2012 Coalition Conference
Our conference was a great success! Thank you for participating.
Here is a link to the speakers and their presentations.
The Conference »
Bruce Feig Farewell
January 31, 2012 | 6 - 8pm
RSVP your attendance »
OMH Clinic Budgeting
The following information and tools were presented at a May 5, 2011 workshop by Gene Aronowitz and Dan Still. The workshop provided information to help providers develop their budgets for the next fiscal year.
Download tools and information »
Professional Learning Center Store
HIPAA Business Associate Agreement Templates, now available. HITECH and Breach Notification changes apply to BAAs.
Be compliant, purchase now!! »
Coalition Video on YouTube
Empowering Lives Through Community Behavioral Health - Five stories narrated by Mike Wallace in two parts.
Watch the videos »
Where It's At? NYC
A website connecting transition aged youth to resources in the NYC area. The website was created by the Coalition's own Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery!
Where It's At? NYC »
January 23, 2012
“Riding the Roller Coaster of Change” - Conference Highlights
On January 20th, The Coalition hosted “Riding the Roller coaster of Change: Behavioral Health in Transition.” The conference addressed the multiple health policy reforms facing behavioral health in New York. Attendees tried to grasp the landscape of change as they linked up with colleagues and public officials.
 The keynote speech was presented by Chuck Ingoglia, Vice President, Public Policy at the National Council. He provided an overview on the national perspective of health care changes, including the Affordable Care Act, as well as the potential ramifications of the 2012 elections and the upcoming Supreme Court decision, budget deficit reduction and other policy changes.
 Gregory Allen, Director, Division of Financial Planning and Policy, New York State Department of Health (DOH) spoke about the State’s new health homes initiative which will move everyone into some form of care management in three years and into integrated options in three to five years. Mr. Allen reported that a meeting with CMS the previous day finalized state plan amendment changes.
 He was followed by William Fishbein, Executive Director of the newly designated OptumHealth Behavioral Health Organization (BHO) in New York City. He spoke about the functions of the BHO and what they need from providers. In the first two weeks of operations the BHO as seen as average of 65 inpatient admissions per week with a much higher volume in the second week as providers begin to understand the reporting process.
 The afternoon featured a panel of Health Plans, moderated by Arthur Webb. The panel included representatives from Affinity Health Plan, Health Plus, Fidelis and Amida Care who discussed their evolving strategies for health home implementation. Maura Bluestone from Affinity reminded the audience that they are still legally, financially and morally responsible for each enrollee. It was acknowledged by Tom Early of Health Plus, that the the Plans cannot do it all without working with the Health Homes.
 
A panel of Health Homes including Bronx Accountable Healthcare Network, Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center & CBC/FEGS Health and Human Services System, Community Healthcare Network, Institute for Community Living/Coordinated Behavioral Care, Maimonides Medical Center, NYC Health &  Hospitals Corp and Visiting Nurse Service of NY Home Care talked about their implementation plans and answered audience questions.
The conference concluded with an impassioned consumer response to all of these changes. They expressed their need for more consumer friendly education and eagerness for an integrated service delivery system
To view the presentations from the morning sessions, go to our conference summary page.
Read the current issue of Briefs » |
