NYS Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

2025 Commercial Insurance Changes Webinar: For Providers
2024-10-25 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) in partnership with the Managed Care Technical Assistance Center (MCTAC), are hosting a webinar to review upcoming commercial insurance reimbursement changes that will impact OMH/OASAS facilities, effective January 1, 2025.

This webinar for OMH/OASAS providers will cover:

An overview of the scope of the January 1 2025 Behavioral Health Commercial Rate Mandate

An overview of reimbursement requirements for commercial plans

An overview of upcoming rate changes for applicable services

Guidance and resources, including rates and billing information

Audience: NYS OMH/OASAS outpatient facilities, including billing, compliance, fiscal, and revenue cycle management teams.

We encourage you to submit questions in advance to help us prepare for the webinar (please submit all questions by 10/11/24).

Submit Questions Here by 10/11/24

Link: https://nyu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cUbSMdGGOJx6jXg

Date/Time: October 25th, 2024, 10:00 AM- 11:30 AM

Register Here for Webinar

Link: https://registration.nytac.org/event/?pid=1&id=2369

In-Person New York City Community Engagement Session
2024-10-28 18:00 - 20:00, 2024-10-29 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
In-Person New York City Community Engagement Sessions:
Monday, October 28, 6-8pm and Tuesday, October 29, 9-11am
The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), in partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Consumer Affairs (DOHMH OCA), is hosting two in-person Community Engagement Sessions on October 28th and October 29th, and we want to hear from you!
The 2023 Community Engagement Sessions took OMH across New York. Now, we are returning to New York City to share what we did with your feedback and hear more about your needs and your ideas. The sessions are open to all community members!
We especially want to hear from people who receive or have received mental health services, and people who have wanted to get services but haven’t. Youth and families are encouraged to attend! Event details are below. If you are a peer provider, advocate, other mental health provider, or anyone else who works with groups or people who may be interested, please share this information with them!
Language and other accessibility accommodations and light refreshments will be provided. Please register in advance using the link or the QR code below. The registration form has space to describe any accessibility needs you have.
You can contact Ro Speight at ronda.speight@omh.ny.gov for more details.

Event Details:
Dates:
Monday, October 28, 2024, 6-8 PM
Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 9-11 AM
Location:
FPWA Conference Center
40 Broad Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY, 10004

Registration: http://bit.ly/400jfyW

NYS Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program Amendment and Upcoming Hearings
2024-11-25 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-12-04 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
NYS is seeking approval from CMS for an amendment to the Special Terms and Conditions (STC) language in its recently approved 1115 Waiver that speaks to the maximum number of allowable days for backfill payments in the new Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program. On a related note, the NYS Council along with other associations has been advocating for an expansion of the staff titles that are the priority for this new Program, to include peers. Apparently there is flexibility in the Special Conditions section for New York to make this change however it is unclear whether our request will be honored by DoH. On October 20 and after we met with representatives from the Governor’s Office on our 25-26 Budget Priorities (including this one) we sent a letter (attached) to DoH Commissioner James McDonald regarding our request and we have meetings coming up with state leaders to again reinforce the importance of an amendment that will broaden the range of MH and SUD titles targeted for the Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program.
Please note: The State is requesting an increase from the current limit of two days per week to up to five days per week for making backfill payments. A draft of the proposed amendment request is available for review at: http://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/med_waiver_1115/docs/mbi-wpd_cpt_draft_amend_request.pdf.
Importantly, the NYS Department of Health will host two virtual public hearings during which the public may provide oral comments on either of the amendments being sought by NYS (the other amendment has to do with the Medicaid Buy-In Program).
Any updates related to the public hearings will be sent via the MRT Listserv.
The two virtual public hearings will be held as follows:

First Public Hearing

Monday, November 25, 2024, 1:00 PM –3:00 PM
Pre-registration is required for anyone wishing to provide oral comment using this link: https://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/r961f79713b6d560937c5926e215bca3c
Individuals who wish to provide comment will need to register with an “SP” in front of their name (ex: SP Jane Doe) and must email 1115waivers@health.ny.gov no later than Friday, November 22, 2024, at 4:00 PM to confirm registration.
Individuals will speak in the order of registration. We kindly request that all comments be limited to five minutes per presenter to ensure that all public comments may be heard.

