Lane tells aging network to prepare for a “tectonic” shift in the health delivery system

June 25, 2012 - PRLog -- Albany, NY (June 20, 2012) - New York’s Aging Services Network got a dose of reality this week when Neal Lane, author of The Changing Landscape of New York’s Long Term Services and Supports: Implications for the Aging Services Network white paper, gave them some insight into the “tectonic” shift that’s occurring in the health delivery system in New York State and nationwide.

The Lane webinar was the third in a series produced by the New York State Association of Area Agencies on Aging and New York State Coalition for the Aging to help their members and the Aging Network as a whole prepare for a new model of Managed Long Term Care – one that addresses non-medical needs as well as medical and brings down the number of hospital re-admissions. (http://www.nysaaaa.org/events/webinars/medicaid_redesign_webinar_downloadsPage.htm)

Much of Lane’s expertise in the aging field was gained while serving in various capacities at the county and state levels, most recently as Director of the New York State Office for the Aging. His “Changing Landscape” white paper was released by Optimum Partners in June. Around the same time Gov. Cuomo announced New York will request a waiver from the federal government to allow the state to invest up to $10 billion in savings generated by the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) reforms to implement an action plan to transform the state's health care system.

The white paper and webinar outlined the opportunities and challenges for the Aging Network as a result of the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and New York State’s Medicaid Redesign and the waiver if it’s granted.

The new model for care presents the Area Agencies on Aging with the opportunity to expand and improve programs like the Expanded In Home Services for the Elderly Program, Health Insurance Information Counseling & Assistance Program (HIICAP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and NY Connects. Many of the Aging Network’s programs already reduce nursing home admissions and would likely have some impact on costly unavoidable hospital readmissions.

But the new system presents a lot of challenges for the Aging Network, as well, Lane said. The current health care system doesn’t understand what the network does or how they can play a role. Their traditions and philosophy of care are different; the health care system currently in place sees the person as a patient requiring further medical intervention. They have little or no training on the importance of non-medical supports.

At the same time, the Aging Network, which has been operating under a grant-based, state-directed system, will have to determine true operating costs and negotiate with non-governmental entities. They will literally have to find their place within the new system of care.

Lane provided a central strategy for hospital engagement and encouraged the Aging Network to engage with and learn from the New York State funded community-based care transition programs now active: Brooklyn Care Transition Coalition, Lifespan of Greater Rochester Inc., P2 Collaborative of Western New York and Tompkins County.

The saga continues but the Lane webinar, as well as previous webinars from the Medicaid Redesign Team, moved the Aging Network another step forward in the transition to a Long Term Managed Care. Stay tuned. Future webinars will be announced on http://www.nysaaaa.org.

For more information, contact the New York State Association of Area Agencies on Aging at (518) 449-7080.