NYSHealth Authorization

Project Title

Medicaid Reform in New York State: Supporting Analyses to Expand, Simplify and Reform the System

Award Amount

$716,848

Location

New York

Date Awarded

July 1, 2007

New York State’s $46 billion Medicaid system remains the top target for reform in the State’s health system. This authorization supports grants to study options for reforming Medicaid.

The State Fiscal Year 2007/08 Budget has laid the groundwork for reform by: expanding insurance coverage for children; streamlining Medicaid coverage renewal requirements; and mandating a review of the $847 million in indigent care payments to hospitals. Contrary to public perception, many states, rather than national government, are the primary venues for coverage reform and expansion.

To take on this challenge, the New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth) and the New York State Department of Health have engaged in a series of conversations to create a partnership between the two institutions. This partnership would result in a set of reports to inform the Department on how best to make changes to the structure of Medicaid. Finally, the project would earmark Foundation dollars to be used for funding the quick-strike reports and analyses required by the Department of Health to make wise programming and implementation decisions and policy changes in the next year.

Two grants are currently funded under this authorization: New York State Health Policy Center and Reimbursement Reform and Cost Management.