The New York State Department of Health has announced the establishment of the Health Equity Regional Organization (HERO), a pivotal component of the state’s current 1115 waiver amendment approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in 2024. This initiative aims to strengthen the integration of social services and healthcare delivery for Medicaid beneficiaries across the state.
United Hospital Fund (UHF) will lead HERO’s efforts, collaborating with the New York State Medicaid Program, healthcare providers, community stakeholders, and academic partners. The focus will be on addressing social determinants of health such as food insecurity, housing instability, and transportation barriers, which significantly impact health outcomes.
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “The launch of the Health Equity Regional Organization is an integral step in fulfilling our mission to help improve health outcomes, advance health equity, and reduce health disparities.”
The 1115 waiver amendment includes a $7.5 billion funding package from both state and federal sources. It seeks to develop programs that support the delivery of health-related social needs services, manage challenges in the Medicaid workforce, advance health equity, and reduce health disparities affecting vulnerable populations.
UHF’s involvement builds upon its experience under the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment program, launched in 2014, where health and social care providers formed collaborative networks to implement innovative projects. Investments in HERO will lay the groundwork for a new statewide data infrastructure to support the design and development of policies, interventions, and targeted investments aimed at improving health outcomes.
By leveraging partnerships with academic centers and stakeholders, the state plans to develop and evaluate success metrics for existing and future programs, including significant investments in new health-related social needs services. More information about New York’s Health Equity Reform waiver amendment can be found on the New York State Department of Health’s website.