Second Public Hearing

Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 1:00 PM –3:00 PM
Pre-registration is required for anyone wishing to provide oral comments using this link: https://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/r2d3f7856499905fddb46e47dee8027bc
Individuals who wish to provide comment will need to register with an “SP” in front of their name (ex: SP Jane Doe) and must email 1115waivers@health.ny.gov no later than Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 4:00 PM to confirm registration.
Individuals will speak in the order of registration. We kindly request that all comments be limited to five minutes per presenter to ensure that all public comments may be heard.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available, and the WebEx platform includes a closed captioning feature. For individuals with limited online access or who require special accommodation to access paper copies, please call (518) 473-0868.
Prior to finalizing the proposed MBI-WPD Demonstration Program and CPT Program Amendment application, the NYS Department of Health will consider all written and oral comments received. These comments will be summarized in the final submitted version. The Department will post a transcript of the public hearings on the following website: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/medicaid_waiver_1115.htm.
Written comments will be accepted by email at 1115waivers@health.ny.gov (please include “Medicaid Buy-In Program for Working People with Disabilities (MBI-WPD) Demonstration Program and Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program Amendment” in the subject line) or by mail at:
NYS Department of Health
Office of Health Insurance Programs
Waiver Management Unit
99 Washington Avenue
8th Floor, Suite 826
Albany, NY 12210

All written comments must be postmarked or emailed by December 6, 2024.
Please direct all questions to 1115waivers@health.ny.gov.

42 CFR Part 2 Final Rule: What You Need to Know
2024-12-11 14:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
42 CFR Part 2 Final Rule: What You Need to Know
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 2:30pm EST Online

Click Here to Register

During this free national webinar with the Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information (CoE-PHI), we’ll outline recent changes to Part 2, the federal law that protects the confidentiality of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment records, and apply learning to common scenarios through case studies.
This training is for substance use and behavioral health treatment providers, administrators, patients and families, Privacy and Compliance Officers, state agency leaders, and others involved in providing treatment or coordinating care for people receiving treatment for substance use or mental health.
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

Describe the 2024 changes to 42 CFR Part 2
Apply recent changes to practical scenarios within case studies
Identify how to access resources and technical assistance provided by the CoE-PHI

Meet your presenters:
LAC’s Jacqueline Seitz and Sally Friedman, and the CoE-PHI’s Ashleigh Giovannini
Certificates of Completion will be made available to all attendees.
American Sign Language (ASL) will be provided.
Have questions?
For any questions or concerns, or to share a resource or request technical assistance, please contact CoE-PHI through their website here.

OMH Statewide Town Hall with Commissioner Ann Sullivan, M.D.
2024-12-18 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
On Wednesday, December 18, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. OMH is conducting a Statewide Town Hall with Commissioner Ann Sullivan, M.D., presenting and taking feedback on the future of New York State’s public mental health system. This year, the town hall will be held in person at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, meeting room 7. Additionally, there is an option to join virtually via a livestream.
Please register in advance here: https://totalwebcasting.com/view/?func=RGTR&id=XMKDGWMB6N&oldfunc=VOFF
The registration page will ask if you plan to attend in person or via the livestream. Upon submitting your registration, you will receive a confirmation email from Total Webcasting, the team helping us with this event. All registrants will receive a link and a unique registration ID to join the livestream/webcast in their confirmation email, even if you register to attend in person. That way, if you have a change of plans, you will still have access to the livestream.
Meeting location and parking information: The event will be in meeting room 7 at the Empire State Plaza, 100 S Mall Arterial in Albany. Visitor parking is located beneath the Empire State Plaza and accessed through the I-787 Empire State Plaza exit.
Testimony, comments, and questions:

For attendees joining in person, the registration page will ask if you plan to provide testimony during the meeting. If so, you will be asked to keep speaking time to a maximum of three minutes to allow time for others to speak.
For attendees joining virtually, there will not be an ability to speak out loud through the livestream. However, there will be an opportunity to submit written testimony, comments, or questions. We will do our best to read out loud the written testimony, comments, or questions submitted by our virtual attendees, depending on time constraints. All written testimony, comments, and questions will be reviewed by OMH and included in the Town Hall analysis.
All are welcome to submit written testimony in advance by sending it to Planning@omh.ny.gov.

