Step Two Policy Project

Today, we published the fourth installment in our "Health Data and Information" series. This paper explores some of the challenges of New York State's existing health data infrastructure and identifies opportunities to make data more interactive, transparent, and otherwise conducive to policy analysis and decision-making. Many thanks to Isaac Michaels for his collaboration on this paper and the data exercise itself, which is now live on steptwopolicy.org! https://lnkd.in/e9u9AFyS

Our first Policy Brief of 2025 explores the system of care management for adults with behavioral health needs in NY Medicaid and proposes ideas for reforming current approaches. https://lnkd.in/gYQj7iKE

We encourage our network to register for this webinar on 1/29/25: https://lnkd.in/ehhnwmBZ Note: If you do not already have an account with the Managed Care Technical Assistance Center or Community Technical Assistance Center (MCTAC/CTAC), you will need to create a login through the link above in order to register. ? MCTAC is offering a webinar to highlight a data-informed approach to improving behavioral health outcomes within an alternative-/ value-based payment framework. AHN/RHS, who will be presenting, was featured in a Step Two Policy Project Spotlight, showcasing how their data-driven strategies have led to more effective care management and better patient outcomes. ? This webinar will explore how a Behavioral Health Care Collaborative's data-driven approach can improve?care coordination and enhance patient satisfaction, and will also highlight the importance of change and process management in supporting these data innovations. Through discussions with AHN/RHS, their partners, and other key stakeholders, participants will learn how actionable data and thoughtful process management can drive meaningful improvements in behavioral health care.

Paul Francis' latest commentary, organized by the six Milestones set forth in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's December 2024 "Plan for Change," examines shared public policy problems and proposed solutions in the UK and the US, with a focus on New York. https://lnkd.in/eYgUXrUH

Step Two discusses the future of school-based health centers (SBHCs) in New York. Our latest Policy Brief examines the services SBHCs provide, who they serve, how they are regulated, and how they are funded. The focal point of the discussion is the proposed transition of SBHCs from Medicaid fee-for-service to Medicaid managed care. https://lnkd.in/gczz4HZB

It is always darkest before the dawn. Paul Francis' latest commentary addresses some of the issues that New York faces in meeting the challenges of modern life in the health and human services sectors with the incoming Trump administration. https://lnkd.in/gF5isBCn

Paul Francis's latest Commentary summarizes themes from our writings over the past year, including financially distressed hospitals, long-term care, transparency of data and openness in government, and introduces topics we plan to additionally cover in the coming year, such as school-based health centers and behavioral health. https://lnkd.in/e_zEhWtb

Today, the Step Two Policy Project released a Policy Brief and a Chartbook focused on healthcare and health outcomes in rural New York's counties. We examine some of the wide-ranging health challenges that New York’s rural communities are facing; describe the extent and the drivers of the growing gap in mortality rates between rural and urban populations nationally and in New York; describe the state of rural healthcare delivery in general; and present promising alternative models for the delivery of healthcare in rural communities nationally, as well as in New York.? https://lnkd.in/gc2Bymnq

Hear from Step Two's Paul Francis in conversation with David Lombardo on "The Capitol Pressroom."

This Commentary builds on "Re-Examining the Cuomo Administration’s Nursing Home Policies During Covid-19" and "Debunking the Empire Center Analysis Attributing Nursing Home Covid-19 Deaths to DOH Policy." https://lnkd.in/enbeMDZM