1999 Incentive Pool: The New York State Department of Health (DOH) has released the survey for the 1999 graduate medical education (GME) incentive pool program on the DOH Web site (www.health.state.ny.us). Hospitals and GME consortia must complete the updated 1999 survey in order to receive funding from the $54 million pool. The 1999 incentive pool, which was authorized as part of the Health Care Reform Act (HCRA) of 1996 and continued in a different format and at a lower funding level in HCRA 2000, rewards hospitals and GME consortia for progress toward certain State policy goals, including downsizing the number of residents. Hospitals and GME consortia are eligible for distribution from the 1999 incentive pool if they meet the following threshold criteria:

• reduced the total number of residents from the base period (the program years 1995-96 or 1996-97) to the rate year (1999-2000);

• reduced the number of residents in non-designated priority programs (non-DPPs) by at least 2% from the base period to the rate period; and

• have at least 95% of the total number of residents in accredited programs in the rate period.

If a hospital or GME consortium received funds from the 1997 and/or 1998 incentive pools, the reduction in non-DPP residents must total at least 4% (if funds were received in one prior year) or 6% (if funds were received in both years) in the aggregate from the base year in order to qualify for any reward from the 1999 incentive pool. Additional criteria that will be used to reward institutions include increasing the proportion of primary care residents, underrepresented minorities in training programs, residents training in ambulatory care sites, residents training in underserved areas, and graduates of primary care programs who remain to practice in New York. DOH will hold a briefing on completing the survey at its New York City regional office at 5 Penn Plaza in Manhattan, on April 25, 2000, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The survey is due to DOH by May 17, 2000. Anyone who would like information or wants to register for the DOH briefing should contact DOH by e-mail at gme@health.state.ny.us or at (518) 473-3513.

Match Results: The results of the National Resident Matching Program, announced on March 16, 2000 ("Match Day"), indicated that GNYHA member hospitals had filled 2,247 of the 2,411 residency positions (93.2%) offered through the match, the highest percentage filled in the last five years. In 1999, these hospitals had filled 90.1% of the positions offered through the match. Among the advanced programs (specialty programs requiring one or more years of preliminary residency training), anesthesiology filled 50 of 68 positions (73.5%), up from 69.1% in 1999 and 38.7% in 1998. Among the categorical programs (programs that accept applicants with no prior residency training, with the expectation that they will complete training in the program), the general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, and emergency medicine programs filled all positions placed in the match. Additional results for other categorical programs, with comparative results for 1998, are provided in the table below.

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