Categories: New York State
07.24.2017
The two reports are the first installment in a three-year study.
The New York State Department of Health recently released SUNY Research Foundation’s cost evaluation and utilization evaluation of the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) Supportive Housing initiative. The two reports are the first installment in a three-year study.
The Medicaid Redesign Team’s Supportive Housing Initiative created numerous supportive housing programs to provide vulnerable high-cost Medicaid members with rental subsidies, new capital construction and pilot projects to test new models of care. These programs began operations in 2012 and have served over 11,000 high acuity Medicaid members. On average, individuals served in the program have a number of health and behavioral health challenges, including mental health and substance use disorders, HIV/AIDS, and one or more chronic conditions.
Key findings from the first utilization and cost reports include:
- 40% reduction in inpatient days
- 26% reduction in emergency department visits
- 44% reduction in patients with inpatient substance use rehab admissions
- 27% reduction in patients with inpatient psychiatric admissions
- Through strategic prioritization, the top decile of enrollees had average Medicaid savings of $23,000-$52,000 per person per year (varied by program)
- 15% reduction in overall Medicaid health expenditures
DOH and Suny Research Foundation will continue to collect information on the various programs created under the Supportive Housing Initiative including congregate buildings that have only recently begun to open. The Network continues to work closely with providers and the Department of Health on these programs to help ensure success for tenants, providers and our government partners.