Medicaid Redesign Team: Health Disparities Work Group

Contact the MRT Health Disparities Work Group

Share your thoughts with the MRT Health Disparities Work Group by emailing healthdisparities@health.state.ny.us.

Work Group Recommendations

Work Group Mission

  • This work group will advise the Department of Health (DOH) on initiatives, including establishment of reimbursement rates, to support providers' efforts to offer culturally competent care and undertake measures to address health disparities based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation and gender expression.
  • The work group will also advise DOH about incorporating interpretation and translation services to patients with limited English proficiency and who are hearing impaired.
  • The work group will also address health disparities among people with disabilities, including people with psychiatric disabilities and substance use disorders, and their need for equal access to primary and preventive health care services.
  • The work group will explore issues related to charity care and the uninsured.
  • Work group membership will include individuals from a range of racial and ethnic groups and community-based organizations with experience serving them; the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation; other safety net providers; community-based immigrant groups; and legal services representatives.
  • This workgroup will advise DOH about data collection efforts related to health disparities including advice to ensure consistency with Federal Requirements as defined under section 4302 of the Affordable Care Act.
  • This workgroup will advise DOH about use of a Disparities Impact Assessment to evaluate all MRT recommendations.
  • This work is related to MRT recommendation #990, Explore the Establishment of Reimbursement Rates to Support Efforts to Address Health Disparities.

Work Group Members

The members of the Health Disparities work group were selected by co-chairs and MRT members Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez and Elizabeth Swain.

CO-CHAIR: Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, Commissioner, NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services

CO-CHAIR: Elizabeth Swain,, Chief Executive Officer, Community Health Care Association of NYS

  • Noilyn Abesamis-Mendoza, MPH, Manager, Health Policy, Coalition for Asian American Children & Families
  • Nisha Agarwal, Director, Health Justice, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
  • Diana M. Babcock, Dual Recovery Peer Specialist, Mental Health Empowerment Project
  • LaRay Brown, Sr. Vice President, Corporate Planning, Community Health and Intergovernmental Relations, NYC Health and Hospitals Corp.
  • Jo Ivey Boufford, MD, President, New York Academy of Medicine
  • Carla Boutin-Foster, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College
  • Neil Calman, MD, President and CEO, Institute for Urban Family Health
  • J. Emilio Carrillo, MD, VP for Community Health, NY-Presbyterian Hospital
  • Susan Dooha, Executive Director, Center for Independence of the Disabled in NY
  • Rosa M. Gil, DSW, President and CEO, Comunilife
  • Charles King, President and CEO, Housing Works
  • Jonathan Lang, Director of Governmental Projects & Community Development, Empire State Pride Agenda
  • Glenn Liebman, CEO, Mental Health Association of NYS
  • Pamela Mattel, LCSW, CASAC, Chief Operating Officer, Promesa Systems, Inc.
  • Dennis Mitchell, Associate Dean for Diversity & Multicultural Affairs, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
  • Ngozi Moses, Executive Director, Brooklyn Perinatal Network, Inc.
  • Theo Oshiro, Director of Health Advocacy & Support Services, Make the Road New York
  • Gregson H. Pigott, MD, MPH, Director, Office of Minority Health Suffolk County Department of Health
  • Chau Trinh-Shevrin, Director, NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health
  • Jackie Vimo, Director of Advocacy, NY Immigration Coalition

Work Group Resources

Work Group Meetings

PLEASE NOTE: Space for meeting observers is EXTREMELY limited (first 20-25 people only – others will be turned away). Bring picture ID for access to all buildings.

A conference call phone number to dial in to listen (only) to these meetings will be posted to the MRT Web site at least one day in advance of each meeting.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011, 10:30am to 3:30pm

  • New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Office
  • 4th Floor Conference Room

Friday, September 16, 2011 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

  • NYC - NYS Department of Health Metropolitan Area Regional Office
  • 90 Church Street, 4thFloor, Conference Room A/B, Manhattan

Monday, October 3, 2011, from 1:00pm - 4:00pm

  • Albany
    • New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Office
    • 1450 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203
    • 4th Floor Conference Room
  • NYC
    • New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Office
    • 501 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10018
    • 8th Floor Conference Room

Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 10:30 AM - 3:30 PM

  • Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Center
  • 147 Lake Street, Newburgh, NY 12550