The New York State Department of Health (DOH) recently released a request for grant applications (RGA) under Phase 9 of the Healthcare Efficiency and Accountability Law for New Yorkers (HEAL NY) for organizations to conduct projects that support local health planning. Up to $6 million will be awarded through this RGA, with $2 million targeted for New York City and $4 million targeted for the rest of the State. Entities eligible to apply for funding include not-for-profit corporations, local governments, and public benefit corporations. Applications are due on September 17, 2008.
     
Two categories of grants will be awarded. Up to $2 million will be awarded for small projects, of which New York City planning projects will be eligible for up to $700,000 and planning projects in the rest of the State will be eligible for up to $1.3 million. The total award for any individual project in this category will not exceed $200,000. Up to $4 million will be awarded for large projects, of which New York City planning projects will be eligible for up to $1.3 million and planning projects in the rest of the State will be eligible for up to $2.7 million. The total award for any individual project in this category will be more than $200,000 but will not exceed $1 million.
     
Grantees are expected to assess aspects of the local health care environment relevant to the issue or issues to be addressed through the planning process. The community health assessment is expected to be supported by an analysis of objective data and should result in a set of priorities and recommendations concerning the configuration of services and allocation of resources.  The RGA is available at http://www.health.state.ny.us/funding/rfa/0806061239.