THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234 TO: The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents FROM: Frank Muñoz SUBJECT: Designation of Regents Physician Shortage Areas (RPSAs) DATE: January 24, 2011 AUTHORIZATION(S): Summary Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda) Should the Board of Regents approve the updates to the list of Regents Physician Shortage Areas as recommended by the Department of Health? Reason(s) for Consideration Required by Chapter 576 of the Laws of 1975 and Section 605 of the Education Law. Proposed Handling This item will come before the full Board at its February 2011 meeting where it will be voted on and action taken. Procedural History The Department of Health annually recommends updates to the list of Regents physician shortage areas. These updates include modifications to the following: Health Professions Shortage Areas (HPSAs) – Primary Care Shortage Areas, Facility Physician Shortage Areas, State Facility Shortage Areas, and Mental Health Professions Shortage Areas. Background Information In 1987, the Board of Regents approved a system for identifying and designating areas of physician shortage. In September 1995, the Board made a decision to update the shortage area list once a year. In addition, at its September 1997 meeting, the Board of Regents modified the system by adding a category of Mental Health Professions Shortage Areas, along with the following categories of shortage areas: Health Professions Shortage Areas (HPSA) Federal Health Professions Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are used by the Federal government to identify areas of primary care physician shortages. The Federal government requires that all HPSA designations be updated every three years using the HPSA criteria. The basic eligibility criterion is the physician-to-population ratio; in addition, infant mortality, physician availability in contiguous areas, and other factors are also considered. The NYS Department of Health reviews and comments on all requests for Federal HPSA designation. County Non-Primary Care Specialty Shortage Areas Counties where less than one-third of the recommended number of specialists in the 15 most common specialties are available. Hospital Non-Primary Care Specialty Shortage Areas Hospitals are designated as RPSAs for non-primary care specialties as approved by the Board of Regents in 1987. In order to receive credit toward fulfillment of a service obligation, non-primary care specialists are required to devote at least 50 percent of their practice to Medicaid recipients and/or the uninsured. The most recent data available on percentages of Medicaid and self-pay days are used to identify hospitals where service-obligated specialists may fulfill this obligation. State Facility Physician Shortage Areas Facilities operated by the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, the Office of Mental Health, and the Department of Correctional Services are identified. Facilities Providing Services to Special Populations Shortage Areas Facilities are designated as serving special populations identified by the Regents as experiencing special barriers to health care. Mental Health Professions Shortage Areas Mental Health Professions Shortage Areas are counties identified as having less than one-third of the recommended number of mental health professionals and specific areas and facilities designated by the federal government. The Department of Health is now recommending updates to the list of Regents physician shortage areas approved in November 2009. Attachment 1 consists of recommended amendments to the various categories of shortage areas. Recommendation The Regents should approve the changes in the lists of designated physician shortage areas described in Attachment 1 with an effective date of January 1, 2011. Timetable for Implementation The changes to the list of designated physician shortage areas will be effective January 1, 2011. REGENTS DESIGNATED PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE AREAS In NEW YORK STATE The University of the State of New York THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT Office of K-16 Initiatives and Access Programs Scholarships and Grants Administration Unit Room 967, Education Building Addition Albany, NY 12234 Effective January 1, 2011 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK Regents of The University MERRYL H. TISCH, Chancellor, B.A., M.A., Ed.D. ......................................................... New York MILTON L. COFIELD, Vice Chancellor, B.S., M.B.A., Ph.D. ........................................... Rochester ROBERT M. BENNETT, Chancellor Emeritus, B.A., M.S. ................................................. Tonawanda JAMES C. DAWSON, A.A., B.A., M.S., Ph.D. ................................................................. Plattsburgh ANTHONY S. BOTTAR, B.A., J.D. .................................................................................... Syracuse GERALDINE D. CHAPEY, B.A., M.A., Ed.D. ................................................................... Belle Harbor HARRY PHILLIPS, 3rd, B.A., M.S.F.S. ............................................................................. Hartsdale JAMES R. TALLON, JR., B.A., M.A. ................................................................................. Binghamton ROGER TILLES, B.A., J.D................................................................................................... Great Neck KAREN BROOKS HOPKINS, B.A., M.F.A.......................................................................... Brooklyn CHARLES R. BENDIT, B.A. ............................................................................................... Manhattan BETTY A. ROSA, B.A., M.S. in Ed., M.S. in Ed., M.Ed., Ed.D. ..................................... Bronx LESTER W. YOUNG, JR., B.S., M.S., Ed. D. ....................................................................... Oakland Gardens CHRISTINE D. CEA, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. ............................................................................ Staten Island WADE S. NORWOOD, B.A. ............................................................................................... Rochester Commissioner of Education President of The University of the State of New York DAVID M. STEINER Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs ERIN O’GRADY-PARENT Chief Operating Officer VALERIE GREY Deputy Commissioner for Higher Education JOSEPH P. FREY Executive Coordinator, Office of K-16 Initiatives and Access Programs STANLEY S. HANSEN, JR. Supervisor, Scholarships and Grants Administration LEWIS J. HALL The State Education Department does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race, gender, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, services and activities. Portions of this publication can be made available in a variety of formats, including braille, large print or audio tape, upon request. Inquiries concerning this policy of nondiscrimination should be directed to the Department’s Office for Diversity, Ethics, and Access, Room 530, Education Building, Albany, NY 12234. Requests for additional copies of this publication may be made by contacting the Publications Sales Desk, Room 309, Education Building, Albany, NY 12234. Regents - Designated Physician Shortage Areas (RPSA's) Table of Contents Page General Information regarding the Regents-Designated Service Shortage Areas, Counties, and Census Tracts in New York State ............................................................... 1 Primary Care Regents Physician Shortage Areas by County............................................ 3 Facilities Eligible for Primary Care and Psychiatry Shortage Area Designation by County .......................................................................................................................... 17 New York State Operated Facilities Designated as Regents Physician Shortage Areas for Primary Care Physicians and Psychiatrists ...................................................... 22 Other Facilities Eligible for Primary Care Shortage Area Designation Only, by County ..........................25 Additional Facilities Designated as Primary and Non-Primary Care Shortage Areas for Service to a Special Population................................................................................... 27 Non-Primary Care Shortage Areas by County ................................................................. 28 Hospitals Eligible for Primary Care and Non-Primary Care Shortage Area Designation ....................................................................................................................... 31 Mental Health Regents Physician Shortage Areas .......................................................... 36 GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING REGENTS-DESIGNATED SERVICE SHORTAGE AREAS (RPSAs), COUNTIES, AND CENSUS TRACTS IN NEW YORK STATE How to use the Regents Physician Shortage Area (RPSA) Listing Primary Care Regents Physician Shortage Areas by County: This section, one of several within the book applicable for primary care physicians, is applicable to primary care physicians only, and lists shortage areas by Service Area and Population Group within the indicated county. Examples: To be eligible for any program for which Regents shortage areas pertain: 1. A primary care physician working in Bronx County (Borough) and practicing in the Morris Heights area would have to be working in a census tract (C.T.) (e.g., 53.02, 235.01, 237.01, etc.) listed