On April 13th, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) published its proposal for a new 1115 Waiver amendment entitled “Strategic Health Equity Reform Payment Arrangements” (SHERPA), which is based on the concept paper DOH submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) in August 2021. Through this proposal, DOH is requesting $13.52 billion to be reinvested over five years with the goal of “addressing health disparities and systemic health care delivery issues” and transforming the Medicaid program’s approach to paying for services to address both health needs and social care needs (SCN). Specifically, the waiver proposal seeks to achieve the following four goals:
- Build a more resilient, flexible, and integrated delivery system that reduces racial disparities, promotes health equity, and supports the delivery of social care;
- Develop and strengthen supportive housing services and alternatives to institutions for the homeless and long-term care populations;
- Redesign and strengthen system capabilities to improve quality, advance health equity, and address workforce shortages; and
- Create statewide digital health and telehealth infrastructure.
DOH proposes for the waiver amendment to go into effect on January 1, 2023.
SPG’s summary of the proposal is available here. The full text of the draft amendment is here. DOH is holding two virtual hearings as opportunities for public feedback, on April 28th from 1pm-4pm (registration here) and May 3rd from 1pm-4pm (registration here). DOH will accept written comments or requests to testify at the hearings at 1115waivers@health.ny.gov.