Governor Hochul's 2025 State of the State Address
2025-01-14 13:00 - 16:00 UTC
WHEN: Tuesday, January 14, 2025
TIME: 1:00 PM
WHERE: Hart Theater at The Egg
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12220

Details on media logistics to follow.

Regional Advisory Committee and Community Engagement Session
2025-01-15 12:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
The Office of Advocacy and Peer Support Services is excited to be hosting a unique Regional Advisory Committee meeting as our first RAC of 2025. The January RAC will also serve as our first virtual Statewide Community Engagement Session, and we will be joined by Commissioner Sullivan!
Please register in advance of the meeting: https://omh-ny.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItde6srj4qH2EwD7LBDurJ3AwXnCDFf-g
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Please reach out to feedbackoapss@omh.ny.gov with any questions.
The 2023 Community Engagement Sessions took OMH across New York. Now, we are returning to share what we did with your feedback and hear more about your needs and your ideas. In October, we started a new round of in-person sessions in New York City and are actively planning more around the state. We are also planning on holding a series of virtual events for community members who may not be able to access an in-person event. The January RAC is the first of these sessions.
The sessions are open to all community members. We especially want to hear from people who receive or have received mental health services, and people who have wanted to get services but haven’t. Youth and families are encouraged to attend!

AGENDA (subject to change)
12:30 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. Networking, Sound Check, Orientation to the technology
12:40 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Welcoming Remarks (OAPSS Leadership)
1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Presentation from Commissioner Sullivan
1:45 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. Open Comment Period
2:20 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Break
2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Breakout groups
4:00 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. Break
4:10 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Report outs from breakout sessions

Budget Briefing for OASAS Providers
2025-01-29 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Please join us for a special OASAS Town Hall on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 10:00am. Commissioner Dr. Cunningham will provide a brief introduction, followed by a presentation by Deborah Davis, Associate Commissioner for the Division of Fiscal Administration along with presentations from Trisha Allen, General Counsel. They will offer an overview of the recently released 2025-2026 Executive State Budget proposal as it relates to OASAS.
The Town Hall will be interactive, and you will also have an opportunity to ask questions and share comments. I look forward to seeing you and hope that you’ll be able to attend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Webinar topic:
OASAS Budget Briefing
Date and time:
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 10:00 AM | (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Join link:
https://meetny-gov.webex.com/meetny-gov/j.php?MTID=ma7a87a4eda9a746d330385c92d9ae8e9

Webinar number:
2829 837 4401

Webinar password:
[REDACTED] (84424563 when dialing from a phone or video system)

Join by phone
+1-929-251-9612 United States Toll (New York City)
+1-415-527-5035 United States Toll
Access code: 282 983 74401

Cornell University Privatization's Toll on the NY Mental Health Workforce
2025-02-06 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
Privatization’s Toll on the NY Mental Health Workforce

February 6 | 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Join us for The Impact of Austerity and Privatization on the Wages and Employment of New York State’s Public Mental Healthcare Workforce. This is a presentation about how privatization and budget cuts have impacted New York State’s mental healthcare workforce and service quality. We’ll analyze data from 1990 to 2021 and discuss the implications with legislators, policymakers, and union leaders.

The speakers will include:
· Senator Samra G. Brouk, NYS Senator, District 55
· Senator Robert Jackson, NYS Senator, District 31
· Wayne Spence, president, NYS Public Employees Federation
· Randi DiAntonio, vice president, NYS Public Employees Federation
· Timothy Hogues, commissioner, NYS Department of Civil Service
· Patricia Campos-Medina, executive director, The Worker Institute
· Rusty Weaver, director of research, ILR Buffalo Co-Lab
· Anne Marie Brady, director of research for worker rights and equity, The Worker Institute

Partnership for Integrated Care Webinar on The CRAFFT
2025-02-11 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
Please join The Partnership for Integrated Care’s Webinar on
The CRAFFT
Tuesday, February 11th, 2025
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/VRtzQF9mQ36Q-U4-N2MGzg#/registration
Please stay tuned for upcoming dates for additional learning collaborative offerings sponsored by The Partnership for Integrated Care. For technical assistance, please email Konstantin Nadirashvili at knadirashvili@iuany.org.

