New York Governor David A. Paterson announced two grant programs under the Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law of New York State (HEAL NY). The first grant program has $175 million available to support projects to help the state’s older adults and individuals with disabilities have increased access to person-centered high quality community-based services.
In the “Request for Grant Applications” (RGA), the New York Department of Health is seeking grant applications to better organize and develop alternatives for care. The idea is to coordinate a variety of licensed residential long term care programs, develop other residential options, and reduce certified inpatient bed capacity in residential healthcare facilities all with financial concerns in mind.
State Senator Thomas K. Duane said, “Our stated goal in this year’s budget is to shift resources into home and community-based services and to move healthcare in the state toward a more primary and preventive care framework.”
Grant applications are due on July 14, 2009. A conference for potential HEAL NY Phase 12 applicants will be held on May 22nd.The RGA can be viewed at www.nyhealth.gov .
The second New York state grant announcement will provide $175 million in funding to further restructure the New York healthcare system. This funding will help hospitals transition to a new model of care by consolidating excess hospital beds, eliminate duplicative services, support more outpatient care, and provide better support for ambulatory and outpatient care.
The eleven grants to be awarded will fund projects to help hospitals enter into mergers, shared governance agreements, and other collaborative arrangements. The goal is to identify healthcare needs in local communities and by providing good access to primary care, avoid hospitalizations for conditions generally considered preventable.
N.Y. State Department of Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., said “Together with the Medicaid reforms enacted in this year’s budget, this round of HEAL NY grants will assist in reducing costly inpatient care in favor of more appropriate outpatient care.”
Grant applications for Phase 11 of HEAL NY are due on July 1, 2009 and the RGA can be viewed on www.nyhealth.gov .
