Balancing Incentive Program Work Plan Revised

The Department of Health (DOH) has revised the Balancing Incentive Program (BIP) work plan as of Oct. 1, 2014. In Section E.1, Description of Funding Source, a change has been made in the description of how the State will use the enhanced funding earned through the program.  Essentially, some of the funding items were pending approval and have now been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS):

• Rebalance Expenditures to Increase Community Long Term Supports and Services (LTSS) in relation to Institutional LTSS, Create a fund for demonstrating innovations. This references the $45 million that was used for the Request for Application (RFA) BIP Innovation Fund issued in March 2014. The awards were posted in August 2014 for eighteen month projects. The monies have to be expended by Sept. 30, 2015. LeadingAge NY has requested an update from DOH on the status of the awards contractual process and will keep members apprised of any developments.
• Lack of Financial Incentives for Community Placement, Adjust the rates. This included expanding the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) into non-urban areas and eleven other areas for enhanced reimbursements; providing funds to incentivize providers; and transitioning individuals. 

The content and other components of the BIP work plan did not change.

Contact: Cheryl Udell, cudell@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871