About the Training
The CRAFFT is an efficient and effective health screening tool designed to identify substance use disorder and substance-related riding/driving risk among youth ages 12-21. It has been implemented as part of universal screening efforts in thousands of busy medical and community health settings, as it yields information that can serve as the basis for early intervention and patient-centered counseling.
The CRAFFT is the most well-studied adolescent substance use screener available and has been shown to be valid for adolescents from a variety of socioeconomic and racial/ethnic backgrounds. It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Bright Futures Guidelines for preventive care screenings and well-visits, the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services’ Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) program, and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Youth Screening Guide.
The current version of the tool, the CRAFFT 2.1, includes evidence-based revisions to increase the sensitivity and specificity of the tool and includes vaping as a method of administration for marijuana use. The CRAFFT 2.1+N contains additional questions about tobacco and nicotine use.

Meet the Trainer
Jill Donelan, Psy.D
Dr. Jill Donelan brings over 15 years of experience as a behavioral health clinician and supervisor and leader with specialties in the treatment of youth, trauma, severe mental illness, and evidence based practices. She currently serves as the VP of Clinical Operations at Mirah, a technology company specializing in helping healthcare organizations measure and improve behavioral health outcomes.
Drawing on her extensive background, Dr. Donelan has successfully spearheaded the implementation of measurement-based care and Collaborative Care Management programs in diverse behavioral health and medical settings, optimizing treatment outcomes and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Her leadership at Mirah reflects a commitment to advancing evidence-based practices in behavioral health, ensuring organizations achieve optimal results in patient care and overall operational efficiency.
Bridging the gap between evidence-based practice and real-life clinical care, Dr. Donelan has made significant contributions to the field of psychology through her numerous leadership positions, presentations, and publications, including authoring the book “Trauma Treatment Toolbox for Teens. ” Dr. Donelan earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin and MS and Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology from Baylor University. She is a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
The Partnership for Integrated Care – a collaborative of InUnity Alliance and the NYS Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, funded by NYSOMH, OASAS, and the NY Community Trust, is committed to helping behavioral health organizations around NYS to further integrate care for people with mental health, substance use, and medical challenges. https://www.partnershipforintegratedcare.org

Partnership for Integrated Care Webinar on The Pediatric Symptom Checklist
2025-02-13 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
Please join The Partnership for Integrated Care’s Webinar on
The Pediatric Symptom Checklist
Thursday, February 13th, 2025
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
To register for this event, use this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/RsjgNM0PTkiywuQPaIIdww#/registration

Please stay tuned for upcoming dates for additional learning collaborative offerings sponsored by The Partnership for Integrated Care. For technical assistance, please email Konstantin Nadirashvili at knadirashvili@iuany.org.

About the Training

The Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) is a 35-item parent-report questionnaire designed to identify children and adolescents with difficulties in psychosocial functioning. Its primary purpose is to alert pediatricians at an early point about which children and adolescents would benefit from further assessment.[1] A positive result on the overall scale indicates that the child in question would benefit from further evaluation. It is not a diagnostic tool.[2] The PSC has subscales which measure inner distress and mood, interpersonal relations and behavior, and attention. The PSC is also used in pediatrics and other settings to measure changes in psychosocial functioning over time. Michael Jellinek, MD, created the PSC and has researched it over more than thirty years in collaboration with J. Michael Murphy, Ed.D. and other investigators. The PSC has been used in more than 200 studies in the US and other countries and has been endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the state of Massachusetts, the government of Chile and many other organizations.

Meet the Trainer: Dr. Cody Hostutler

Dr. Cody Hostutler is a pediatric primary care psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and associate professor in the department of pediatrics at The Ohio State University. Dr. Hostutler’s career is focused on improving the behavioral health (BH) care patients and families receive within their primary care medical home through practice innovation, interprofessional education, and research. Specifically, he has worked within interdisciplinary teams to develop and scale innovative models of primary care integration; consult, train, and mentor primary care teams and medical residents on BH skills; and has co-authored a textbook supporting skills development for medical providers (Mental Health Strategies for Pediatric Care).

