LeadingAge New York Releases Resource Guide on New Models of Care and Payment for HCBS Providers

LeadingAge New York has released a resource guide for its Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) members describing new models of care and payment emerging out of federal and state health care reform.  Entitled "Advancing the Triple Aim Through New Models of Care and Payment: A Resource Guide for Home and Community-Based Services Providers in New York State," the guide provides a broad overview of models that are gaining traction in New York and links to more comprehensive resources, including information related to: 

• Accountable care models;
• Patient-centered medical homes;
• Health homes;
• Bundled payments;
• Readmission penalties; and
• Managed long term care and FIDA.

The guide explores the ways in which HCBS providers can contribute to the success of these models by providing health care services, care coordination, and social supports that enable individuals with complex conditions and functional limitations to manage transitions of care successfully, to live independently in their communities, and to minimize their use of emergency rooms and inpatient care. 

It also provides basic steps that HCBS providers can take to begin the process of engaging in new models of care and payment.  In particular, it discusses the importance of implementing a robust information technology infrastructure – including electronic health records, financial management software, and health information exchange capacity – to support collaboration along the continuum, performance measurement and improvement, and assessment and management of the risk associated with new performance-based payment arrangements.

Finally, the guide outlines some of the compelling studies supporting the effectiveness of home and community-based services in improving health status, while reducing avoidable utilization of health care services, and provides examples of collaborations among HCBS providers and other providers in new models of care.

With this guide, HCBS providers will have a strong foundation for understanding the changes under way as a result of health care reform and for considering various opportunities for engagement in new models of care and payment.

Contact:  Karen Lipson, klipson@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8383