The mission of the Health Equity Alliance of Long Island (HEALI) is to engage health and human service agencies, community members and other stakeholders to ensure equitable health and life outcomes for all Long Islanders through cross-sector partnerships, innovative funding strategies and improvements in the health & human service delivery system. We will use our collective power to influence public policy and investment decisions by funders.

HEALI’s vision is to build and provide an integrated, holistic, culturally and linguistically responsive health and human service delivery system that results in equitable health and life outcomes for all Long Islanders.

News

Healthfirst Publishes Use Cases on Narrowing Health Outcome Disparities

Documents

NYS Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) Waiver Amendment – New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER): Making Targeted, Evidence-Based Investments to Address the Health Disparities Exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic

What are Social Determinants of Health?

Social Determinants of Health and Community Based Organizations

What are Value Based Payments?

Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program (DSRIP)

Section 1115 of the Social Security Act permits the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to approve experimental, pilot or demonstration projects that test and evaluate state-specific policy changes in Medicaid and CHIP programs to improve care, increase efficiency and reduce costs without increasing federal Medicaid expenditures. Through the 1115 Waiver, HEALI seeks to:

• Address health disparities and systemic health care delivery issues that have been highlighted and intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic
• Promote community-based and non-institutional care
• Better integrate health care and social care
• Leverage emerging technologies and care models
• Help contain costs by providing quality health care
• Invest in equitable and culturally appropriate health care, and ensuring everyone can get the coverage they need

The most recent 1115 waiver proposal in New York, “New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER)”, aims to build upon New York State’s successes and lessons learned from the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Program to achieve sustainable system reform with a focus on reducing health disparities and promoting health equity by fully integrating social care and health care in the Medicaid program.

The waiver seeks to promote health equity by addressing the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). SDOH have a major impact on people’s health, well-being, and quality of life. Examples of SDOH include:

• Safe housing, transportation, and neighborhoods
• Racism, discrimination, and violence
• Education, job opportunities, and income
• Access to nutritious foods and physical activity opportunities
• Polluted air and water
• Language and literacy skills

Through the waiver, NYS aims to formally organize CBOs to perform social care interventions, through regional Social Care Networks (SCN). These SCNs will:

• Formally organize CBOs to perform social care interventions
• Coordinate a regional uniform referral system and network with multiple CBOs with partners
• Provide support to CBOs around capacity building, adopting and utilizing technology, service delivery integration, creating and adapting workflows and other business practice, including billing and payment
• Create a single point of contracting for health-related social need (HRSN) services.
• Develop sustainability in contracting with healthcare providers, systems and MCOs to connect to the HRSN referral technology

HEALI is eager to continue the work of coordinating Long Island’s CBOs and working collaboratively with health systems, MCOs, and other key partners under the work of this new Medicaid waiver, which is currently pending final approval from CMS.

The NYHER Waiver Amendment request as related documents can be found on the NYS Department of Health website here.

New York Health Equity Reform 1115 Waiver Amendment Overview: Video

Resources, summaries and commentary on the amendment application:

• Summary of what changed between the concept paper submitted in 2021 and the draft application, by Kalin Scott of Helgerson Solutions Group
• Archived webinar and slides providing summary information by Health Management Associates
• Manatt Health issued this brief on Medicaid 1115 waivers and how they can address health equity

The United States’ maternal mortality rate ranks 47th among developed nations, and it’s even worse for women of color. African-American women are three times more likely than other women to die from childbirth-related complications.

At the December 2021 HEALI meeting, Shanequa Levin (Founder and CEO of the Women’s Diversity Network) and Dr. Martine Hackett (Program Director and Associate Professor of Population Health at Hofstra University) detailed just how alarming these figures are. To view their presentation, please click here.

Ms. Levin and Dr. Hackett also led a discussion among the coalition members on how to improve the social determinants of health for pregnancy and birth. To view the notes from the discussion, please click here.

Women’s Diversity Network Maternal Justice Coalition

The Women’s Diversity Network hosts a Maternal Justice Coalition as part of the “birth justice” movement and is working to improve maternal health care for racially marginalized communities. If you are interested in joining this coalition, please visit tinyurl.com/mjcworkgroups

Additional Information and Important Articles

The Commonwealth Fund: Policies for Reducing Maternal Morbidity and Mortality and Enhancing Equity in Maternal Health

CDC: Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality

Patient Safety Network: Health Equity and Maternal Health

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are frontline public health workers who have a close understanding and passion for the community they will be serving. Community Health Workers provide health and social service support to individuals in the community and also build community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as community education, counseling, and advocacy.

Working with a Community Care team including Doctors, Nurses, Therapists and Social Workers, CHWs conduct home visits,  link patients to supportive services, teach patients self-management techniques, and facilitate transportation and patient appointments with the goal of improving health outcomes.

