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HCANYS Participates in DOH Meeting on Future of NHTD Program

The Situation Report | June 30, 2025

HCA participated in a June 27 NYS Department of Health (DOH) stakeholder meeting on the future of the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) waiver program. The meeting stemmed from the Executive’s proposal in the new state budget seeking to further control NHTD enrollment and cost growth.

The discussion centered on the DOH questions (below) that were posed to stakeholders.

  • Given the cost neutrality constraints we have discussed, what, from your organization’s perspective, are actions that the State can consider when managing this program going forward to ensure compliance with the federal requirements?
  • Does the group have feedback on specific steps or possible actions the state can take to address the rising per person costs to the program? 
  • Does the group have feedback on how the state can ensure that we are managing the 'front door' of the program to ensure we are prioritizing those with the greatest needs?
  • Are there any gaps between what the waiver offers and what participants actually need?
  • Does the group have suggestions on best/model practices that the RRDCs can employ to enhance oversight and accountability?
  • From your organization’s perspective, what are some of the challenges that currently exist with the waiver?

Keying off of the nature of DOH’s NHTD “front door” question and the related “prioritization” of NHTD access, HCANYS posed questions back to the Department on whether its underlying intent with these questions is to limit NHTD access, or to change the access criteria to it. DOH responded that both this question, and the original questions (above) to the stakeholders, would be further discussed in ensuing stakeholder meetings.

HCANYS will continue engaging DOH on its NHTD planning, and to offer HCANYS' venue and membership in discussions to identify NHTD organizational and patient support needs, including time from referral to admission, increased state commitment to staffing support for the program, and more.

HCANYS  will keep the membership informed of next actions for the program