In a landmark move, SOMOS Community Care, the largest physician-led provider of value-based healthcare in New York, extends its appreciation to the Biden-Harris Administration, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and Governor Kathy Hochul for their joint announcement of a groundbreaking $7.5 billion amendment to the Medicaid 1115 Waiver. This transformative waiver is set to allocate nearly $6 billion in federal funds to combat healthcare disparities and bridge health equity gaps across the state.

Dr. Ramon Tallaj, Founder and Chairman of SOMOS Community Care, expressed gratitude for the bold vision demonstrated by Governor Hochul and the collaborative efforts of federal and state authorities. He remarked, “Thanks to the last 1115 Waiver demonstration in 2014, SOMOS was empowered to revolutionize healthcare by creating an advanced value-based, cost-effective model for culturally competent care. We look forward to witnessing the profound innovations New York will make towards realizing true health equity as a result of this new amendment.” 

This initiative builds upon the successes of the 2014 1115 Waiver, which allowed New York to pioneer advanced value-based primary care models emphasizing consistent preventive care and equitable access. SOMOS Community Care, established in 2015 with the goal of supporting independent primary care providers under the New York Medicaid redesign program, DSRIP (Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program), evolved into SOMOS Innovation in 2020. SOMOS Innovation is now the sole participating organization in the state to implement full-risk contracts for the Medicaid population.

The new 1115 Waiver Amendment earmarks a significant portion of funds for the development of Social Care Networks aimed at addressing the social determinants of health influencing long-term healthcare outcomes. These networks will enable organizations to tackle disparities in access to housing, nutrition, social services, behavioral care, and other factors contributing to disproportionate health outcomes.

SOMOS Community Care commends the emphasis on Social Care Networks, aligning with its experience in integrating social service interventions and nutrition programs into routine primary and preventative care. The organization stresses the substantial evidence supporting the notion that such interventions improve long-term outcomes and reduce costs.

ABOUT SOMOS COMMUNITY CARE

SOMOS Community Care (SOMOS), is New York’s only provider-led, nonprofit, community-based integrated social care network. It is comprised of over 2,500 network providers responsible for reaching and delivering culturally competent care to over 1 Million Medicaid lives citywide.