Financial Aid Law (FAL)

March 9, 2007

DPACS: 07-07

Dear Chief Executive Officer:

On February 16, 2007, the Department of Health transmitted a letter to all New York State hospitals establishing the criteria to be used to implement financial aid policies and procedures in accordance with Public Health Law Section 2807-k. This letter requested that all hospitals notify the Department by March 2, 2007 of the residency requirements it would use to define its Primary Service Area (PSA). Unfortunately, some hospitals did not respond to the Department´s initial request.

Our records indicate that your hospital has not responded to date. Please submit a letter to the Department as soon as possible but no later than March 16, 2007. The letter must indicate how your hospital will define its primary service area for extending financial assistance. At a minimum, a hospital´s PSA must be the area defined in the Department´s February 16, 2007 letter for each hospital´s county of location. The Department is encouraging hospitals to voluntarily extend its PSA to include not only their Department-designated PSA, but also, additional counties at their discretion or all of New York State.

The letter designating your hospital´s PSA may be submitted by fax at 518-402-1010 or by e-mail at hospinfo@health.state.ny.us. Should you have questions, you may contact Ruth Leslie of my office at 518-402-1003. Thank you for your cooperation in this very important matter.

Sincerely,

Martin J. Conroy
Director
Division of Hospital and Acute Care Services