American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Department of Health Grant Award Status as of February 2010

Program (National Total Available) Amount Received Status Next Steps
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
($2 billion)		 $86,811,000 100% awarded by Environmental Protection Agency. Grants awarded by DOH and the Environmental Facilities Corporation to qualifying jurisdictions – that is, eligible on the current Intended Use Plan, but unfunded by the regular federal grant -- 0% ARRA expended. All contracts have been executed and construction started in approximately half of the projects, primarily the Green Innovation Grants.
WIC – Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children
($400 million for benefits to eligible recipients and $100 million for management information systems)
  • $5,468,978 (out of $400 million)
  • $8,224,337 (out of $100 million)
 100% of funds awarded by US Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service for food-related funds. Management Information Systems -- 0% expended. $5.4 million fully spent in June 2009 to pay for food costs for over 106,000 women and children across all counties in New York. Payments aligned with caseloads, with almost 60% going to the five boroughs in New York City. In June, DOH applied for a competitive grant from the funds set aside for management information system; in October, awarded $8.2 million in miscellaneous technology grants to upgrade and enhance the WIC management information system.
Early Intervention (IDEA Part C)
($250 million)		 $26,406,499 100% supplemental funds awarded by US Department of Education: $11,843,344 on April 1, 2009 and $14,563,155 on August 31, 2009 -- 0% expended. Early Intervention (EI) program advised counties of the amounts for administrative funds and asked for their budgets which are now under review. Draft RFP for rate utilization review in process; counties being surveyed to identify service provider shortages for recruitment and retention funds; other initiatives for translation of English documents into other languages, for disaster recovery computer equipment and for other contract and vendor opportunities in draft or review process.
Immunization – Purchase Vaccines
($200 million)		 $5,606,853 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) awarded 100% of supplemental funds for purchasing vaccines -- 0% expended. CDC made a separate award of $3,397,000 to New York City to purchase vaccines for the five boroughs. Counties advised DOH of the types and dosages they will administer, including vaccines for shingles, human papilloma virus infection, pneumonia, and seasonal flu. The last type will be distributed to local health departments first, given the current emphasis on containing the spread of H1N1 and seasonal flu. Since DOH orders these vaccines directly through CDC without State appropriations, a final tally of the value of each county's purchases is being calculated.
Immunization - Competitive Grants
($68 million)		 $4,644,764 CDC awarded two competitive grants: (a) on September 14, 2009 for $800,000 for innovative projects to improve reimbursement in public health departments; and (b) on September 15 for $3,844,764 as supplemental funds to reach more children and adults -- 0% expended.
  1. A job classification for research scientist to oversee project that will assist local health departments to better identify patients who have insurance to reimburse the counties for the costs of immunizations is in development. Utilization review reimbursement methodology to be coordinated with EI ARRA contract. The Department is soliciting proposals for a 16-month contract for an assessment of barriers to implementing a commercial and public insurance reimbursement system for immunizations for New York's local health departments.
  2. Upstate (57) counties advised of supplemental administrative/operation funds; reviewing budgets. Working with EI to jointly fund disaster recovery server for both programs' computerized statewide information systems. Other equipment vendor contracts in procurement process.
State Primary Care Offices
($2 million)		 $54,625 HHS Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded a small grant on September 15, 2009 -- 0% expended. A formula based award to coordinate activities within the State as they relate to the delivery of primary care services and the recruitment and retention of critical health care providers.
Other Prevention and Wellness – Anti-Obesity and Anti-Tobacco
($498 million)		 $6,988,538

CDC announced three grant opportunities: (a) $373 million, Communities Putting Prevention to Work; (b) $125 million, Supplemental Funding for Healthy Communities; and (c) $27 million, Chronic Disease Self Management Program.

Note: Total national Stimulus funds for prevention and wellness initiatives totaled $650 million; CDC has not announced how it intends to make the $125 million balance available.
  1. Only local (county) health departments are eligible with applications due December 1, 2009; small cities and rural areas with populations less than 500,000 must apply through NYS. Although 7-8 counties expressed interest, DOH is limited to submitting up to two each for anti-obesity and anti-tobacco initiatives.
  2. Three components, two of which are supplements to existing cooperative agreements which are under the auspices of HRI. In early February, NYS was awarded for $1.788 million for tobacco quit lines and media programs, and for $2.2 million for anti-obesity; and $3 million to encourage the posting calories on menus, a ban on trans fats, and a decrease in the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
  3. Only the State Office for the Aging is eligible to compete for this award to expand an existing pilot program from three sites to six regions across New York.
Health Information Technology (HIT)
($2 billion)		 $48,899,781 The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for the National Coordinator of HIT announced four grant opportunities: In August, (a) $640 million, Expansion of Regional Centers and (b) $564 million, State Grants to Promote HIT Planning and Implementation. The New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC), the State designated entity, applied for both (a) and (b). In November, (c) $80 million targeted to community colleges to train health care professionals in information technology and to develop associated materials -- 0% awarded. In December (d) the $235 million Beacon Community Cooperative Agreement Program. (ONCHIT has not announced availability of $496 million balance.)
  1. These funds intended to furnish assistance to help providers select and implement certified electronic health technology; grants awarded in two cycles, with applications for the first round due September 8 and $350 million to be awarded. NYS through NYeC was awarded $26.5 million; New York City, through its Fund for Public Health New York, received a separate grant of $21.7 million.
  2. These funds are supplements to existing cooperative agreements. NYS through NYeC was awarded $22.3 million.
  3. Only institutions of higher education are eligible to apply for these competitive grants intended to provide intensive, non-degree training that can be completed in six months or less by individuals with some background in either health care or IT. Participating community colleges must coordinate their efforts through five regional consortia that span the nation. Applications were due January 22, 2010.
  4. Targeted to approximately 15 communities that are already national leaders in the advancement of health IT and that have advanced rates of electronic health record adoption and health information exchange. Applications were due February 1, 2010.
Health Information Technology – Medicare and Medicaid Provider Incentives
($14 billion)		 $5.91 million HHS CMS will not begin to award incentive payments to healthcare providers to implement electronic health records until 2011. Before costs for administering incentives can claimed, NYS must develop a State Medicaid Health Information Technology Plan subject to CMS review and approval. On December 9, 2009, CMS awarded NYS $5.91 million for planning activities to ensure proper incentive payments through audits and to promote interoperability and meaningful use of electronic health records.