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  • REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS – June 2024

REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS – June 2024

Mitchell H. Katz, MD
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
June 27, 2024

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS’ FACILITIES RECOGNIZE JUNETEENTH AND CELEBRATE PRIDE

This past Wednesday, June 19, all of our facilities recognized Juneteenth. NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst held a celebration and read the Emancipation Proclamation, while NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health participated in the 15th annual Juneteenth New York celebration at Linden Park in Brooklyn. The Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark was the keynote speaker at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln’s Juneteenth event.

This Sunday, June 30 is the annual Pride March in Manhattan. More than 100 employees representing the health System will march down Fifth Ave; however, our sites around the five boroughs have been celebrating Pride throughout the entire month. As examples, NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter’s Therapeutic Recreation team held a drag show for its residents, patients, and staff, while NYC Health + Hospitals/Sea View held a pride walk around its campus.

18 NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS FACILITIES EARN “LGBTQ+ HEALTHCARE EQUALITY LEADER” DESIGNATION IN HEALTHCARE EQUALITY INDEX

Earlier this month 18 NYC Health + Hospitals facilities earned their “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). The designation was awarded in the 16th iteration of HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). A record 1,065 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2024 survey and scoring process. Of those participants, 384 received the top score of 100, earning the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation. NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln received a special highlight in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s report as being one of only 10 HEI- participating facilities nationwide (of 1,065 in total) where staff completed 5,000 or more hours of training in LGBTQ+ patient-centered care during the HEI 2024 survey period—an outstanding achievement.

In 2011, NYC Health + Hospitals became the first public healthcare system in the United States to mandate a Cultural Competence Training program for staff. The health System continues to offer all staff training sessions, including its monthly systemwide Achieving Health Equity for LGBTQ+ People training.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS ANNOUNCED A COMPREHENSIVE THREE-YEAR PLAN TO ENHANCE ITS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES

The health System detailed a comprehensive three-year plan to strengthen and expand its behavioral health services in a new report, Behavioral Health Blueprint: Turning Crisis into Opportunity. As the largest provider of behavioral health in New York City, NYC Health + Hospitals has identified six core strategies for the three-year period between 2024 and 2026 that will guide its efforts to restore and maximize inpatient capacity; expand access to outpatient services; increase services for special populations; enhance social work, care management, and peer services; prevent violence and increase safety; and build the behavioral health workforce. These efforts are funded in part with $41M through the Behavioral Health Centers of Excellence, a New York State investment to rebuild, develop, and enhance core acute and outpatient behavioral health services, targeting high risk individuals enrolled in New York State Medicaid Managed Care. Additional funding includes Opioid Settlement Funding as well as City, State, Federal, and philanthropic funds.

US NEWS & WORLD REPORT NAMES NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/ELMHURST A “REGIONAL HOSPITAL FOR EQUITABLE ACCESS”

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst was named by U.S. News and World Report as a “Best Regional Hospital for Equitable Access” for its success as a high performing hospital providing excellent care to patients in underserved communities. The hospital is one of only 53 hospitals in the country recognized for this honor and the only one in New York State. NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst met a number of qualifications to make the U.S. News list, including having 40% or more of its patients from a community of greater socioeconomic deprivation, serving 20% or more racial/ethnic minorities, and serving 20% or more Medicaid patients. In order to help meet the needs of this patient population, the hospital collaborates with community organizations through partnerships that connect healthcare with essential systems such as legal aid, foster care, public housing, shelters, and food assistance. Elmhurst Hospital also screens patients using a variety of tools, including information and data gathered through patient visits, social work counseling sessions, and a web- based platform tracking social determinants of health, to help identify and better address their needs.

MODERN HEALTHCARE RECOGNIZES TWO HEALTH SYSTEM LEADERS AS “50 MOST INFLUENTIAL CLINICAL EXECUTIVES”

Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Machelle Allen, MD and MetroplusHealth’s President and Chief Executive Officer Talya Schwartz, MD, were among the honorees of Modern Healthcare’s ‘50 Most Influential Clinical Executives’ recognition list of 2024. The honorees were selected by the prominent health care industry publication for bringing their unique expertise and critical insight to their roles, incorporating strategies that help patients across the health System lead longer, healthier lives. Established in 1976, Modern Healthcare is a prominent publication focused on health care business and policy news, research, and information.

