Makes an appropriation to reimburse St. John's Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway for costs incurred as a result of remaining open and providing services to the community during and after Hurricane Sandy.
Summary
This bill makes a one-time appropriation of $4,330,000 from the state general fund to reimburse St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, Queens for costs it says were incurred because the hospital remained open and continued serving the community during and after Hurricane Sandy. The legislative findings describe the hospital as having provided emergency and support services during the storm period from October 29 to November 3, 2012, including uncompensated care, shelter, meals, clothing, staffing, overtime, generator operation, fuel, and electrical technician services.
The appropriation is directed to be paid to the hospital on the comptroller’s audit and warrant upon proper certification or approval, and the act would take effect immediately. The bill does not amend the Public Health Law or other regulatory provisions; instead, it creates a specific state spending item for a named institution to cover storm-related losses and extraordinary operating expenses.
Impact
The bill would have a direct fiscal impact by authorizing a $4.33 million payment from the state treasury’s general fund, state purposes account, to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital. It does not change statewide eligibility rules, reimbursement standards, or emergency-response statutes; rather, it functions as a targeted appropriation for a single hospital based on its role during Hurricane Sandy. The practical effect is to recognize and partially offset extraordinary costs associated with disaster response and continuity of care for patients and displaced residents.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee transcripts or votes, the available context suggests a generally supportive or remedial posture toward the hospital’s efforts during Hurricane Sandy. The findings frame the hospital’s actions as community service under emergency conditions, which typically signals legislative sympathy for reimbursement. There is no recorded opposition in the provided materials, but the bill’s narrow, retrospective appropriation nature may invite scrutiny over state spending priorities.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the use of state funds to reimburse a single private nonprofit hospital for costs tied to a past disaster, rather than creating a broader program or statewide reimbursement mechanism. Questions could arise about the size of the appropriation, whether all claimed expenses are properly attributable to Hurricane Sandy response, and whether the hospital’s uncompensated care and operational losses should be covered by the state. No specific opposing arguments or named dissenters appear in the provided record.
Establishes a 14 member doula Medicaid reimbursement work group within the department of health to set reimbursement rates for doulas in the state Medicaid program and address other criteria related to their practice; requires the work group to conduct a study and evaluate the costs, benefits and issues that may be associated with Medicaid reimbursement for doulas and for providing doula care to Medicaid recipients; makes related provisions.