Nine organizations statewide will receive a total of $500 million in awards over the next three years to create a new Social Care Network (SCN) program in New York State. The program will address health disparities in low-income communities by leveraging federal funding to facilitate Medicaid members access to nutritional meals, housing supports, transportation and other social services that can have a significant impact on an individual’s health.
As part of its Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver, New York is taking a step forward to create a new model of care that will integrate health care and social care via networks with associated funding. The $500 million program is one component of a $7.5 billion three-year waiver with nearly $6 billion of federal funding. The SCNs will be core to facilitating the delivery of health-related social needs, including nutrition, housing supports, transportation, and case management for eligible Medicaid members, which are essential to addressing health disparities and improving population health.
“The Social Care Networks will help us transform how we support communities with the greatest unmet needs,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “Through the SCN program, we are making a direct investment in the health and wellbeing of our local communities – and New Yorkers will be connected to a more equitable and integrated social and health care system.”
Data shows that subsidizing health-related social needs can have significantly positive impacts on health outcomes for low-income New Yorkers.
For example, a program known as the Medicaid Redesign Team Supportive Housing Initiative is focused on providing permanent housing and tenancy support services to homeless New Yorkers with medical conditions. An analysis of the program showed that investing in housing supports led to better health outcomes such as:
- 40 percent reduction in inpatient days
- 26 percent reduction in emergency department visits
- 44 percent reduction in patients with inpatient substance use rehab admissions
- 27 percent reduction in patients with inpatient psychiatric admissions
- 15 percent reduction in overall Medicaid health expenditures
- Through strategic prioritization, the top decile of enrollees had an average Medicaid savings of $45,600 per person per year
The following organizations were selected and will be covering nine regions throughout the State:
Care Compass Executive Director Mark Ropiecki said, “Care Compass is deeply honored to serve as the Social Care Network (SCN) lead entity for the Southern Tier Region. As a former PPS during the DSRIP waiver serving the Southern Tier Region, Care Compass has a longstanding focus on enhancing access to care, improving quality, and reducing healthcare spend for Medicaid members in the community. Care Compass now looks forward to working with the State and other SCNs to advance health equity and reduce health disparities by connecting the community with these new services. The Southern Tier Region is a leader in healthcare innovation and delivery system transformation and is very well positioned to continue this important work in serving the Medicaid population.”
Forward Leading IPA, Inc. Executive Director Patty McMahon said, “FLIPA is honored to be able to elevate the essential role that community-based organizations play in healthy communities and to integrate their work within the existing primary care and behavioral health care system. It is well established that physical healthcare only accounts for about 20% of overall health and well-being. This is an opportunity to acknowledge that fact and change the lives of eligible Medicaid members by systematically addressing their health-related social care needs.”
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