20 NEW WELLNESS ROOMS OPEN TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEE’S WELL-BEING

Just yesterday, Wednesday, June 26, the health System announced the completion of 20 new wellness rooms where staff can decompress during the workday. The million-dollar project, funded primarily through philanthropic dollars, was designed by WXY Studio and took two years to complete. The newly renovated lounges include high quality furniture, soothing lighting elements, artificial plants, aesthetic enhancements such as wall graphics and decals, and works from the health System’s art collection. Additionally, the wellness rooms provide a centralized location for wellness programming, where staff can socialize and connect with colleagues, engage in peer support, learn more about internal and external wellness resources, participate in wellness events, and connect to their own concrete needs. The rooms also provide a space for staff to relax, take a break, and rejuvenate before tending to patient care delivery. The Jeffrey H. and Shari L. Aronson Family Foundation gave a leadership contribution to support the creation of the 20 wellness rooms. Several other donors also contributed to the project, including the Ira W. DeCamp Foundation and The George Link, Jr. Foundation.

METROPLUSHEALTH ENHANCES ITS PROVIDER DIRECTORY FOR PATIENTS

MetroPlusHealth is spearheading a significant initiative to enhance its provider directory, a key resource that empowers patients to find doctors and make well-informed health care decisions. This initiative is part of a commitment to delivering exceptional patient experiences and ensuring seamless access to quality care.

Unprecedented User Engagement: The recent overhaul of the metroplus.org tool has transformed the user experience. Enhancements include optimizing language with colloquial text, creating clear search functionality, introducing map treatment with Google Maps and much more. The impact has been remarkable. In just one month, user engagement skyrocketed, with users increasing their time spent on the tool by 17 times, averaging nearly 7 minutes exploring our enhanced directory. This surge in engagement underscores the value and usability of the improved tool.

Ensuring Accurate and Reliable Information: Up-to-date provider information is critical for connecting patients with the providers in a timely fashion. MetroPlusHealth is dedicating substantial resources to assure the Provider Directory is as current as possible. By reflecting precise and current information in the directory, MetroPlusHealth can ensure members effortlessly find the right providers and services at the right locations.

Incentivizing Provider Participation: To maintain the highest standards of information accuracy, MetroPlusHealth launched a financial incentive program for qualified providers. In this program, via a third-party vendor, we proactively verify that the information displayed to our members remains current. This is a never-ending endeavor since information changes regularly for the provider network, but this step will ensure the information remains fresh and useable.

TWO HEALTH SYSTEM EXECUTIVES RECEIVE JOAN H. TISCH COMMUNITY HEALTH PRIZE

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Helen Arteaga-Landaverde, MPH, PHD, and Senior Vice President of Ambulatory Care and Population Health Ted Long, MD, MHS, were honored as recipients of the 11th Annual Joan H. Tisch Community Health Prize. The Joan H. Tisch Community Health Prize honors individuals and not-for-profit organizations for distinguished accomplishments in the field of urban public health. The public health System’s leaders were recognized for their work leading the City’s response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Dr. Long’s leadership responding to the City’s asylum seeker crisis.

MAYOR ADAMS LAUNCHES CARING TRANSITIONS, A SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM, AT BRONX AND QUEENS NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS FACILITIES

Mayor Adams, NYC Health + Hospitals, and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) launched Caring Transitions, a new program to serve youth, aged five through 17, in the Bronx and Queens who are seen in a hospital following a suicide attempt or serious suicidal behavior. This program will engage young people within 24 hours of presentation in the hospital and will follow them through their hospital stay and up to three months post-discharge.

Risk for repeated suicide attempts is greatest within the first 30 days after youth leave a hospital, making the time during their hospital stay and immediately after critical to preventing another attempt. The program will also engage families and help connect them to care and to navigate the system to ensure that there is support in the community and in the home. Caring Transitions will be available in Queens at NYC Heath + Hospitals/Elmhurst and in the Bronx at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, Jacobi, and North Central Bronx.

