Provided by: Jennifer Kirschenbaum, Esq.

June 5, 2014

In NYS the term "Medicaid Waiver" has floating around. This is what we know about the Medicaid Waiver, as report

ed by Governor Cuomo's office (Press Release here) - “In 2011, New York did what people said couldn’t be done: we overhauled our Medicaid system to save taxpayers billions while delivering better health care. This waiver amendment allows us to invest these savings in keeping Brooklyn’s hospitals open, providing new community based primary care clinics in neighborhoods that need them and preserving health care services across our state.”

The plan is for the Medicaid Waiver to allow the Medicaid Redesign Team to reinvest Medicaid savings back into system –

"The waiver amendment dollars will address critical issues throughout the state and allow for comprehensive reform through a Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program. The DSRIP program will promote community-level collaborations and focus on system reform, specifically a goal to achieve a 25 percent reduction in avoidable hospital use over five years. Safety net providers will be required to collaborate to implement innovative projects focusing on system transformation, clinical improvement and population health improvement. Single providers will be ineligible to apply. All DSRIP funds will be based on performance linked to achievement of project milestones."

The Governor's office details the $8 billion reinvestment will be allocated in the following ways:

  • $500 Million for the Interim Access Assurance Fund – temporary, time limited funding to ensure current trusted and viable Medicaid safety net providers can fully participate in the DSRIP transformation without disruption
  • $6.42 Billion for Delivery System Reform Incentive Payments(DSRIP) – including DSRIP Planning Grants, DSRIP Provider Incentive Payments, and DSRIP Administrative costs
  • $1.08 Billion for other Medicaid Redesign purposes – this funding will support Health Home development, and investments in long term care, workforce and enhanced behavioral health services

For more information visit http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/04142014-mrt-waiver.