October 30, 2023

On Wednesday, November 1, at 10:00 am, OASAS is hosting a Webinar in which agency leads will describe its new Addiction Services Refinancing Project that appears to center on net deficit funding, and how these resources might be utilized differently to drive desired outcomes.  OASAS held a briefing for association leads last week, and we sent you many of the slides from the meeting.  There are two additional slides below.

Putting the Pieces Together

Over the summer OASAS engaged Third Horizon Strategies: https://thirdhorizonstrategies.com,  a national consulting firm, to assist the Office with the work ahead.  My sense is that Third Horizon Strategies (THS) has been retained for a variety of reasons including its ability to create financial models and analyze large amounts of data.  THS also has expertise facilitating stakeholder engagement sessions, conducting surveys, evaluating care models, etc.  By way of example, one of the tools utilized by THS consultants to assist governments and other stakeholders in these types of efforts is through the use of Asset Mapping – a practice of gathering and documenting all resources within a region and mapping them to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of that area.

OASAS is clearly focused on improving addiction service outcomes, addressing various inequities embedded in the current financing model, and advancing holistic care. THS has expertise in the use of alternative payment methodologies such as pay for performance, value-based contracting, etc., that are viewed as tools to drive these outcomes.  According to its website, THS has supported the work of the Alliance for Addiction Payment Reform – a group focused on ‘developing strategies to establish a structure that promotes an integrated treatment and recovery network through the use of alternative payment methodologies.’  THS believes that the current (national) care delivery system is ‘not poised with the workforce capacity, infrastructure, or financial incentive to provide comprehensive care to individuals across the behavioral health spectrum.  The firm helps organizations identify innovative care models and form nontraditional partnerships to promote community behavioral health and integration, improve outcomes, and drive down the total cost of care.‘

In anticipation of this new Project, the NYS Council has retained Health Management Associates (HMA) to take this journey with us.  HMA will provide analysis and insight to our members as the Project moves forward.  HMA will provide advice, training and technical assistance at critical junctures to ensure our members have the information they need to weigh in with confidence and clarity as the work moves forward.  Finally, the NYS Council will convene a workgroup for members interested in working together to formulate our feedback and recommendations at critical junctures along the way.  Stand by for an announcement.

OASAS is hosting a webinar on November 1 at 10:00 am for providers, having already briefed advocates re: the proposed timeline, general focus and the strategies it may employ to ensure stakeholder participation.

Here’s the invite to the OASAS Webinar in case you missed it: