Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Over the past several years, we have received overwhelming feedback from the people
we support, their family members, providers and others about the need for more
flexibility, innovation and customization in the planning of services.

We have heard your concerns about the sustainability of our system, and how we must
build upon our 40-year history of developing community-based services to create an
improved system for the future. And we have experienced, with you, outcomes that once
were thought impossible for many of the people we serve—having a job, self-directing
their own services and enjoying meaningful relationships in the community.
Building on the strengths of our system, and in response to feedback we have heard
around the State, we have been working hard to shape a more responsive system that
better meets people’s needs.

On July 1, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) took the first
step in this transformation and transitioned to an improved way of coordinating services
through the establishment of Health Home Care Management provided by Care
Coordination Organizations. Many people have already experienced the benefits of care
that is truly coordinated across service systems, guided by a comprehensive Life Plan,
and supported by enhanced information technology.

Today, we begin the movement to the second phase of OPWDD’s transformation—the
development of specialized Managed Care. OPWDD has posted for public comment a
document that contains the requirements for the creation of specialized Managed Care
Plans to coordinate and deliver all of an individual’s services, including OPWDD-funded
services, healthcare, behavioral health, and medication management which can be found
at:
https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/medicaid_health_homes/idd/draft_idd_1115_waiver.htm.

This qualification document includes prerequisites for education and experience for
medical and clinical directors, financial reserve requirements and other standards the
plan applicants will be required to meet.

OPWDD has built its service system guided by the voices of the people we serve,
their families and advocates. Over the coming months, we will be holding public
forums to inform, educate and receive feedback from individuals, families and other
stakeholders. I encourage you to provide your comments on the document released
today to peoplefirstwaiver@opwdd.ny.gov on or before October 3, 2018, and to
attend these forums.

The partnership that we have created is now more important than ever. We look forward
to working with you to help New Yorkers with developmental disabilities achieve their
goals, build upon their strengths, and live richer lives.

Sincerely,
Kerry A. Delaney
Acting Commissioner