Reminder Notice to Plans - Cultural Competency Training
- Notice is also available in Portable Document Format (PDF)
August 16, 2022
Dear Health Plan Administrator,
This notification is to remind you that on October 4, 2021, the New York State Department of Health (Department) notified all Mainstream Medicaid Managed Care Plans, HIV Special Needs Plans, and Health and Recovery Plans (MMCPs) of the availability of cultural competency training offered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Minority Health education program, Think Cultural Health. The training is online, free and offers several provider specific programs: Education - Think Cultural Health (hhs.gov). This training is to be completed by MMCP contracted network providers by October 1, 2022, and then annually thereafter. The cultural competency notice issued on October 4, 2021 can be found on the Information for Health Plans page on the Department’s website: Cultural Competency Training for Participating Providers.
The Mainstream Medicaid Managed Care, HIV Special Needs Plans, and Health and Recovery Plans Model Contract Section 15.10(c) requires that the MMCP "…ensure the cultural competence of its provider network by requiring Participating Providers to certify, on an annual basis, completion of State-approved cultural competence training curriculum, including training on the use of interpreters, for all Participating Providers' staff who have regular and substantial contact with Enrollees."
The Think Cultural Health training offers several provider specific programs. These provider specific programs include:
- Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors, Nurses, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Social Workers - four courses
- Health Care Administrators and Providers - one course
- Maternal Health Providers - one course
- Nurses - three courses
- Oral Health Professionals - three courses
- Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants - three courses
The Department highly suggests providers complete the required training that corresponds with the provider’s scope of practice. Certain provider training programs have multiple courses within the training program. The provider is only required to take one of the courses if there are multiple courses within the provider training program. Providers can alternate year-to-year between the various courses within the training program.
If you have any questions regarding this notification, please forward them to: omcmail@health.ny.gov.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Bick Director
Division of Health Plan Contracting and Oversight
Office of Health Insurance Programs
