Establishing the Office of Benefits Coordination

Proposal Presented for the Master Plan For Aging (#1)

Disclaimer

Throughout the MPA process, more than 100 proposals were developed thanks in particular to thousands of hours of work by external stakeholders and members of the public. These proposals and the MPA Council commentary are being submitted to the Governor and shared with policymakers and the public to inform policymaking. These proposals represent a starting point for discussion. Further discussion is necessary between relevant state agencies and stakeholders to both refine these proposals and assess which may be appropriate to adopt and implement.

 

Summary

Establish a Benefits Coordination Office to streamline existing benefits programs across the New York State government. The office would document existing benefits and provider resources, develop a single portal website for benefit identification, and operate a universal benefits application for streamlined application processes.

 

Justification

Inefficient and inadequate coordination of benefits and services for older adults' limits access and leads to poorer health outcomes. The Office of Benefits Coordination aims to streamline the application process for benefits available to New Yorkers through improved collaboration and coordination efforts between state agencies and local social services offices.

 

Full Proposal

The State would establish a Benefits Coordination Office with the mission of coordinating all existing benefits programs across New York State government.  The Benefits Coordination Office would be responsible for:

  • Documenting all existing benefits programs across State government.
  • Maintaining a single-portal website identifying all State benefits programs, with a staffed phone line for non-digital access.
  • Tracking benefits program funding and performance metrics.
  • Tracking pharmaceutical price negotiation and control efforts at the federal and state level.
  • Maintaining a database of provider resources (e.g., long-term care facilities, home and community-based services providers) and usage/performance data for those providers, where available.
  • Operating a universal benefits application that streamlines applications processes and forms and is available in accessible formats, multiple languages, and submittable online. This application will be administered cross-agency with multiple points of entry in the health care, commercial, non-profit, and social service system and should be designed with health literacy and other culturally competent concerns tested on diverse cohorts of older adults and individuals with disabilities.
  • Additional functionality for the portal shall include:
    • Wellness, mental/behavioral health, substance use disorder and social isolation screening tools, including a wellness screening website and mobile application that can also be printed for completion by hand which includes current, readily available evidence-based screening tools for mental health, substance use disorder, loneliness, and suicide prevention and facilitates an appropriate individualized response. Individualized responses will be available in multiple languages in compliance with NYS Language Access Law.
    • A provider-facing portal for providers to assist or evaluate applicants.
    • Tracking data regarding individuals cross-enrolled in multiple benefits.
    • Integration with programs to assist with benefits education and applications (e.g., Health Insurance and Information Counseling and Assistance Program, Facilitated Enrollment for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled Program).
    • A centralized repository for technology resources, trainings and supports.
    • Identifying benefits that an applicant may qualify for, even if they have not specifically applied for them.
    • Integration with transportation coordination applications (e.g., Mobility Management).
    • Expanding outreach, communications, marketing, and assistance for individuals, including increased funding for the Health Insurance and Information Counseling and Assistance Program, FE-ABD, and accessible non-profit assistors in compliance with Section 508 rules that help people enroll in benefits for older adults that also address the needs as people age such as long-term care/HCBS. A disproportionate amount of funding is spent towards health plan communications and marketing for people under age 65.

 

 

MPA Council Commentary

This proposal is categorized as long-term. The creation of a new office would require an assessment of the costs and savings to the State and an assessment of the scope of the proposed office. Any funding allocations would be subject to the annual budget process and the availability of resources. Following these assessments, the creation of a new office is administratively complex and would require extensive statutory and regulatory changes for multiple state agencies. State agency partners are currently working on related initiatives to update technology infrastructure and user experience, streamlining access to a range of benefit programs through the Integrated Eligibility System and making it easier for New Yorkers to apply. New York State agencies can continue to evaluate existing benefits coordination programs and opportunities for improvements in infrastructure and coordination. Following these evaluations, New York State agencies may identify benefits coordination opportunities.