HEALI’s CHW Workforce Development Initiatives

Recognizing the critical role CHWs play in communities and lives, HEALI has prioritized efforts to expand the CHW workforce here on Long Island.

HWCLI partnered with Public Health Solutions on a regional CHW assessment to determine the baseline of where Long Island is in terms of CHWs in the region. HWCLI distributed a survey to its network of organizations in the spring of 2022 to assess current CHW employment and asked additional questions related to funding, roles, titles, education and need for technical assistance and support. Analysis of the survey provided a better understanding of the current CHW workforce and helped create additional questions that were used for key informant interviews of several survey respondents that represented CBOs and FQHCs in which CHWs serve diverse populations in varying capacity.

Check out the report here!

Recognizing the need for long-term and collaborative work, HEALI convenes a CHW subcommittee, with participants from CBOs, FQHCs, health systems, and educational institutions from across the region to identify educational opportunities for individuals and organizations related to the CHW role, as well as advocacy efforts to promote long-term, sustainable CHW employment models.

If you are interested in joining the CHW subcommittee, please contact HEALI Coordinator Samantha Klein at sklein@hwcli.com.

Whole Person Care & Community Health Worker Model: Choice for All

Choice for All, a Long Island based nonprofit that provides direct services and promotes community-led campaigns focused on education, health, and economic justice, has adopted a Community Health Worker Model to help community members by addressing the Social Determinants of Health.

At a past HEALI meeting, Choice for All explained how this approach helps to insure children grow up in a healthy environment. You can view their presentation by clicking here.

September 2024

Emily Engel, Director, Bureau of Social Care and Community Supports at the NYS Department of Health, and Lori Andrade, Executive Vice President of HWCLI/HEALI, discuss 1115 Waiver CBO Capacity Building updates.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

August 2024

Health and Welfare Council of Long Island discusses Social Care Network updates and CBO capacity building plans.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

July 2024

Emily Engel, Director, Bureau of Social Care and Community Supports at the NYS Department of Health discusses 1115 waiver updates.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

Notes

June 2024

Courtney Burke from Sachs Policy Group, Alex Horowitz from Intrepid Ascent, and Chad Shearer from United Hospital Fund discuss how to make the Social Care Network successful and address anticipated challenges to best serve Long Islanders.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

Notes

May 2024

Caroline Heindrichs from Anthem, Jacqueline Prince from EmblemHealth, Pantelis Karnoupakis (PK) from Fidelis Care, Errol Pierre from Healthfirst, and Heather Radliff from UnitedHealthcare discuss the opportunities for collaboration through the 1115 waiver and Social Care Network to meet the needs of our community members.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

Notes

April 2024

Hira Ruskin, AVP Operations of Health Home, Health Solutions at Northwell Health, and Andrea Hopkins, Executive Director of Skyward Health discuss the partnership between HEALI, Long Island’s Social Care Network, and Long Island’s Health Homes.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

March 2024

David Nemiroff, President and CEO Director from Harmony Healthcare Long Island, and Jim Sinkoff, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and CFO of Sun River Health, discuss the importance of Federally Qualified Health Centers in the success of Long Island’s Social Care Network and the integration of health centers and community-based organizations.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

February 2024 

Lori Andrade, COO of HWCLI, led a town hall discussion about the Social Care Network (SCN) and 1115 Medicaid Waiver. HWCLI is applying to be the lead of the SCN and is building an integrated and person-centered social care delivery system.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

January 2024

Ha Nguyen, Senior Consultant from Sachs Policy Group, discussed the newly approved 1115 Medicaid Waiver.

Panel discussion with the population health/SDOH leads from each of the health systems serving Long Island.

• • Jack Schnirman, Vice President for Administration, Northwell Health
  • Dr. Larry Eisenstein, Vice President, Chief of Community and Public Health, Catholic Health
  • Ashley Fitch, Senior Director, Social Determinants of Health & Community Partnerships, Mount Sinai
  • Dr. Todd Griffin, Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs/Vice President for Clinical Services, Stony Brook Medicine

Meeting Recording

Presentation

Notes

December 2023

Deirdre Sekulic from Montefiore Medical Center, discussed health and housing initiatives, specifically their Housing @ Risk Program.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

Notes

November 2023

Trisha Schell-Guy, Jennifer Mane, and Emily Engel from the NYS Department of Health discuss the State Plan Amendment for CHW services and the connection with the 1115 Waiver workforce development and Social Care Network components.

Joe Conte, Mary Han, and Connor Stapleton from the Staten Island Performing Provider System, discuss their CHW training program and opportunities for the workforce.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

Notes

October 2023

HEALI’s preparation for the 1115 Waiver and future planning

Meeting Recording

Presentation

Notes

September 2023

Erin Wnorowski, Director of Service Design at About Fresh discussed the Fresh Connect program that empowers households to access nutritious food.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

Notes

August 2023

Emily Engel, Director, Bureau of Social Care and Community Supports at the NYS Department of Health, provided updates on the pending Medicaid 1115 waiver in New York State.