The Partnership for Integrated Care – a collaborative of InUnity Alliance and the NYS Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, funded by NYSOMH, OASAS, and the NY Community Trust, is committed to helping behavioral health organizations around NYS to further integrate care for people with mental health, substance use, and medical challenges. https://www.partnershipforintegratedcare.org

Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program Round 5 Webinar
2025-02-27 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
The state Office of Mental Health and state Office of Children and Family Services will host the first of two guidance webinars for Round 5 of the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27.
The Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program Round 5 supports community providers that offer direct care mental health services in the recruitment and retention of eligible licensed professionals serving children and/or adolescents. For eligible programs, the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program is awarding state aid for loan repayment for both eligible existing workers and those who have been newly hired. Eligible positions include:

Licensed master social workers
• Licensed clinical social workers
• Licensed mental health counselors
• Licensed marriage and family therapists
• Licensed creative arts therapists
• Licensed psychoanalysts
• Licensed psychologists

OMH and OCFS will use the webinar to discuss the program’s background and overview, walk through the application process, and answer relevant questions. Register for this webinar.

DEI Insights and Practical Guidance for Nonprofits
2025-03-11 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
DEI Insights and Practical Guidance for Nonprofits
Tuesday, March 11, 12:00 – 1:30 pm

Join us for a virtual program for nonprofit leaders on key developments in DEI policies and programs following recent Executive Orders from the current administration.
This session is presented in partnership with Simpson Thacher, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Human Services Council, and Nonprofit New York.

OASAS Meeting with the Providers - Federal Budget and Transition Updates
2025-03-25 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
It is my understanding that this call for OASAS providers will focus on federal budget updates as well as federal administrative transitions and how they could impact OASAS providers.
OASAS Meeting with the Providers – Federal Budget and Transition Updates
Tuesday, March 25th 1:00-2:00

Join link: https://meetny-gov.webex.com/meetny-gov/j.php?MTID=m58d281feaa8ecfe6191a1f441e9c99e3

Webinar number: 2822 896 8186

Webinar password:
[REDACTED] (53773462 when dialing from a phone or video system)

Join by phone
+1-929-251-9612 United States Toll (New York City)
+1-415-527-5035 United States Toll

Access code: 282 289 68186

OASAS Mtg w/Comm Cunningham re: Federal Budget and Transition Updates
2025-04-11 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports
Meeting with Commissioner Cunningham and Constituent Organizations
Federal Budget and Transition Updates
Friday, April 11, 2025
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Virtual

Please join Dr. Chinazo Cunningham for an update on recent federal actions that may impact OASAS and the addiction services field. Webinar details are below.
Join link: https://meetny-gov.webex.com/meetny-gov/j.php?MTID=m461709812ec0d1c362d2a64ebe85b466
Webinar number: 2827 085 4651
Webinar password: [REDACTED] (66563798 when dialing from a phone or video system)

Join by phone
+1-929-251-9612 United States Toll (New York City)
+1-415-527-5035 United States Toll

Access code: 282 708 54651

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Webinar on Guidance for the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program Round 6
2025-04-29 11:30 - 12:45 (America/New_York)
Webinar on Guidance for the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program Round 6 – 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Tuesday April 29
The Office of Mental Health is Providing Guidance for the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program Round 6.
OMH has launched Round 6 of the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program to support providers of eligible OMH licensed mental health programs in the recruitment and retention of eligible psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
Please join us for a presentation to explore the following topics of discussion:
• Program Background & Overview
• Application Walkthrough
• Questions & Answers

