The New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) recently released a request for grant applications (RGAs) for up to $30 million in funding under Phase 8 of the Healthcare Efficiency and Affordability Law for New Yorkers (HEAL NY) program. This special phase of HEAL, which was authorized as part of the 2007-08 State budget agreement, is intended to support the restructuring of New York's nursing home infrastructure. The primary goal of Phase 8 is to assist facilities in reducing their certified inpatient bed capacity, which the State has identified as a policy goal for the industry. In order to achieve this goal, the HEAL NY program will support acquisition, construction, reconstruction, equipment, and information technology costs, as well as support functions that are necessary to achieve this goal. 
     
There is no cap on individual grant awards. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis between March 17 and June 2, 2008. 
     
In the last several weeks, DOH and DASNY have also released RGAs for Phases 6 and 7 under the HEAL NY program to support the development of the primary care infrastructure and further capital restructuring, for up to $100 million and $150 million, respectively (see Skyline News, Feb. 4, 2008, for full story).

Status of HEAL NY/F-SHRP Program: The HEAL NY grant programs are being supported by funding authorized under the HEAL NY legislation and funding from the Federal-State Health Reform Partnership (F-SHRP). The total funding available under both HEAL NY and F-SHRP is $2.5 billion, of which approximately $1.2 billion has now been allocated. Awards totaling approximately $844 million have been announced for Phases 1 through 4 of HEAL NY. An additional $386 million is scheduled to be awarded under Phases 5 through 8, which have been released as RGAs but for which no awards have been made as of yet.