Dive Brief:
- New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Monday awards totaling $6,081,700 to help 122 behavioral healthcare providers offering children services upgrade their IT infrastructure.
- The selected providers will be under the jurisdiction of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and the Office of Mental Health.
- Governor Cuomo hopes the improved health IT systems will enable doctors to provide higher quality care at lower costs.
Dive Insight:
The awards will also be used to improve care coordination and health information exchange, especially under the new Managed Care program, where the primary care physician coordinates the patient's care with the plan directly paying the physician and eliminating out-of-pocket expenses.
This is not the governor's first financial boost to behavioral health. In March, Gov. Cuomo awarded $10 million to 235 non-profit behavioral health and developmental disability service providers to upgrade their technological infrastructure.
He expects enhanced health IT systems will improve communications with primary care physicians for better patient care.
Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner said in a press release the funding will help providers transition to managed care without interrupting services.
More health IT awards are expected to be provided in the upcoming fiscal year, according to the governor's announcement.