MRT Public Comment Days and Written Submissions

New York's 1115 Waiver Programs Public Comment Days

The Department of Health recently held a virtual public forum for New York's 1115 Waiver programs, during which the public was able to provide oral comments.

The public forum was held on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, from 1-4pm. Public comments were submitted in writing through Monday, October 10, 2022 to 1115waivers@health.ny.gov. The subject line should have included "1115 Public Forum Comment".

Pre-registration was required for anyone wishing to provide oral comment using this link. Individuals who wished to provide comment registered with an "SP" in front of their name (ex: SP Jane Doe) and emailed 1115waivers@health.ny.gov by 4pm Tuesday, September 27, 2022, to confirm registration. Individuals spoke in their order of registration. We kindly requested that all presenters limit comments to five minutes or less to ensure that all public comments were heard. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation was available, and the WebEx platform included a closed captioning feature.

Please direct all questions to 1115waivers@health.ny.gov.


The upstate public comment was held on October 30, 2019 from 11:00am - 2:00pm at The Oncenter Carrier Theater, 421 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, NY 13202.

Any updates related to the forum will be sent via the MRT Listserv. Any written public comment may be submitted through November 4, 2019 to 1115waivers@health.ny.gov. Please include "1115 Public Forum Comment" in the subject line.

About the 1115 waiver:

  • The 1115 waiver, also known as the MRT Waiver in New York State, is an agreement between the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and New York State that allows the State to use a managed care delivery system to deliver benefits to Medicaid recipients, create efficiencies in the Medicaid program, and enable the extension of coverage to certain individuals who would otherwise be without health insurance.
  • The MRT waiver is a vehicle by which the State has implemented the initiatives of the Medicaid Redesign Team and subsequent health systems reforms, including the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program.
  • In addition, New York's goals in implementing its MRT waiver include improving access to health services and better health outcomes for New Yorkers through multiple programs.
  • Current open MRT amendments for comment: Draft DSRIP Waiver Amendment.

These meetings were webcast live and were open to the public. No pre-registration was required. Individuals who wish to provide comment were asked to register on site no later than 2pm and spoke in the order of their registration. All comments were limited to 5 minutes per presenter to ensure that all public comments were heard.

The Department will post a transcript of the public comment day as well as any submitted written public comment to our website here.

Please direct all questions to 1115waivers@health.ny.gov

The downstate public comment day was held on October 25, 2019 from 11:00am - 2:00pm at Baruch College, 55 Lexington Ave. (Corner of 24th St. & Lexington Ave.), Room 14-220 (14th Floor), New York, NY 10010.

Any updates related to the forum will be sent via the MRT Listserv. Any written public comment may be submitted through November 4, 2019 to 1115waivers@health.ny.gov. Please include "1115 Public Forum Comment" in the subject line.

About the 1115 waiver:

  • The 1115 waiver, also known as the MRT Waiver in New York State, is an agreement between the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and New York State that allows the State to use a managed care delivery system to deliver benefits to Medicaid recipients, create efficiencies in the Medicaid program, and enable the extension of coverage to certain individuals who would otherwise be without health insurance.
  • The MRT waiver is a vehicle by which the State has implemented the initiatives of the Medicaid Redesign Team and subsequent health systems reforms, including the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program.
  • In addition, New York's goals in implementing its MRT waiver include improving access to health services and better health outcomes for New Yorkers through multiple programs.
  • Current open MRT amendments for comment: Draft DSRIP Waiver Amendment.

This meeting was webcast live and was open to the public. No pre-registration was required. Individuals who wish to provide comment were asked to register on site no later than 2pm and spoke in the order of their registration. All comments were limited to 5 minutes per presenter to ensure that all public comments were heard.

The Department will post a transcript of the public comment day as well as any submitted written public comment to our website here.

The Upstate Public Comment Day was held on June 24, 2019 at Empire State Plaza, Concourse, Meeting Room 6, Albany, NY 12242 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Any updates related to the forum will be sent via the MRT Listserv. Any written public comment may be submitted through July 5, 2019 (written public comment extended to July 12, 2019) to 1115waivers@health.ny.gov. Please include "1115 Public Forum Comment" in the subject line.

About the 1115 waiver:

  • The 1115 waiver, also known as the MRT Waiver in New York State, is an agreement between the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and New York State that allows the State to use a managed care delivery system to deliver benefits to Medicaid recipients, create efficiencies in the Medicaid program, and enable the extension of coverage to certain individuals who would otherwise be without health insurance.
  • The MRT waiver is a vehicle by which the State has implemented the initiatives of the Medicaid Redesign Team and subsequent health systems reforms, including the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program.
  • In addition, New York´s goals in implementing its MRT waiver include improving access to health services and better health outcomes for New Yorkers through multiple programs.

