Seven New Yorkers are among the first group of “Innovation Advisors” selected by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to test new models of healthcare delivery. CMS announced the first 73 individuals chosen to participate in the program in December 2011; the agency plans to select as many as 200 Advisors during the first full-year of the national program. In order to participate, advisors must be experts in healthcare economics and finance; population health; systems analysis and/or operations research. Eligibility is limited to individuals employed by public health or healthcare facilities, institutions or departments. Advisors are required to spend at least 10 hours per week on a specific project during an initial six month period. The Program is administered by the CMS Innovation Center. New Yorkers included in the initial announcement hail from Mount Sinai and Montefiore Medical Centers in New York City; the University of Rochester Medical Center; Catholic Health Services of Long Island; the Westchester County Health Care Corporation and Empire State Medical Associates of Roosevelt Island. For more information about the program, visit the CMS website at www.cms.gov.