Updates & Analysis

In this update: Legislative Update Bipartisan Congressional Group Sends Letter to HHS on Medicare Telehealth FlexibilitiesOn January 19th, a bipartisan Congressional group sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra regarding telehealth flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare relaxed restrictions on telehealth delivery during the Covid-19 public health emergency (PHE),…

In this update:  Legislative Update Congress Expected to Pass Temporary Funding through March 1st This week, Congressional leaders reached a deal on a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the federal government funded. The CR passed the Senate on Thursday afternoon and is expected to pass the House by Friday evening. The current funding agreement would…

On January 16th, Governor Kathy Hochul announced highlights from her third Executive Budget, covering New York State Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, which will run from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. The State expects total Medicaid costs to be about $96.4 billion in FY 2025, including $52 billion in federal spending and $35.5 billion…

On January 16th, the New York State (NYS) Department of Health (DOH) released a Request for Applications (RFA) that will provide a total of $500 million to support new, regionally-based Social Care Networks (SCNs) developed as part of New York’s Health Equity Reform 1115 Waiver amendment (see SPG’s summary of the amendment here). DOH will award…

On January 9th, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) released two Requests for Applications (RFAs) as part of the fourth phase of the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program (SHCFTP IV). As in previous rounds of the program, SHCFTP IV funding will be used to support capital…

On January 9th, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her State of the State speech outlining her policy agenda for the 2024 Legislative Session. The accompanying State of the State Book, entitled “Our New York, Our Future,” describes the Governor’s proposed agenda across 19 sections. Some of the most notable health care-related proposals include: Other sections of…

On January 9th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a new amendment to New York’s Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) 1115 Demonstration Waiver. New York State (NYS) originally requested an amendment under the name “New York Health Equity Reform” in September 2022. The new amendment will run during the 3.25-year period from January 2024 through…

In this update:  Federal Opportunities HRSA Releases NOFO for Behavioral Health Integration Using Telehealth TechnologyOn January 2nd, the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support the integration of behavioral health services into primary care settings using telehealth technology in rural and underserved areas. Through this opportunity,…

In this update: Legislative Update Congressional Leaders Announce Spending Level Agreement; Negotiations ContinueOn January 7th, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced an agreement on topline spending numbers for the federal government’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations bills. The agreement sets the total level of spending at…

On January 2nd, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) released a Request for Applications (RFA) for health information technology, cybersecurity, and telehealth transformation projects under Phases Four and Five of the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program (SHCFTP). Like the previous rounds…

In this update:  NYS and NYC Opportunities OMH Releases RFP for Development and Operation of 12 Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Programs (CPEPs)On December 19th, the New York State (NYS) Office of Mental Health (OMH) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development and operation of 12 Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Programs (CPEPs). Funding may be used…

In this update:  Legislative Update House Passes Lower Costs, More Transparency Act On December 11th, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, by a vote of 320 to 71. This bipartisan legislation pulled on work from three separate House committees. Key provisions in the bill include:  The Congressional Budget Office found…