Consisting of a multidisciplinary team of social workers, youth and family peer advocates, and a psychiatrist, these teams will work directly with patients on skill development and connections to provide ongoing treatment and support.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/METROPOLITAN REACHES MILESTONE, PERFORMING 200 GENDER-AFFIRMING SURGERIES

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan reached a significant milestone this June, performing its 200th gender-affirming surgery on a patient from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. A twenty-nine-year-old patient who is non-binary and uses the pronouns they/them and he/him, underwent masculinizing top surgery earlier this year. Approximately 80 percent of the gender-affirming surgeries performed at the hospital are masculinizing top surgeries, and approximately 90 percent of the patients are new to the public health care system.

Since NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan began offering gender- affirming surgeries in 2017, they have increased surgical capacity, which has led to reducing the wait-time from consultation to surgery from 8 months to 3 to 4 months. This is often far less time than other hospital systems that offer the life-changing service.

The hospital recently re-opened a comprehensive Pride Health Center, a dedicated space where LGBTQ+, transgender and gender diverse (TGD) patients can access individual care with respect and dignity. The Center serves lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning/queer+ patients as they receive high-quality, culturally competent, respectful care in a dedicated space.

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES TENTATIVE CONTRACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY, CIR- SEIU, AND NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS TO BETTER PAY RESIDENTS AND INTERNS

On June 1, Mayor Eric Adams, Office of Labor Relations (OLR) Commissioner Renee Campion, and I announced a tentative five-year and six-month contract agreement with the Committee of Interns and Residents Service Employees International Union (CIR-SEIU) that will provide fair wage increases to more than 2,300 medical interns and residents who work for NYC Health + Hospitals.

We are proud to provide an environment where residents can learn, train, and provide high-quality care to New Yorkers. This contract supports everyone’s goals in continuing that effort.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS LAUNCHES SOCIAL WORKER RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN

The health System launched a new recruitment campaign to encourage social workers to join NYC Health + Hospitals. The health System aims to fill vacant social work positions, including in Medical/Surgical units, Pediatrics, Women’s Health, Emergency Rooms, Crisis Intervention and B-HEARD, Acute and Ambulatory Behavioral Health, Primary and Collaborative Care, Correctional Health, Virtual ExpressCare, and Post-Acute Care. The $250,000 campaign is in English and Spanish and can be found in subway cars, on bus shelters in neighborhoods with social work schools, near NYC Health + Hospitals facilities, on social media, and promoted on Google Search.

HEALTH SYSTEM RECEIVES HYPERTENSION INNOVATOR AWARD FROM US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

For the third time, the US Department of Health & Human Services recognized NYC Health + Hospitals with a Hypertension Innovator Award. The health System is one of 11 health systems in the nation to achieve this recognition. The Award recognizes innovative approaches to preventing future health complications that affect women who develop hypertension during pregnancy. NYC Health + Hospitals was recognized for its success in expanding its Hypertension Treat to Target program, a primary care-based hypertension management program, to the obstetrics department at three of its hospitals, starting with NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health in 2018.

Called Life After Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy, the program connects women who experienced hypertensive disorders of pregnancy to ongoing health management aimed at reducing their increased risk of heart attack and stroke later in life. Hypertension can persist after delivery; however, this too often goes unrecognized. Optimal blood pressure control was achieved in 92% of the women in the program.

Attendance at postnatal primary care visits increased to nearly 50% compared with 15% at the outset of the project. The program has since expanded to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and North Central Bronx, with plans to expand to the health System’s remaining hospitals.

NEW OUTREACH CAMPAIGN INFORMS TAXI AND FOR-HIRE DRIVERS ABOUT 24/7 HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE

In late May, the City announced a new outreach campaign to educate and connect the City’s taxi and for-hire drivers to services they can access to assist with both physical and behavioral health, including 24/7 consultation through NYC Health + Hospitals’ Virtual ExpressCare, as well as a dedicated driver wellness room at TLC’s Long Island City offices. The drivers as well as their family members can access these services through a driver wellness website and dedicated helpline.

The service will be tailored to for-hire drivers and their families to help with any immediate concerns while connecting them to ongoing care to improve their long-term overall health and wellness. The initiative is a partnership between the Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC), NYC Health + Hospitals, and the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH). This partnership is the latest part of a broader, ongoing outreach effort that includes informing drivers of hospital services specifically tailored to them, as well as health fairs at JFK and LaGuardia airports.