NYS Council 'Members Only' Learning Collaborative on Adapting to Changes in Federal Policy
2025-06-20 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
NYS COUNCIL ‘MEMBERS ONLY’ TIME-LIMITED LEARNING COLLABORATIVE
Save the dates! Plan to Attend!
June 20 from 10-11 via Zoom
June 27 from 10-11 via Zoom
July 17th from 10-11 via Zoom
(Future dates to follow. We will host up to 6 Collaborative meetings in total, based on member need and member feedback. )
Join NYSCCBH’s Learning Collaborative on Adapting to Changes in Federal Policy with HMA Consultants
This series of meetings has been established to help NYS Council members plan and adapt appropriately to the rapid and significant changes emanating from the federal government. We will focus on adapting to changes in federal financial support, regulatory structures, rules, and requirements. HMA’s Josh Rubin and Cara Henley will guide us as we try to anticipate and prepare for whatever comes next. In addition, NYSCCBH members will be able to share what they are doing, what they are struggling with, and where they are succeeding so that we can all support each other during these challenging times.
During our first session, on June 20th, we will review the budget projection tool we recently sent to all members. HMA will talk about how the projections are made, answer any questions you have, and offer some guidance about how to think about the results and use them in your preparedness activities.

NYS DOH, OASAS, and MAS Medicaid Transportation Common Medical Marketing Area (CMMA) Policy
2025-07-09 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
Meeting Details:
Date: July 9, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Register Link: https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/rb8ea531aac74fd6516e072c9e2df5e6b
Please review the following key updates, which will be discussed in more detail during the meeting:
Transition Date Delayed:
DOH has postponed the CMMA transition start date for existing members traveling outside of CMMA to July 28, 2025 (previously June 30). Please see the attached CMMA timeline slides for more detail.
Member Lists via HCS:
MAS will continue using the Health Commerce System (HCS) to share lists of impacted members with programs—only if an HCS contact has been provided. Starting next week, you will receive lists of members whose standing transportation orders are set to expire during the week of July 28.

Instructions for accessing these lists in HCS are attached.
A new MAS system feature now allows you to identify members outside their CMMA and sort by the expiration date of standing orders. See the attached screenshots for guidance.

Member Notification:

On June 30, 2025, DOH will send a text message to impacted members. The message will inform them about the policy change affecting out-of-county travel for services and will link to the previously shared member document:
Medicaid Transportation CMMA Policy for Members: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/members/transportation/medicaid_trans_cmma_policy.htm

Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) Briefing on Federal Budget
2025-07-10 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Join us for a briefing and Q&A on what’s in the Federal Budget that was passed and how it will impact New York on Thursday 7/10 at 12pm EST.
Our briefing will cover:
· cuts to Medicaid,
· cuts to SNAP,
· the impact on the New York State budget,
· the timing of cuts, and more.

Please feel free to email us ahead of time with specific questions or concerns at eisner@fiscalpolicy.org.

NYS Council 'Members Only' Learning Collaborative on Adapting to Changes in Federal Policy
2025-07-16 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
NYS COUNCIL ‘MEMBERS ONLY’ TIME-LIMITED LEARNING COLLABORATIVE
Save the dates! Plan to Attend!
June 20 from 10-11 via Zoom
July 16 from 10-11 via Zoom
July 17th from 10-11 via Zoom
(Future dates to follow. We will host up to 6 Collaborative meetings in total, based on member need and member feedback. )
Join NYSCCBH’s Learning Collaborative on Adapting to Changes in Federal Policy with HMA Consultants
This series of meetings has been established to help NYS Council members plan and adapt appropriately to the rapid and significant changes emanating from the federal government. We will focus on adapting to changes in federal financial support, regulatory structures, rules, and requirements. HMA’s Josh Rubin and Cara Henley will guide us as we try to anticipate and prepare for whatever comes next. In addition, NYSCCBH members will be able to share what they are doing, what they are struggling with, and where they are succeeding so that we can all support each other during these challenging times.
During our first session, on June 20th, we will review the budget projection tool we recently sent to all members. HMA will talk about how the projections are made, answer any questions you have, and offer some guidance about how to think about the results and use them in your preparedness activities.

Fiscal Policy Institute Briefing: New York's Response to the Federal Budget
2025-07-17 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Join us for a briefing and Q&A on how New York lawmakers can respond to the Federal Budget cuts.

FPI will hold a briefing on Thursday 7/17 at 12pm EST to discuss how New York lawmakers can respond to the Federal Budget legislation recently passed and signed into law.

Our briefing will cover:
· Measuring upcoming funding gaps coming from Federal Budget,
· Options for meeting funding needs to preserve essential programs,
· Tax and revenue options to meet funding needs,
· The use of reserves to patch short-term needs,
· The need for an emergency session to find sustainable solutions.

