This month we celebrate the PHP FIDA-IDD Plan’s 6-year birthday!
It was April 1, 2016, that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and New York State began enrollment in New York, Long Island, Rockland & Westchester counties for the Fully Integrated Duals Advantage for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (FIDA-IDD) Plan. It was designed to test a new model of care for providing Medicare-Medicaid enrollees with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) an opportunity to experience a more integrated, coordinated, and person-centered care focused on individuals’ long-term health and well-being so they may live a quality life.
PHP FIDA-IDD members have more opportunities to direct their own services, be involved in care planning, and live as independently in the community as possible. Click here for PHP member stories.
As we celebrate the FIDA-IDD’s 6th birthday, we recognize the commitment of our staff to helping our members achieve their goals and the positive healthcare outcomes they deserve. We look forward to the future and to bringing more options and opportunities for our members.
Partners Health Plan (PHP) submitted a proposal toThe Arc of the United States to present at the National Conference of Executives (NCE) Summer Leadership Institute (July date TBD) on the “Positive Impact of Telemedicine in the IDD Field.” It was successfully selected from a competitive submission process.
Scott Doolan, RN, BSN, MBA, AVP Health Care Management, will present and provide participants with details related to the PHP telemedicine program and provide a detailed analysis of emergency room and admission avoidance related to the program with the clinical and positive financial implications leading to the justification in maintaining a proactive member/caregiver-initiated telemedicine program post- pandemic to improve the quality of care for the IDD population.
The NCE unites executives, leaders, and professionals from across the disability sector in pursuit of a shared mission. This summer’s conference will focus on the most pressing issues faced by the disability community, including COVID-19 vaccination, HCBS developments, the DSP workforce crisis, the American Rescue Plan, and more.
For more information, please contact Elizabeth Wales, AVP Communications at:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
New Report Determines Partners Health Plan’s FIDA-IDD Demonstration Shows Positive Impact and Progress for Enrollees with Complex Care Needs
BRONX, NY, July 6, 2022— Partners Health Plan (PHP), a nonprofit managed care organization dedicated to serving individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), is pleased to announce that the results of an independent evaluation funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) indicate positive returns for enrollees in the New York Fully Integrated Duals Advantage for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (FIDA-IDD) demonstration.
The FIDA-IDD demonstration is a pilot program established to test the success of delivering services that address the whole person and promote community involvement and independence for people with IDD eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid benefits. According to the findings, PHP is well on its way toward meeting those objectives.
“This is an extremely positive report,” said Kerry Delaney, CEO of PHP, “but also acknowledges in a realistic way the challenges we have faced.” Those challenges stemmed from the newness of managed care for providers in the space, lack of plan coverage awareness for covered entities, and providers’ refusal to participate or offer services to the population just to name a few. Despite these challenges, key findings reflect that if implemented correctly, managed care can be a viable option to serve people with IDD.”
Key Findings:
Through the comprehensive “It’s All About Me” (I AM) assessment tool, PHP effectively elicited responses from the IDD population about health and wellness needs allowing enrollees to leverage control over benefit options impacting their everyday lives.
Innovative solutions like the pharmacy management program reduced errors, unnecessary emergency department visits, and length of hospital stays. Similarly, the telehealth program successfully resolved 90% of consultations virtually. The rewards incentive program “Choose Health” also received positive feedback for motivating members to achieve preventive health goals.
While the new rate payment method has been a challenge to cover certain member populations, like older and frailer members, programs like pharmacy management are viewed as innovative cost-savings strategies.
Regularly engaging stakeholders from the Participant Advisory Committee helped to address real-time needs, like improvements to transportation services and communications efforts.
One of the best measures of the impact Partners Health Plan has had on member health and experiences comes from the members themselves. PHP FIDA-IDD plan member, Jessica, stated, “Recently I needed special comprehension therapy for my legs and was able to get something to help me at home. This keeps me healthy and helps my ability to walk. I want to keep my independence. I also have support from my Care Manager and my Broker with my self-direction!”
