What's happening
The bill requires at least 25% of the Health Care Transformation Fund to be allocated annually to community-based health care providers.
Why it matters
Prioritizes funding for organizations closest to underserved communities. By requiring at least 25% of the Health Care Transformation Fund go to community-based providers, the bill aims to strengthen the financial stability and capacity of clinics and programs that often serve low-income, rural, or marginalized populations.
Broadens the definition of eligible community-based providers. The bill’s language specifically includes a wide range of organizations—such as mental health, substance use, developmental disability, primary care, home care, and family/child service providers—ensuring diverse community needs are addressed.
May shift how state health dollars are distributed. This amendment can change the balance of funding between large hospital systems and smaller, local providers, potentially enabling more targeted and preventive care, and addressing social determinants of health (like housing and support services) at the community level.
Could enhance access and innovation in local health care delivery. By directing a guaranteed portion of funds to grassroots organizations, the bill could encourage innovative approaches and partnerships tailored to local contexts, leading to better health outcomes and reduced disparities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Fund Community Health Providers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to finance
- Print number 6376a
- Amend and recommit to rules
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Boost Funds for Community Clinics
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Richard Gottfried
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6376--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 7, 2019
Introduced by Sen. RIVERA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to the health care transformation fund
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 92-hh of the state finance law, as added by section 1 of subpart A of part FFF of chapter 59 of the laws of 2018, is amended to read as follows:
4. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, moneys of the health care transformation fund shall be available for transfer to any other fund of the state as authorized and directed by the director of the budget to support health care delivery, including for capital investment, debt retirement or restructuring, housing and other social determinants of health, or transitional operating support to health care providers. On and after the date this sentence becomes a law, at least twenty-five percent of the moneys deposited into such fund on an annual basis shall be allocated exclusively for community-based health care providers which shall be defined as a diagnostic and treatment center licensed or granted an operating certificate under article twenty-eight of the public health law, a mental health outpatient provider licensed or granted an operating certificate under article thirty-one of the mental hygiene law, a substance use disorder treatment provider licensed or granted an operating certificate under article thirty-two of the mental hygiene law, a program licensed under article forty-one of the mental hygiene law, a community-based program funded under the office of mental health, the office for people with developmental disabilities, the office of addiction services and supports or through a local government unit as defined under article forty-one of the mental hygiene law,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11602-07-9
S. 6376--A 2
a home care provider certified or licensed pursuant to article thirtysix of the public health law, a primary care provider, a clinic licensed or granted an operating certificate under article sixteen of the mental hygiene law, a provider of health home services as authorized under section 2703 of the federal protection and affordable care act, a hospice provider licensed or granted an operating certificate under article forty of the public health law, or a family and child service provider licensed under article twenty-nine-I of the public health law, for the exclusive purpose of supporting the programs and services defined in this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to the health care transformation fund
Purpose or general bill
To designate at least 25% of the funds deposited into the state health care transformation fund to community-based health care providers.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends state finance law § 92-hh (4) to add that at least 25% of the funds deposited into the health care transformation fund be designated for community-based health care providers, defined as:
* a diagnostic and treatment center licensed or granted an operating certificate under article 28 of the public health law
* a mental health outpatient provider licensed or granted an operating certificate under article 31 of the mental hygiene law
* a substance use disorder treatment provider licensed or granted an operating certificate under article 32 of the mental hygiene law
* a program licensed under article 41 of mental hygiene law
* a community based program funded under the office of mental health, the office for people with developmental disabilities, the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services or through local government departments of mental hygiene
* a home care provider certified or licensed pursuant to article 36 of the public health law
* a primary care provider
* a clinic licensed or granted an operating certificate under article 16 of the mental hygiene law
* a provider of health home services as authorized under section 2703 of the federal protection and affordable care act
* a hospice provider licensed or granted an operating certificate under article 40 of the public health law, or
* a family and child service provider licensed under Article 29-i of the public health law
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
Community-based health care services improve population health and outcomes, and they save lives and money. Yet workforce shortages threat- en access to those services across the state. Community organizations face high turnover rates and long-term job vacancies, largely due to limited resources. What this means for workers is low pay, grueling schedules and caseloads, and quick burnout. What it means for patients is a lack of access to the care they need.
Community-based care is often a lower-cost alternative to institutional care, and it is a vital support to the acute care system. When patients cannot get care until their conditions are so dire that their only choice is the emergency room, patients, communities, and hospitals suffer. When fast food restaurants pay a higher wage than home care agencies or the local behavioral health clinic, patients, communities, and hospitals suffer.
The health care transformation fund was set up in 2018 "to support health care delivery." This bill will ensure that at least a quarter of the dollars collected through the fund be directed to the community- based workforce that we rely on for a stable and efficient health care system.
Prior legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.