Please feel free to email us ahead of time with specific questions or concerns at eisner@fiscalpolicy.org.

Register Here

NYS Council 'Members Only' Webinar: Implications of HHS Reinterpretation of 'Federal Public Benefit' in PRWORA
2025-07-18 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
Special ‘Members Only’ Webinar, Friday, July 18 at 10:00
Implications of HHS Reinterpretation of ‘federal public benefit’ in PRWORA w/ attorneys from Feldesman, LLP
The NYS Council will be hosting a special ‘Members Only’ Webinar on Friday morning, July 18 at 10:00 a.m. featuring our legal consultants at Feldesman, LLP. We will review HHS’ (revised) interpretation of the term “federal public benefit” as used in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), 8 U.S.C. We will discuss the implications of this change on our member agencies and the individuals they serve.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR – DETAILS INCLUDING REGISTRATION INFORMATION TO FOLLOW LATER TODAY.

OASAS Webinar with Commissioner Cunningham
2025-07-21 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
NYS Office of Addiction Services and Support
Webinar with Commissioner Cunningham
Federal Update
Monday, July 21, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Please join me for a special OASAS Town Hall on Monday, July 21, 2025 at 4:00pm for an update on the recently signed federal reconciliation bill, which includes significant changes to Medicaid and other health and social service programs. (Note from Lauri: It does not appear that there is any pre-registration required. )
During the webinar, attendees will be off-screen and muted but can ask questions and share comments through the chat feature.

Webinar topic: Special OASAS Town Hall: Federal Update

Date and time: Monday, July 21, 2025 4:00 PM

Join link: https://meetny-gov.webex.com/meetny-gov/j.php?MTID=m16da9a3b9bafa66721b5a90a8aaf5dce

Webinar number: 2819 642 4708
Webinar password: [REDACTED] (43993923 when dialing from a phone or video system)

Join by phone
+1-929-251-9612 United States Toll (New York City)
+1-415-527-5035 United States Toll
Access code: 281 964 24708

Inclusive Practices in a Changing Legal Landscape
2025-07-24 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Over the past few months, nonprofit leaders have been asking urgent questions:
“Is it still legal to prioritize hiring staff who reflect the communities we serve?”
“Could our DEI practices, learning spaces or affinity groups be flagged as discriminatory?”
And the most honest answer right now?
It depends – on how you frame it, document it, and defend it.
2025 has brought major legal shifts:

A new federal executive order narrowed how “sex” is defined in law
The EEOC’s harassment guidance was partially vacated
The Ames decision changed how discrimination claims are filed
And the DOJ’s Civil Rights Fraud Initiative is actively investigating how nonprofits describe their DEI efforts in public materials and grant language

All of this has created a landscape where values-driven practices – like hiring for lived experience or hosting identity-based learning spaces – can be misinterpreted or challenged if not structured carefully.
That’s why Ascend People, in collaboration with Volin Employment Law, is offering a no-cost webinar just for nonprofit leaders:
Inclusive Practices in a Changing Legal Landscape
Date: July 24, 2025
Time: 2:00p Eastern
Where: Live on Zoom (and recorded)
In this session, you’ll learn:

What changed (and what didn’t) in 2025
Where affinity groups, inclusive hiring, and other DEI practices now carry risk
How to revise your policies without abandoning your mission

Legal exposure is rising. But your values don’t have to retreat.
This is your chance to lead with clarity, not fear.
Register for this webinar here now: SIGN UP TODAY!

United Hospital Fund’s Annual Medicaid Conference
2025-07-30 08:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
United Hospital Fund’s Annual Medicaid Conference
Celebrating Medicaid’s 60th Anniversary

Wednesday, July 30, 2025
8:30 am – 4:30 pm
New York City Bar Association
42 W 44th Street, New York, NY 10036
Opening Keynote from New York State Medicaid Director Amir Bassiri.
Morning Panel Featuring:

Robin Rudowitz, Vice President and Director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured at KFF
Leighton Ku, Professor and Director of the Center for Health Policy Research at George Washington University
Margaret Murray, CEO of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans
Kinda Serafi, Partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Afternoon Panel Featuring:

Chad Shearer, Senior Vice President for Policy and Program at United Hospital Fund
Emily Engel, Director of the Bureau of Social Care and Community Supports at the Office of Health Insurance Programs, New York State Department of Health
Selena Hajiani, Director of Strategic Operations and Planning for the Office of Health Insurance Programs at New York State Department of Health
Amanda Lothrop, Chief Operating Officer of New York State Medicaid

Closing Keynote from former Director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Liz Fowler.
In-person attendance is fully sold out.