MAYOR ADAMS AND NYC HEALTH + HOSPOTALS HAIL SUPREME COURT DECISION TO PROTECT PATIENT ACCESS TO ABORTION PILL

Mayor Adams and City health leaders hailed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to reject an attempt to limit access to the abortion pill mifepristone. NYC Health + Hospitals has a deep commitment to the reproductive freedom of its patients.

In October 2023, NYC Health + Hospitals launched telehealth abortion access through Virtual ExpressCare — becoming the first public health System in the nation to do so. Patients in New York City seeking abortion care can schedule a Virtual ExpressCare appointment to speak with a New York State-licensed health care professional by video or phone, on-demand, for an assessment and counseling. If clinically appropriate and prescribed, patients will be able to receive a medication abortion kit at their New York City address within a few days. This service is available seven days a week, between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM, and will provide patients with access to safe, legal abortion care.

SYRA MADAD DHSc, MSc, MCP, CHEP APPOINTED AS HEALTH SYSTEM’S NEW CHIEF BIOPREPAREDNESS OFFICER

NYC Health + Hospitals appointed Syra Madad, DHSc, MSc, MCP, CHEP to the new role of Chief Biopreparedness Officer. In this role, Dr. Madad will lead the systemwide special pathogens team in preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts. She will oversee the development and implementation of comprehensive biopreparedness strategies and policies to enhance the healthcare System’s readiness against biological threats, including emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

Dr. Madad will also develop and maintain robust education and training programs for healthcare workers, focusing on screening, enhanced infection control, patient management, and the use of high level personal protective equipment. This also includes overseeing the design and execution of drills, exercises and simulations for healthcare staff to ensure high proficiency in response protocols and procedures related to biological emergencies, such as an exercise last year around the Marburg virus, an Ebola-like disease.

CONGRESSWOMAN GRACE MENG VISTS NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/ELMHURST TO COMMEMORATE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR TWO PROJECTS

US Representative Grace Meng visited NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst in the middle of June to commemorate nearly $2 million in Federal funding she secured for two key projects: the renovation of the hospital’s nearly 70-year-old Infectious Diseases Clinic, which received $1 million, and a new “TMS” (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Suite, which was awarded $800,000 to help treat patients with depression and other mental health concerns. TMS is a non- invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, offering new hope for individuals struggling with these conditions.

The event included a “wall-breaking” by Meng and hospital officials to kick off the renovations for the Infectious Diseases Clinic, which treated nearly 60,000 patients last year dealing with HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and other conditions, and a ribbon-cutting and tour of the newly-designed TMS Suite. The event also focused on NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst’s efforts to support the physical, emotional and mental health needs of patients in one of the world’s most culturally and ethnically diverse communities.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/WOODHULL RECEIVES 2024 QUALITY AWARD

NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull received the 2024 IPRO Quality Award for reducing the use of urinary and central line catheters and achieving six consecutive quarters free of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). The hospital-wide endeavor involved the clinical teams from the inpatient medical, surgical, and critical care units. During daily interdisciplinary rounds, the team assessed each case where a central line or urinary catheter was in use and whether an alternative could be used instead, contributing to the prompt removal of these invasive devices as soon as they were no longer clinically required. The interventions led to increased team communication, improved collaboration, and decreased use of central line and urinary catheters, which in turn resulted in an overall reduction of central line-associated infections.

RESPONDING TO THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS – SERVICES FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS

NYC Health + Hospitals continues to play a crucial role in managing the unprecedented arrival of asylum seekers, housing approximately 25,000 people in our 13 humanitarian centers and managing the City’s Arrival Center. Since opening in May 2023, the Arrival Center has assisted over 150,000 new arrivals from more than 160 nations, approximately three quarters of the over 200,000 asylum seekers who have come to New York City since the City’s response began.

From the moment our efforts began, we have seen thousands of asylum seekers in urgent need of medical attention. At the Arrival Center, we promptly address this need through on-the-spot medical screenings, urgent medical care, behavioral health assessments, and vaccinations. Our healthcare professionals deliver immediate treatment for common ailments, prescribe necessary medications, and, if needed, arrange for more specialized care at our hospital facilities.

