Keaton PetersWith the help of state funds, one of New York City’s boroughs is about to get better access to healthcare. New York State is investing up to $142 million in a partnership between St. Barnabas Hospital Health System and two healthcare organizations to transform healthcare in the Bronx. The preliminary approval will support collaboration between the safety-net hospital, Cityblock Health, and Union Community Health Center to upgrade emergency services and expand access to behavioral healthcare.
The funding comes through New York’s Healthcare Safety Net Transformation Program, established in the FY25 Enacted Budget to incentivize partnerships between safety-net hospitals, which provide care regardless of if an individual has insurance, and healthcare organizations. The program looks to improve the resilience of safety-net institutions by providing strategic capital and operating support, along with regulatory flexibility.
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In underserved communities, safety-net hospitals provide essential services regardless of patients’ ability to pay. The high cost can make traditional insurance unattainable for some. New York’s partnership will fill a crucial gap and ensure that even those who cannot afford insurance have access to medical care when they need it.
“The emergency department is often our front door where we treat our neighbors in their most dire times,” said St. Barnabas Hospital Health System President and CEO Dr. David Perlstein. “Transforming this space will help us serve more patients and serve them in a more dignified manner.”
A significant portion of the funding will support upgrading St. Barnabas Hospital’s emergency department, which currently handles 75,000 visits annually in a space designed for only 55,000. The partnership will also work to improve health outcomes and reduce unnecessary emergency department visits by launching a behavioral health program to manage the complex health needs of approximately 35,000 Healthfirst members.
The investment package also includes $45 million for home-based and community-based services for older adults statewide, representing the largest investment in community-based elder care services in New York State history. This funding is meant to help older adults age in their preferred environment and provide resources for families and caregivers.
The initiative complements New York’s ongoing work to develop the Governor’s Master Plan for Aging, established in November 2022 under Executive Order 23. The plan focuses on improving the lives of older New Yorkers and people with disabilities while building a more inclusive healthcare system.
The partnership will be implemented once final regulatory approvals are secured. Upgrades to the emergency department and new healthcare programs are expected to greatly improve access to care and health outcomes in the Bronx, where St. Barnabas has long served as a vital safety-net provider.
Photo courtesy Hugo L. González, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
