the system and reduce costs.<\/p>\n
Officials said the collaborative process
\nensured that the action plan outlined in the
\nMRT report has broad support among the
\nhealth care stakeholder community. Through
\nthis collaborative effort, MRT initiatives have
\ntransformed the program into a national
\nmodel that cut costs, puts the patient first,
\nand creates a sustainable model of growth
\nfocused on quality of care. The MRT was
\nrecently selected as a Top 25 program and
\nas a top five finalist by Harvard’s Kennedy
\nSchool of Government for its Innovations in
\nAmerican Government Award.<\/p>\n
More information on the MRT and its initiatives
\nis available at www.health.ny.gov\/mrt.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New York state’s Medicaid spending per person dropped to a 13-year low over the past 12 months, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in late June. He said the significant spending decrease, which resulted in billions of dollars of savings for…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[57,82,102],"class_list":["post-17245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-news","tag-business-news","tag-healthcare","tag-ny-state"],"yoast_head":"\r\n