Health, Department of

Agency Web Site: http://www.health.ny.gov/

Mission

The mission of the Department of Health (DOH) is to ensure high quality health services are available to all New Yorkers. The Department is also the principal State agency that administers the Medicaid Program, New York's Health Exchange (New York State of Health), and other public health programs.

The Department operates health care facilities including Helen Hayes Hospital, four veteran’s nursing homes, and the Wadsworth Laboratories. In addition, DOH conducts oversight of health professionals and all other health care facilities to ensure that high quality, cost effective, health care alternatives are provided throughout the State.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends $134.4 billion for DOH, including $126.3 billion for Medicaid and $8.1 billion for remaining health program spending. This reflects an increase of $6.3 billion from the FY 2014-15 Budget primarily reflecting the continuation of two-year appropriations for Medicaid, Medicaid program changes under the Affordable Care Act, the implementation of the Basic Health Plan, additional capital investments in hospital infrastructure, as well as anticipated funding under Federal waiver amendments.

The Budget recommends a workforce of 5,139 FTEs for the Department. This is an increase of 325 FTEs from the FY 2014-15 budget, which is intended to provide staff to support the fourth year of the phased takeover of local government administration of the Medicaid program, realignment of the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) staff, and the continued operations of the New York health benefit exchange -- New York State of Health.

Major Budget initiatives include:

• Continuing Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) reforms. A cost neutral package of initiatives are proposed that include increased payments to essential community providers, and investments in the long term care continuum. These investments are balanced with Medicaid program savings including greater controls on pharmaceuticals, enhanced Medicare cost-sharing limits and the incorporation of the Basic Health Plan.
• Advancing $1 billion in new capital funding to support health facility transformation projects.
• Providing $55 million to continue operational support for the State Health Information Network of New York (SHIN-NY), and create an All Payer Claims Database (APCD).
• Consolidating 41 public health appropriations into five funding pools and achieving savings of 15 percent. Flexibility is provided to continue existing programs and invest in new initiatives that support new or emerging public health priorities.
• Reducing funding for Roswell Park Cancer Institute by $15.5 million.
• Continuing the implementation of cost of living adjustments for direct care human service workers.
• Establishing dedicated assessment on health insurance policies to sustain the operations of New York State of Health, per Federal requirements and consistent with Executive Order 42.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Health Care (PDF)

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/21/2015

Click for additional detailed appropriation tables