CMS Exceptions Approval for Nassau Queens

March 19, 2015

Jason Helgerson
State Medicaid Director and Deputy Commissioner
Office of Health Insurance Programs
New York State Department of Health
Empire State Plaza
Corning Tower (OCP - 1211)
Albany, NY 12237

Dear Mr. Helgerson:

This letter is to inform you that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made a determination for granting vital access provider 01AP) exceptions under New York´s delivery system reform incentive payment (DSRIP) program. CMS is following up on the revised VAP exception application for Nassau - Queens Performing Provider System (PPS), LLC submitted by the state on January 13, 2015. Several performing provider systems have applied for a safety net provider designation after creating not-for-profit new corporations and were approved on January 14, 2015.

Nassau-Queens PPS, LLC is approved to participate in DSRIP as a safety net provider and as a lead entity in a PPS, based on its revised application.

DSRIP participation as a PPS lead composed of safety net providers for this entity is contingent upon New York´s assurance that the entity, by our agreed upon definition, consist of all safety net providers, and that non-qualifying providers will not be added to the PPS without applying for another exception. New York also assures that Nassau-Queens PPS, LLC will not become a source for Inter-Governmental Transfer (IGT) in order to receive funding from the Public Hospital Transformation Fund and will only be awarded with DSRIP project funding from the Safety Net Performance Provider System Transformation Fund.

Questions related to New York´s 1115 demonstration should be directed to the project officer, Jessica Woodard. Ms. Woodard can be reached at (410) 786-9249 or Jessica.Woodard@cms.hhs.gov. We look forward to continuing to work with you and your staff on the implementation of New York´s DSRIP.

Sincerely,

Eliot Fishman
Director
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop 52-01-16
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850

Cc: Michael Melendez, Associate Regional Administrator, CMS New York