The Catskill Chronicle

HUDSON VALLEY, NY (June 16, 2012) – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced $35.6 million in grants to five hospitals and nursing homes in the Mid-Hudson region, continuing efforts to transform the state’s health care system to improve patient care, reduce costs, and ensure that all New Yorkers have access to quality treatment.

The grants are made available through New York State’s Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law (HEAL NY). Statewide, the $301.1 million in HEAL NY grants will help 40 hospitals and nursing homes across the state improve primary and community-based care, eliminate excess bed capacity, and reduce over-reliance on inpatient care in hospitals and nursing homes.

"As a result of the hard work of the Medicaid Redesign Team and our actions to transform the state’s health care system, we have already taken important steps toward reducing costs and improving care for patients," Governor Cuomo said. "These grants to hospitals and nursing homes in the Mid-Hudson region will help our health care facilities deliver better quality care in a more efficient and cost effective manner so all New Yorkers have access to the best care possible when it is needed."

The awards are allocated through the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) and are part of nearly $3 billion in funding that has been invested in health care reform through 20 separate HEAL NY phases over the past seven years.
The grants announced today will help implement recommendations from Governor Cuomo’s Medicaid Redesign Team, including enabling health care facilities to deliver more efficient, higher quality care through restructuring, merging, and realigning operations.

Additionally, the awards will help develop collaborative projects among health care providers and will support capital projects, such as the conversion of hospital inpatient space to outpatient and ambulatory care and inpatient nursing home capacity to other less-restrictive forms of long-term care.

DOH received a diverse group of applications from throughout the state. Additional funding will be made available in future rounds to support additional projects including efforts to help develop a high-quality, financially secure and sustainable health system in Brooklyn.

Senator John Bonacic said: "These smart investments in healthcare will increase the quality of patient care. I am very pleased in particular with the funding awarded to Catskill Regional Medical Center. I appreciate the tremendous work of that hospital’s staff and board in the successful revitalization of the hospital."

Assembly Member Aileen Gunther said, "This funding provides a windfall for Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris, which is receiving $12.6 million, and Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty, which will receive over $1.1 million. The health care providers of the Hudson Valley have weathered disaster and I am pleased to see them receiving these new resources to help deliver exceptional care and update their operations."

Following is a list of HEAL NY awards for the Mid-Hudson region:

Catskill Regional Medical Center $12,600,000
Field Home-Holy Comforter $8,000,000
Sullivan County Adult Care Center $ 1,130,000
Sound Shore Medical Center of Westchester $11,900,000
St. Francis Hospital and Health Centers $ 2,053,042

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County Thanks Dedicated Officials, Staff for Efforts on HEAL Grant

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY – County Manager David Fanslau would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the dedicated County Legislators and employees, both former and current, responsible for the development of the County’s successful HEAL Grant application. It was announced today that the New York State Department of Health has awarded Sullivan County $1.1 million for improvements to the County nursing home located in Liberty.

“Thanks to the efforts of our Legislators and staff, the County will receive much needed funding to improve the efficiency of our Adult Care Center, and provide higher quality care to its residents,” said Fanslau.

The development of Sullivan County’s HEAL Grant application was a collaborative effort between Legislators and several County departments. Legislator Kathy LaBuda and former Legislator Ron Hiatt provided unwavering support for the grant initiative. Members of the current Legislature, which took office in January of this year, followed through with the efforts initiated by LaBuda and Hiatt.

A special thank you goes to James Galligan (former Administrator of the Adult Care Center), Catherine Rauschendorfer (current Administrator of the Adult Care Center) and their staff; Commissioner Robert Meyer of the Division of Public Works and his staff; and Arthur Hussey and Victoria Goddard of Grants Administration, who worked countless hours in coordinating and packaging the final application. It must also be noted that the efforts of Priscilla Bassett and the Senior Legislative Action Committee (SLAC) were instrumental in the County’s success, and the County extends its sincerest appreciation to this organization.

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