Governor Hochul unveils $300 million investment towards health care improvements
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a significant investment in the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV, a four-year-old initiative aimed at enhancing access to high-quality health care across the state. The program, which has so far awarded over $4.7 billion since 2017, will receive an additional $300 million in funding.
The new round of funding will support more than 50 projects, focusing on expanding inpatient, primary, behavioral health, and long-term care services. The projects will be distributed across every region in New York, with a priority on vulnerable and underserved populations.
The Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV is managed by the New York State Department of Health and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York. The program's objectives include improving access, equity, and quality of care.
Some examples of the projects that will receive funding include UHS Delaware Valley Hospital, which will receive $20 million to build a four-story addition forming a Medical Neighborhood with expanded inpatient beds and primary, specialty, and therapy services. Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center will be awarded $18.9 million to expand mental health services, add inpatient behavioral health beds, create a Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program, and modernize clinical services. Bassett Healthcare Network will obtain more than $7.6 million to add inpatient psychiatric beds and construct a new Convenient Care clinic.
Governor Hochul emphasized that the investment aims to ensure access to high-quality health care regardless of ZIP code. The program's focus is on providers serving financially distressed or underserved populations, although some areas facing access challenges, like Sullivan County, did not receive funding in this round.
The upcoming funding rounds will address health care IT upgrades and safety net provider transformations. The funds will help providers modernize services and deliver more patient-centered care, enhancing healthcare delivery in rural and underserved areas. According to State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald, the funds will strengthen the foundation of the health care system.
In conclusion, the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV is significantly expanding access to high-quality healthcare in New York by funding facility modernization, service expansions, and enhanced behavioral health capacity, particularly benefiting rural and vulnerable populations across the state.
- The Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV supports a wide range of medical-conditions, such as chronic-diseases, respiratory-conditions, digestive-health, eye-health, and hearing, through its projects.
- UHS Delaware Valley Hospital's expansion, funded by the program, involves building a four-story addition for a Medical Neighborhood, catering to various medical specialties and therapies-and-treatments.
- Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center's projects, funded by the program, include modernizing clinical services, expanding mental health services, adding inpatient behavioral health beds, and creating a Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program.
- Bassett Healthcare Network will use funding to add inpatient psychiatric beds and construct a new Convenient Care clinic, addressing mental-health concerns in the community.
- The program aims to ensure access to high-quality healthcare for all, including those with autoimmune-disorders, neurological-disorders, and skin-conditions.
- The program's focus extends to health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and nutrition, with an aim to promote overall well-being and preventive care.
- The program is working to improve cardiovascular-health, with some providers receiving funds for modernizing services and delivering patient-centered care.
- The program also addresses Medicaid and Medicare coverage, ensuring that eligible individuals have access to necessary therapies-and-treatments.
- Governor Hochul recently announced that CBD may be covered under Medicaid for certain medical-conditions, making it more accessible to those who can benefit from its potential therapeutic effects.
- The Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV's long-term vision is to create a resilient, high-quality healthcare system that meets the diverse needs of New Yorkers, fostering health and wellness for all.
