2005
HomeCNYHSA NOVEMBER 17 ANNUAL MEETING. This year′s program theme, entitled "Getting it Right" focused on the NYS Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century and featured a panel of community and health system leaders who commented on priorities, recommendations, and positions that should be conveyed to the Commission. The panel members included: Gregory Eastword, M.D. (Upstate Medical University), Tom Carman (Samaritan Health), Keith Fenstemacher (Mohawk Valley Network), Arthur Vercillo, M.D. (Excellus, Central New York Region), James Introne (Loretto), and Jeff Brown (Member, NYS Assembly The meeting also provided an opportunity for attendees to make suggestions regarding actions that are needed to strengthen the future health care delivery in Central New York. Observations and suggestions made at the meeting were shared with the Commission as part of CNYHSA's preparation for its February 2006 Board Meeting. For a copy of the annual meeting report, click on the following link: Annual Meeting Report
CNYHSA OCTOBER 20 BOARD MEETING. Gary Fitzgerald, President, Iroquois Health Alliance and Mary Ellen Bloodgood and Janet Dauley Atlwarg, President and Director, respectively, of the Long Term Executive Council of Central New York provided their assessment of the status and outlook for health care facilities in Central New York, touching on issues including utilization and access to services; capital replacement needs; financial stability and viability; urban vs. rural concerns; health personnel; and state demonstration programs to re-structure services. This special educational presentation which was entitled "Sizing up the Prospects for 2006 and Beyond" was intended to be a prelude to the CNYHSA's Annual Meeting in November which will be a community dialogue on on the New York State Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century.
CNYHSA MAY 19 BOARD MEETING. Maryann Roefaro, Hematology-Oncology Associates of Central New York
provided an overview on the impact of Mediare Reform on Cancer Care and the abilty of patients and providers to cover the cost care related medications The board also expressed concern about the availabitiy of pyschiatric beds for children in Onondaga and surrounding counties and extended congratulations to Board Vice President Christoper Rogers who will retire this year after 23 years as Auburn Memorial Hospital CEO and to Board Member Richard Kazel for the Syracuse Veterans Administration Medical Center’s recent #3 ranking for overall patient satisfaction (and #1 for courtesy) in a national survey of VA facilities.
CNYHSA FEBRUARY 17 BOARD MEETING. James Kennedy, Executive Director, Cayuga Community Health Network and member of the State Hospital Review and Planning Committee (HRPC) provided an overview of the Rockefeller Institute Report on the state CON program and the Governor's Working Group Report on Health Care Reform which calls for a Commission to be established on hospital "rightsizing" and closure. Mr. Kennedy also reported that there are now 2 designated seats on the HRPC for rural members and that the rejected rate for CON applications has been declining. The Board als acted on the nomination of Catherine Hanover from St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica and heard a report from Dr. Welch on the status of Upstate's Children's Hospital.
CNYHSA PURSUES ROLE IN COMMISSION. CNYHSA President Bill Conole presented a strong case for CNYHSA participation in the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century appointed by Governor Pataki earlier this year to right-size the health care system in New York State. In a letter to Mark Kissinger, Deputy Secretary to the Governor for Health & Human Services and a Commission member, President Conole noted that:
“CNYHSA has been involved in nearly every aspect of health care planning, systems development, and priority-setting in Central New York. Our track record in health systems development projects, including facility restructuring and collaboration, project review and evaluation, program development, and access to care represents a valuable asset for the Commission and its Central regional advisory committee.”
CNYHSA prepared a position paper in March which argued that utilizing CNYHSA as the regional framework for commission activities in Central New York will ensure local health care decision-making, take advantage of a planning and assessment mechanism already in place, ensure a neutral setting and community participation in deliberations and dialogue, and reduce the possibility of arbitrary actions which may result if the statewide approach is not sensitive to local and regional resources. The paper also suggests the need for a sustained community health planning mechanism, facilitated by CNYHSA. The agency has also solicited support for its position from Senate and Assembly members representing Central New York. Central NY representatives named to the Commission thus far are Darlene Kerr of Syracuse, former President/CEO of Niagara Mohawk, appointed as one of 18 permanent Commission members and Susan Crosset, Vice-President, Public Affairs for Niagara Mohawk, appointed to one of six seats on the Commission’s Central Regional Advisory Committees. The Central region includes Central New York and the Rochester/Finger Lakes area.
SHORTAGE AREA DESIGNATIONS. CNYHSA has been successful in securing 7 federal Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) in 2005. Official notice of designations was received recently from the US Depart. of Health and Human Services (HHS) for: low income populations in Watertown, Utica, and Lowville (Primary Care), St. Lawrence and Oswego Counties (Mental Health), St. Lawrence County and the low income population in Jefferson County (Dental).