NY awards $21.5 million toward health overhaul

PHOTOGRAPHER: The Associated Press

New York’s health department has awarded more than $21.5 million in grants to 43 hospitals, medical centers and health systems to explore redesigning their approaches to patient care to reduce avoidable hospital use and costs.

The funds followed a federal agreement in April for New York to reinvest $8 billion in Medicaid savings to support hospital overhauls and expand primary medical care over five years.

Grants include $1 million to Nassau University Medical Center, Westchester Medical Center, Erie County Medical Center and Finger Lakes Performing Providers System.

Last month, the department awarded $462 million to help 22 hospitals and five large public hospital systems statewide continue key interim services.