Our 13 humanitarian centers continue to ensure that people staying with us, approximately three quarters of whom are families with children, receive humane, dignified care and the services they need to take the next steps in their path for a better life, including medical care, nutrition, language access, mental health support, school enrollment, social programs, and reunification resources. In addition, we continue to work with community partners to support our guests. Our recent donation from the Pajama Program distributed 26,000 pairs of pajamas, ensuring a restful, comfortable sleep for children in our care.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/KINGS COUNTY CLINICAL UNITS RECOGNIZED WITH BEACON AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

The Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), Critical Care Unit (CCU), and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County received Beacon Awards for Excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). The MICU and CCU have been bestowed with the prestigious gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence, while the NICU has been granted the esteemed silver-level recognition. The Beacon Award for Excellence symbolizes exceptional care in a clinical unit prioritizing patients, which looks at patient outcomes, work environment, and nursing workforce.

2024 LGBTQ+ POWER PLAYERS RECOGNIZES HEALTH SYSTEM’S PRESIDENT AND CEO AND METROPLUSHEALTH’S DEPUTY CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

NYC Health + Hospitals’ President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz and MetroPlusHealth’s Deputy Chief Marketing Officer Ken Louie have been named to the PoliticsNY, amNY Metro, and Gay City News “2024 LGBTQ+ Power Players” recognition list. Both are honored as trailblazing leaders who serve as inspiration for the LGBTQ+ community, and whose impressive achievements shape the lives of countless individuals in New York City and beyond. The 2024 LGBTQ+ Power Players list launched in 2022, and is part of a monthly series by PoliticsNY and amNY Metro on New York’s ‘Power Players’, including business executives, educators, government affairs experts, and nonprofit directors.

NEW SEASON OF FRESH FOOD AT FARMERS MARKETS OUTSIDE OUR FACILITIES

NYC Health + Hospitals launched a new season of farmers markets hosted at its hospitals and community health centers across the City. The farmers markets make it easy for anyone in the community to access fresh, local fruits and vegetables at an affordable price. Various payment options are available to help New Yorkers take advantage of farmers markets, and Fresh Food Box sites, including EBT/SNAP, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) coupons, and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) coupons.

CLINICAL LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM OPENS APPLICATION PERIOD

NYC Health + Hospitals announced the open application period for the Clinical Leadership Fellowship, a one-year opportunity designed for post-residency graduates interested in administrative roles within the health System. Fellows are assigned to teams within NYC Health + Hospitals’ offices of quality, population health, ambulatory care, managed care and patient growth, or medical and professional affairs to acquire hands-on, practical work experience. Their remaining time is spent delivering care in their clinical specialty at a facility within the health System. As part of their participation, fellows will be required to design and lead a quality improvement or population health project at their sponsoring facility. The application deadline for next year’s fellowship is September 20, and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

NEW MURAL UNVEILED AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/METROPOLITAN

This week NYC Health + Hospitals unveiled a new mural as part of the Community Mural Project run by the health system’s Arts in Medicine department. The mural, Seasons of Reciprocity at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan, was developed by artist Cindy Lozito through a series of focus groups with community members, staff and patients and brought to life at a paint party where the community was invited to paint the mural together. Seasons of Reciprocity is one of 7 new murals that will be created this year, adding to 37 murals created at NYC Health + Hospitals since 2019. The first wave of the Community Mural Project is featured in a new book, Healing Walls: New York City Health + Hospitals Community Mural Project 2019-2021. This and other murals at NYC Health + Hospitals can be viewed on the free Bloomberg Connects app. The Community Mural Project is made possible through the support of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/GOTHAM HEALTH, MORRISANIA INSTALLS NEW BONE DENSITY SCANNER AND 3D MAMMOGRAM MACHINE

This past May, NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania installed a new bone density scanner and a state-of-the-art 3D mammogram machine in its Radiology Department. The state-of-the-art equipment allows Gotham Health to provide the highest standard of care in the Bronx.

The new bone density scanner, known as DEXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) offers a high-quality bone density assessment, providing precise measurements of segmental body fat and muscle distribution. This advanced diagnostic tool is invaluable for evaluating the risk of bone fracture and bone loss (osteoporosis). The new 3D mammography machine, also known as breast tomosynthesis, revolutionized breast cancer detection. By capturing multiple images of the breast from different angles, it delivers a more detailed and accurate representation of breast tissue. This advanced machine offers cutting-edge breast cancer detection while ensuring a more comfortable experience for patients.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/ELMHURST RECEIVES A DONATION OF 22 PAINTINGS

Katie Yamasaki, an award-winning children’s book author, illustrator, and muralist, donated 22 paintings to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst from her from her series, Pintando Postales. The portraits have been installed in NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst’s inpatient Adolescent Behavioral Health unit, serving children ages 10 to 17.