The meeting was webcast live and was open to the public. No pre-registration was required. Individuals who wish to provide comment were asked to register on site no later than 2pm and spoke in their order of registration. All comments were limited to 5 minutes per presenter to ensure that all public comments were heard.

The Department will post a transcript of the public comment day as well as any submitted written public comment to our website.

Please direct all questions to 1115waivers@health.ny.gov.

Public comments received:

The Downstate Public Comment Day was held on November 29th at the New York Academy of Medicine, (1216 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, New York, NY 10029) from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Any updates related to the forum will be sent via the MRT Listserv. Any written public comment may be submitted through December 7th to 1115waivers@health.ny.gov. Please include "1115 Public Forum Comment" in the subject line.

About the 1115 waiver:

  • The 1115 waiver, also known as the MRT Waiver in New York State, is an agreement between the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and New York State that allows the State to use a managed care delivery system to deliver benefits to Medicaid recipients, create efficiencies in the Medicaid program, and enable the extension of coverage to certain individuals who would otherwise be without health insurance.
  • The MRT waiver is a vehicle by which the State has implemented the initiatives of the Medicaid Redesign Team and subsequent health systems reforms, including the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program.
  • In addition, New York's goals in implementing its MRT waiver include improving access to health services and better health outcomes for New Yorkers through multiple programs.

This meeting will be webcast live and will be open to the public. No pre-registration is required. Individuals who wish to provide comment will be asked to register on site no later than 2pm and will speak in their order of registration. We kindly request that all comments be limited to 5 minutes per presenter to ensure that all public comments may be heard.

Following the meeting, the Department will post a transcript of the public comment day as well as any submitted written public comment to our website here: www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/medicaid_waiver_1115.

Please direct all questions to 1115waivers@health.ny.gov.

Public comments received:

The Upstate Public Comment Day was held on June 19, 2018 in Albany at the Empire State Plaza, Meeting Room 6, Albany, NY.

The 1115 waiver is designed to permit New York to use a managed care delivery system to deliver benefits to Medicaid recipients, create efficiencies in the Medicaid program, and enable the extension of coverage to certain individuals who would otherwise be without health insurance. In addition, New York´s goals in implementing its 1115 waiver include improving access to health services and better health outcomes for New Yorkers through multiple programs. The Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program is a significant waiver initiative, and members of the DSRIP Project Approval and Oversight Panel will join DOH staff in listening to the feedback provided by members of the public and stakeholders at this meeting.

The agenda for the day was as follows:

10:15 - 10:30 Welcome
10:30 - 12:30 DSRIP PAOP Working Session
12:30 - 1:00 Break
1:00 - 4:00 Public Comment
3:50 - 4:00 Wrap-Up

Public comments received:

The Downstate Public Comment Day was held on November 16th at the New York Academy of Medicine, Reading Room, 1216 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029.

The Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program is a significant waiver initiative, and members of the DSRIP Project Approval and Oversight Panel joined DOH staff in listening to the feedback provided by members of the public and stakeholders.

The agenda for the day was as follows:

10:00 - 10:15 Welcome
10:15 - 12:00 PAOP Working Session
  • Mid-Point Assessment Update
  • Prevention Agenda & DSRIP
1:00 - 1:15 DOH Program Presentation
1:15 - 1:20 PAOP Co-Chair Welcome
1:20 - 3:50 Public Comment
3:50 - 4:00 Wrap-Up

Public comments received:

The Upstate Public Comment Day was held on August 14, 2017 in Albany at the SUNY Albany School of Public Health (1 University Pl, Rensselaer).

The 1115 waiver is designed to permit New York to use a managed care delivery system to deliver benefits to Medicaid recipients, create efficiencies in the Medicaid program, and enable the extension of coverage to certain individuals who would otherwise be without health insurance. In addition, New York´s goals in implementing its 1115 waiver include improving access to health services and better health outcomes for New Yorkers through multiple programs.

The Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program is a significant waiver initiative, and members of the DSRIP Project Approval and Oversight Panel were jointed by DOH staff in listening to the feedback provided by members of the public and stakeholders on these Public Comment Days.

The agenda for the day was as follows:

1:00 - 1:15 DOH Program Presentation
1:15 - 1:20 PAOP Co-Chair Welcome
1:20 - 3:50 Public Comment
3:50 - 4:00 Wrap-Up

Public comments received:

Public comments received:

Public comments received:


Currently, there are no programs related to community water fluoridation in either the 1115 waiver or DSRIP program. Fluoride comments can be sent to: oralhealth@health.ny.gov. Public comments submitted related to fluoridation are below:


Please direct all questions to DSRIP@health.ny.gov