NYAPRS Note: New York State is ahead of the curve on promoting transparency within its provider sector. Publishing performance data of behavioral health providers is the next step in ensuring that all stakeholders—including consumers, payers, and policy makers—understand how the system is fairing in a value-oriented environment. Driving access, networks, and payments based on that new, publically wrought, value is what DOH aspires to for full implementation of Medicaid Redesign principles.
OASAS to Publish Drug Center Performance
Crain’s Health Pulse; 2/10/2015
The state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services is pursuing an initiative to issue performance metrics for substance-abuse treatment facilities in the spring.
The measures would make information available to consumers, families and insurers interested in making informed decisions about treatment programs based on their past performance, an OASAS spokeswoman said in a statement. Data will be available on OASAS’ website and on the state’s open data portal.
The push follows Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s June 2014 passage of a package of bills 
to address drug addiction and treatment. A work group was created and asked to submit a report by Dec. 31, 2015, on how to improve access and availability of treatment services.
OASAS will first publish information about patient engagement in treatment, continuity and levels of care, and program compliance with state operating requirements. The agency will add measures after receiving input from patients, providers, insurers and others.
“We believe that it is essential that insurers as well as those seeking services and their families have access to information so that they can best evaluate programs and make informed choices about effective treatment,” the spokeswoman said.
Paul Macielak, president of the New York Health Plan Association, sees transparency for treatment providers as one of HPA’s 2015 legislative priorities.
“There has to be some disclosure of these treatment facilities’ performance,” Mr. Macielak said. “Not all treatment centers are equal.”
HPA opposed Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposals last June because they required plans to cover treatment while patients’ appeals are pending.
Allegra Schorr, president of the Committee of Methadone Program Administrators, said disclosure of performance is feasible because programs already report data to OASAS.
Ms. Schorr said that in a system that is outcome-based, “programs would have a disincentive to keep people who are more vulnerable and harder to treat.”
New York isn’t the only state pursuing greater transparency among substance-abuse treatment centers. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie approved legislation Feb. 5 that requires that state’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to prepare an annual report on the performance of treatment centers.