Formerly a NYC public school art teacher, Yamasaki has devoted the past 25 years of her career to using art as a bridge for connection. Her Pintando Postales portrait series documents correspondence between Yamasaki’s students at the New York City Public School for Dance and those in Santiago de Cuba, whom exchanged postcards messages to share, through their own words and images, what life is like in their respective cities. The works were exhibited at 2007 exhibition at the Galería Oriente in Santiago de Cuba and 2009 at the Brooklyn College, New York.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS UPDATE

City: City Council has been negotiating the FY-25 executive budget with the Mayor’s Office ahead of the July 1st deadline. We anticipate that the budget agreement will be reached on-time.

State: The NYS Legislative session concluded earlier this month on June 8th. While 17,715 bills were introduced this year, 1,834 bills passed either house, and 805 bills passed both houses. All the bills that passed both houses must be delivered to and acted on by the Governor by the end of the year. External Affairs is working with our subject matter experts to determine if the System should be asking the Governor to (1) sign, (2) veto, or (3) amend a bill. Additionally, we are following the outcome of the NYS legislative primaries, which will impact some of our facility representation.

Federal: Congress continues to debate appropriations priorities for FY-25, which begins on October 1st. Senators Gillibrand and Schumer recently submitted their lists of Congressionally-Directed Spending (“earmarks”) requests to the Senate Appropriations Committee, which includes many requests for NYC Health + Hospitals. This is the first stage in a very long appropriations process. Health-related projects are not accepted by the House, so our focus remains on the Senate.

Community Affairs: The Council of CABs elected their new Executive Committee for the 9/1/2024 – 8/31/2025 term. The Council of CABs Chair is William Smith from Harlem CAB, the First Vice-Chair is Robin Hogans from Queens CAB, the Second Vice-Chair is Barbara Williams from Woodhull CAB, and the Secretary is Michael Smook from Bellevue CAB.

The Central Council of Auxiliaries met this month to discuss best practices for fundraising and to share upcoming events.

Both the CABs and the Auxiliaries will be honored at our annual Marjorie Matthews event on July 18 at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler. This will be the 20th Annual Marjorie Matthews celebration, and we look forward to seeing them and many of our Board members and facility CEOs there!

CONTRACT DEVIATIONS

Since my last update to you regarding our asylum seeker contracting response, I have approved extensions of leased space at two of the HERRC sites, while we work with the City to transition these sites to City control and management:

  • 1760 3rd Avenue, New York, New York for an additional period of 8 months and a not-to-exceed amount of $12,870,223.
  • 37-11 35th Avenue, Astoria, Queens for an additional period of 2 months for a not-to-exceed amount of $169,192.50.

I would also like to inform you of the following reductions of obligations regarding our operation of HERRC sites:

  • Ryerson Hotel which we leased for a term to begin September 15, 2023 at $2,173,080/month never commenced due to construction delays and was instead rented by the City through HRO.
  • 320 West 31st Street which we leased in September 2023 for one year at $684,475/month was terminated early by us effective December 20, 2023.
  • The Wolcott at 4 West 31st Street which we rented from November 2022 through April 30, 2024 at $997,500/month was terminated by us January 31, 2024. NYC Department of Homeless Services has also taken over operations at this location.
  • The Crowne Plaza JFK at 38-10 135th Avenue, Queens NY which we rented July 11, 2023 at $2,007,180/month was terminated in April, 2024 is now being leased by DHS.
  • Row NYC Hotel at 800 8th Avenue which we leased starting October 12, 2022 at $5,130,000/month was allowed to expire April 12, 2024 when it was leased by the City through DCAS.
  • The Holiday Inn at 99 Washington Street which we rented February 8 through April 30, 2024 at $2,804,400/month was allowed to expire and was leased by the City through DCAS upon such expiration.
  • The Wingate by Wyndham at 38-70 12th Street, Long Island City, which we rented December 15, 2023 for 15 months at $825,840.00/month has been terminated early by us effective May 15, 2024.

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