As the agency responsible for the IDD program in New York State, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) was integral in the demonstration’s design and implementation. “OPWDD has been pleased to collaborate with Partners Health Plan on the FIDA-IDD program, which has offered people an opportunity to coordinate their health and long-term care services in a new and innovative way,” said OPWDD Commissioner Kerri Neifeld. “We look forward to continuing to work with Partners Health Plan and the larger provider community to ensure quality supports and services are available to NYers with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” Read the full report here: https://innovation.cms.gov/data-and-reports/2022/fai-ny-fida-idd-prelim-firstsecondevalrpt.
About Partners Health Plan: Partners Health Plan (PHP) is the first-in-the-nation, provider-led managed care organization that fully integrates Medicare and Medicaid for individuals 21 years and older with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD), so they have the most complete care package. PHP provides person-centered care for whole-person wellness addressing the physical, behavioral, and social needs of individuals to assist them in living a quality life. The plan operates in 4 New York State regions (nine downstate counties): New York City, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties), Rockland County, and Westchester County. For more information, visit www.phpcares.org.
About CMS Financial Alignment Initiative: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) created the Medicare-Medicaid Financial Alignment Initiatives (FAI) Demonstrations to test in partnership with States integrated care models for dually eligible beneficiaries with the goal to improve care for dually eligible beneficiaries and reduce program costs through an aligned financial and person-centered care coordination structure. A longstanding barrier to coordinating care for Medicare-Medicaid enrollees has been the financial misalignment between Medicare and Medicaid. For more information, visit Financial Alignment Initiative (FAI) | CMS.
Strategies For Improving Care Coordination for Individuals With Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
Stephan Deutsch, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Partners Health Plan (PHP), a nonprofit managed care organization dedicated to serving individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), will be a featured presenter at a Resources for Integrated Care (RIC) webinar on August 9 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm. The webinar will discuss strategies for providing coordinated care for individuals with IDD, risk stratification strategies to drive interventions, and family or caregiver support, education, and outreach.
Other webinar presenters include Joan Beasley, PhD, Research Professor, National Center for START Services, Director, National Research Consortium on MH-IDD, Institute on Disability (UCED), University of New Hampshire; and Emily Lauer, PhD, MPH, Director, Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, UMass Chan Medical School. Presenters will describe the current gaps in care for individuals with IDD and they will share strategies for delivering person-centered care using interdisciplinary teams (IDTs) and innovative care coordination models.
Partners Health Plan has operated the New York Fully Integrated Duals Advantage for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (FIDA-IDD) demonstration since 2016. It is the only FIDA-IDD plan in the nation and has been successfully delivering services that address the whole person and promote community involvement and independence for people with IDD who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
“Webinar participants will understand the impact of person-centered coordinated care strategies based on data,” stated Dr. Stephan Deutsch, Chief Medical Officer for Partners Health Plan, “in a managed care environment to enhance the quality of care for each individual with IDD so he/she may achieve optimal healthcare and social outcomes.”
Webinar Registration
Click here to visit the RIC website to complete the webinar registration form. If you need assistance in registering, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Continuing Education (CE) credits are available for Continuing Nursing Education and the National Association of Social Workers. Individuals are encouraged to check with their specific licensing boards or other agencies to confirm that courses taken from these accrediting bodies will be accepted by that entity.
About Partners Health Plan
Partners Health Plan (PHP) is the first-in-the-nation, provider-led managed care organization that fully integrates Medicare and Medicaid for individuals 21 years and older with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD), so they have the most complete care package. PHP provides person-centered care for whole-person wellness addressing the physical, behavioral, and social needs of individuals to assist them in living a quality life. The plan operates in 4 New York State regions (nine downstate counties): New York City, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties), Rockland County, and Westchester County.
Partners Health Plan distirbutes press releases regularly around plan inititives, healthcare related studies, and more. To contact the Partners Health Plan Communications Department for more information related to a Press Release, pleae email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
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Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
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Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
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Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
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Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
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Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
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Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
