The CNYHSA health planning function is grounded in the principle of community need and considers health care delivery from a systems wide perspective. The agency’s functional responsibilities encompass the following:
- develop regional plans, program priorities, and special studies for improving health care delivery in the region
- promote cooperative ventures and network initiatives to improve health care services
- serve as a community resource for education of consumers, providers, and payors to increase knowledge and responsibility regarding the availability and utilization of health care services
- collect, maintain, and utilize health care data for health care development and education
- identify gaps in needed health care services, including Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA’s) and make recommendations for improving health care status in the region
- review Certificate of Need (CON) applications and make recommendations to the state Department of Health on project proposals
- coordinate planning activities with, and provide technical assistance to, other health and human service planning entities
- undertake other activities to improve affordability, quality , efficience, and access to health care services
The planning role of CNYHSA described in the above actions are defined statutorily in Article 29 o f the New York State Public Health Law. While state financial support to carry out these functions ended in the mid-1990's, CNYHSA continues to offer these on a limited basis as a community service or when supported through payor or other interested sources.