Medicaid Redesign Advocates Rally in Albany

By Dave Lucas

Albany, NY – A coalition of 41 advocacy groups from across New York State were in Albany to urge legislators to back a Medicaid redesign proposal. Members of the coalition say the measure will improve the co-ordination and quality of care for those with serious ongoing psychiatric disabilities and substance abuse disorders. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.

There's a new buzzword at the State Capitol - "B.H.O.'s" or "Behavioral Health Organizations" - advocacy groups tied to the organizations want to see them take over the management of New York's community recovery safety net. They're dead-set against traditional Hmo's assuming that responsibility.

Some states have historically "carved out" or excluded certain groups and kinds of service from traditional medicaid managed care: the advocates argue that New York's Hmos have little to no experience coordinating care or engaging support for those with behavioral health conditions. Advocates promote peer-to-peer support as a critical aid to recovery, and stress that BHO's would embrace it.

Bob Hinckley is Senior Vice President for Government Programs and External Relations at CDPHP. He says that while many HMOs outsource their behavioral health management, CDPHP handles it internally. The advocates counter that BHOs have a proven record of putting in place the right kind of personal support Medicaid recipients need. Governor Andrew Cuomo has assigned a 27-member Medicaid Redesign Team the task of cutting $2.85 billion from the 2011-12 budget that begins April 1st.