In a recent conference call with GNYHA, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) announced that it will be sending its perinatal survey to every Chief Executive Officer, Chair of Pediatrics, and Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology in all hospitals in New York State on July 19, 2000. The surveys will be due on or about September 8, 2000.

Revised Perinatal System: As reported in recent issues of Skyline News, DOH is planning to revise its current system of regionalized perinatal services. DOH's plan includes resurveying all providers certified to provide obstetrical services and revising existing regulations regarding the levels of designations of facilities and the roles of various participants in the system. DOH recently circulated to GNYHA revised criteria and a revised outline of the review process, which GNYHA will circulate to members. DOH is now considering implementing a two-step perinatal redesignation process, whereby a hospital would indicate its requested level for both maternal and neonatal services on its survey. The first step would consist of a DOH review of the survey instrument submitted by a hospital and a preliminary designation. If a hospital did not agree with DOH's preliminary designation, the hospital would participate in a second level of review that would include a request for additional information as well as a site visit. Other facilities, including those that seek to be designated as regional perinatal centers (RPCs), as well as those that are seeking a two-level increase in their designations, would also undergo site visits. DOH would then make a final determination regarding a hospital's level. For the first time, DOH is planning to assign a single-level designation for both maternal and neonatal services.

Site Visits: DOH is planning to conduct site visits to hospitals seeking designation as RPCs and certain Level 1, 2, and 3 hospitals in the fall of 2000. DOH expects to send letters regarding final RPC designations and letters regarding preliminary designations for Level 1, 2, and 3 hospitals in the winter of 2001, with final designations made during the first half of 2001.

GNYHA Briefing: GNYHA is planning to host a briefing session on August 7, 2000, at which representatives from the DOH Bureau of Women's Health will provide information regarding the survey process and will be prepared to answer members' questions. (See Upcoming GNYHA Briefings.)