The Empire State’s Big Bet with Amir Bassiri

New York Medicaid has made some big bets on social care recently, and Amir Bassiri is here to answer all our questions. The bold new program centers on nine new regional networks that will be hubs for community organizations offering housing, food and other services. Will this program survive the new administration? Only time will tell.

We discuss:

• The state's ambitious plan to screen every Medicaid enrollee for health-related social needs
• How their approach differs from the social care strategies in NC and CA
• The ticking clock: New York's critical three-year window to demonstrate cost savings and improved care outcomes

Amir says he’s hoping negotiating with the Trump administration goes better than last time:

“We will have to negotiate our demonstration or the renewal of our demonstration with the current administration. The waiver does expire in 27. We have to renew it beginning one year prior to its conclusion, which means we will be negotiating with the Trump administration on our waiver. We've done that before, it did not work out well. “

Relevant Links

• Watch Amir’s talk at the 2024 Medicaid Conference
• Get more background on 1115 waivers
• Read more information about New York’s 1115 waiver

About Our Guest

Amir Bassiri, MSW (he, him, his) is the Medicaid Director for the New York State Department of Health. Mr. Bassiri joined the Department of Health in 2019 as Chief of Staff to the Medicaid Director and recently served as the Deputy Medicaid Director, overseeing the operation and performance of nine Medicaid Divisions. Collectively, these nine Divisions are comprised of more than 750 State staff, over 500 contracted staff and management of over 300 contracts, including some of the State's largest technology, actuarial and financial audit contracts, along with health plans.

Prior to his work with the Department, Mr. Bassiri worked as a Senior Policy Advisor for Health in the Governor's Office under the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Mr. Bassiri earned his BA in both Economics and Psychology from the University of California, Davis, before earning a Master's in Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University.

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