Meeting Recording (Passcode: 6&kdS5%u)

United Hospital Fund Medicaid Conference Slides and Recording

Notes

July 2023

Elaine Borawski, Alissa Glenn, and Chris Mundorf from Nourishing Beginnings discussed their research involving programs designed to help pregnant people through nutrition and social support that also utilize Community Health Workers.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

Notes

June 2023

Denise DiNoto, Senior Consultant at Intrepid Ascent, discussed the Community Supports and Services provided through CalAIM.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

Notes

May 2023

Arielle Burlett, Director of Healthcare-Community Partnerships at Public Health Solutions, discussed the integrated nutrition services program to improve health equity.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

Notes

April 2023

Dr. Sarah Redding, Co-Founder of the Pathways Community Hub Model discussed The Pathways Community HUB Institute Model and how it is helping communities by supporting care coordination with a focus on the whole person and working in partnership with multiple community stakeholders.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

Notes

March 2023

Dorella Walters, Sr. Director of Business Development & Community Partnerships at God’s Love We Deliver discussed their medically tailored meals program and policies supporting this work.

Meeting Recording

Presentation

Notes

February 2023

Serena Liguori, Executive Director of New Hour for Women and Children, Samuel Taylor, Senior Consultant from Intrepid Ascent, and Julie White, Principal Consultant from Health Management Associates discussed the justice-involved work on Long Island and re-entry initiatives from California and other states.

Meeting recording

Presentation

January 2023: Elisabeth Benjamin, Community Service Society of NY

Elisabeth Benjamin, Vice President of Health Initiatives at Community Service Society of NY (CSSNY), discussed the End Medical Debt work and the end of the public health emergency.

Presentation

December 2022: Greta Guarton, Long Island Coalition for the Homeless

Greta Guarton from Long Island Coalition for the Homeless discussed the work of Continuum of Care (COC) and opportunities to partner to address housing insecurity on Long Island through the 1115 Waiver.

Meeting recording

November 2022: Michele Horan, Healthy Alliance

Meeting recording

October 2022: Community Health Worker Overview

Presentation

Meeting recording

September 2022: Unite Us Pilot Program Panel & Emily Engel, Director for the Bureau of Social Care and Community Supports at the NYS Department of Health

Unite Us Panel Transcript

• Tommi-Grace Melito, HWCLI
• John Diaz, United Way of Long Island
• Daniella Menjivar, CAST

Notes

Meeting recording

July 2022: Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages

Meeting recording

Notes

June 2022: Danika Mills, North Carolina State Network Director for Unite Us

Meeting recording

Presentation 

NCCARE360 Case Study

• NCCARE360 is a state-wide coordinated care network utilizing Unite Us for tracked referrals.

May 2022: Emily Engel, New York State Department of Health

Meeting recording

PowerPoint Presentation

Notes

April 2022: Sergio Matos on Community Health Workers & Bob Detor on the 1115 Waiver

Notes

Meeting recording

March 2022: Hands Across Long Island Peer Support Specialist

Melissa Wettengel, Aviva Cohen, Kris Bly, and James Ford

Notes

Meeting recording

February 2022: Community Health Advocates Panel:

• Arielle Burlett, Director, Healthcare-Community Partnerships at Public Health Solutions
• Stanley Smith, Community Health Advocates Supervisor at LIFQHC
• Carmen Garcia, Community Health Worker Supervisor, Make the Road

Notes

Meeting recording (Passcode: wb81f88)

January 2022: UniteUs/NowPow Software

Notes

Presentation

Meeting recording

December 2021: Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Prevention

Notes

Presentation: Shanequa Levin (Founder and CEO of the Women’s Diversity Network) and Dr. Martine Hackett (Program Director and Associate Professor of Population Health at Hofstra University)

November 2021: Community Health Worker

Presentation: Jacob Dixon (CEO of Choice for All)

Presentation: Naheed Khan (Community Health Worker Program Grant Director at Nassau Community College)

October 2021: New York Medicaid 1115 Waiver

Notes

Presentation: Emily Engel (New York State Office of Health Insurance Programs)

September 2021: Success and Next Steps

Notes

Presentation

Oregon:

• The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has developed a set of policy concepts which outline changes OHA proposes to make to the Oregon Health Plan as part of our effort to advance health equity. These concepts are the basis of OHA’s upcoming application to CMS, whose approval is needed to implement policies reflected in these concept papers.
  • Summary of Policy Concepts- A Pathway to Health Equity

To work with HEALI to build a future for Long Island in which zip code no longer determines health outcomes, please fill out this form to participate in the next HEALI meeting, which occurs the third Wednesday of every month at 10:00am.

If you have any questions, please email HEALI Coordinator Samantha Klein at sklein@hwcli.com.