Ep. 64. How Does New York's Pending Medicaid Waiver Address Health Equity?

Policy Outsider

In New York, Medicaid provides healthcare for nearly 8 million people and half of all births. With the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting existing health disparities and disrupting the health care system, there is a significant need and opportunity to innovate Medicaid care delivery. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, we examine how New York is using a Section 1115 waiver to address health equity issues. The State's Acting Medicaid Director, Amir Bassiri, and Rockefeller Institute Senior Fellow for Health Policy Courtney Burke join the show to discuss how the waiver works, the goals the waiver seeks to accomplish, strategies for achieving those goals, and a vision for the future of Medicaid.

Terms

CBO—Community-based Organization

CMS—Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

DSRIP - Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment

MRT - Medicaid Redesign Team

HERO—Health Equity Regional Organization

SDHN—Social Determinant Health Network

VBP - Value-based Payment

Guests:

Courtney Burke, senior fellow for health policy, Rockefeller Institute of Government

Amir Bassiri, New York acting Medicaid director & deputy commissioner for Office of Health Insurance Programs