If you have already reserved an in-person seat but can no longer attend in-person, please contact medicaidinstitute@uhfnyc.org so that we can offer your seat to another person.
Seating is available in the large main room where speakers will present, and in smaller side rooms that have tables and a live cast of the event. Seating in the large main room is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Free virtual attendance via Zoom webinar is still available.

Register for Virtual Attendance

More information, including the timed agenda, can be found on our website here.

Kill the Clipboard: What Does the CMS-Aligned Network Strategy Mean for the Future of Interoperability
2025-08-08 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
A webinar is being held connected to the White House and CMS announcement about new CMS strategies for interoperability and the Health Technology Ecosystem. This webinar is hosted by Leavitt Partners, an HMA Company, in partnership with Arcadia, and will discuss the Kill the Clipboard policy roadmap and what they envision as a CMS-aligned network.
This webinar is designed for Chief Information Officers, Chief Technology Officers and others who are working in digital policy and digital health transformation (watch for a follow up session for strategy and operational leaders). Presenters include Kill the Clipboard authors Ryan Howells and David Lee from Leavitt Partners, an HMA Company, along with Arcadia’s Aneesh Chopra, formerly the US Chief Technology Officer.
While the past decade has brought significant policy progress through the HITECH Act, 21st Century Cures Act, and CMS Interoperability Rules, much of the implementation has stalled. The Kill the Clipboard roadmap calls for renewed urgency to eliminate administrative waste, modernize data exchange, and build trust-based partnerships grounded in open standards. The White House and CMS announcement, coupled with the Health Technology Ecosystem initiative, and broader federal AI action plan, clearly indicates this administration is prioritizing working with the private sector to more aggressively implement open standards and tools to support data sharing and decision-making.
Learning Objectives:

Identify how the CMS-aligned network strategy reflects the policy priorities outlined in the Kill the Clipboard roadmap
Describe the structural and policy changes needed to improve the way healthcare data is shared and governed and why the EHR is no longer sufficient
Analyze how TEFCA and other national networks are positioned to evolve in response to this federal strategy
Assess the opportunities and risks for public and private sector collaboration in advancing interoperable, standards-based data exchange

New Restrictions on Providing Federal Public Benefits to Noncitizens: Immediate Impacts for Behavioral Health Providers
2025-08-20 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
New Restrictions on Providing Federal Public Benefits to Noncitizens: Immediate Impacts for Behavioral Health Providers
August 20 at 3 p.m. ET

In July, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a notice reinterpreting “Federal public benefit” and including many behavioral health programs as meeting the new, broader definition.
Programs funded under Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, Community Mental Health Services Block Grants, and Substance Use Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Services Block Grants, including certain programs administered by SAMHSA, are now subject to the reinterpretation.

What does this change mean for your organization?
What is the nonprofit exemption?
Who can receive services?
What other programs do you operate that now fall under the revised definition?
What do you need to do differently now and in the future?
Has anything changed since the notice was issued?

Join Feldesman attorneys, including an immigration attorney, next Wednesday, August 20 at 3 p.m. ET, for an industry update webinar to explain the change, review developments and answer your questions.

How New Health Care Cuts and Policies Impact You
2025-08-27 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
This webinar features presenters discussing health care provisions in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), recently signed into law. Along with CMA Litigation Director, Ali Bers, guest presenters will discuss the impacts of the law on health care. Edwin Park, Research Professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center for Children and Families, will discuss Medicaid and ACA provisions, Carrie Cochran-McClain, Chief Policy Officer at the National Rural Health Association, will discuss the impact of the law on rural providers and hospitals, CMA’s Ali Bers will outline the Medicare provisions in the law.
