Rajendra K. Agrawal

The Public Health Committee meeting focused primarily on the Prevention Agenda, including an overview of the organizational structure changes within the Department of Health, specifically the transformation of the Office of Public Health Practice into the Division of Public Health Infrastructure, where the Office of Local Health Services is now situated. Key discussions included the status of the State Health Assessment (SHA), which was posted in October 2025, and the progress of local Community Health Assessments and Community Health Improvement Plans (CHAS and CHIPS), noting a decrease in joint plans between local health departments and hospitals compared to the previous cycle. Significant time was dedicated to addressing the alignment and semantics of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) as used in public health versus clinical/Medicaid contexts, and the perceived lack of tangible benefits from PHAB accreditation for local health departments. Furthermore, members raised concerns about the lack of integration and differing planning timelines between the Department of Health and other state agencies such as the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and OASIS, particularly concerning mental health services and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Future plans include a project to study local health department and hospital partnerships and updates on interagency collaboration.

The Health Planning Committee reviewed a report concerning Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) in Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), which involved three stages: literature review, inviting expert presentations, and report development. Key recommendations discussed for Phase One included limiting participation to hospital-affiliated or owned ASCs with existing cardiac surgery programs, requiring Certificate of Need (CON) approval, and ensuring inclusion of Medicaid and low-income individuals. Committee members provided several comments and proposed amendments to the report regarding issues such as the potential exacerbation of nursing shortages by ASCs, clarifying that lack of home support services should not be an access barrier, and specifying the authority responsible for advancing the program to subsequent phases (ultimately determined to be the Department of Health in collaboration with the Cardiac Advisory Committee). The committee also agreed to remove the subjective term "relevant" when describing the required consumer patient education program.

The meeting focused on the reorganization within the New York State Department of Health, specifically addressing the transformation of Public Health Practice into Public Health Infrastructure. Key discussions included the creation of a new Division of Public Health Infrastructure, which encompasses units such as Office of Public Health Practice, Health, Wealth, & Well-being Unit, and the Office of Local Health Services. The presentation detailed the State Health Assessment (SHA) process, its findings, which highlighted aging population concerns, declines in life expectancy due to COVID-19 and the opioid crisis, chronic disease burdens, and significant disparities in health outcomes. Implementation activities for both local/regional and state levels concerning the 2025-2030 Prevention Agenda were outlined. State implementation activities involved aligning planning efforts and utilizing Community Benefit Spending. Local planning updates showed submission rates for Community Health Assessments (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP). Furthermore, the meeting addressed the status of the Office of Health Equity and Human Rights (OHEHR) Interagency Taskforce, noting its transition to the Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council/Committee, and discussed the development of general informational tools, such as a Prevention Agenda 101 modular training.

The agenda for the Public Health and Health Planning Council meeting on February 19, 2026, included reports from the Department of Health Activities, including updates on health literacy efforts and the congenital syphilis elimination framework. The meeting covered Public Health Services via the Public Health Committee report, focusing on implementing the prevention agenda and aligning hospital community health improvement reporting. The Health Policy segment included deliberations by the Health Planning Committee on moving cardiac catheterization and PCI procedures to ambulatory settings, recommending a phased approach prioritizing safety. The Committee on Codes, Regulations and Legislation presented items for information (Children's Camps amendment) and adoption (Cybersecurity Requirements for Public Water Systems). The Committee on Establishment and Project Review detailed numerous recommendations for project review, covering construction and establishment applications across various facility categories, including acute care, ambulatory surgery centers, diagnostic and treatment centers, and home care service agencies.

The Committee on Codes, Regulations and Legislation discussed two items. The first item, presented for information, concerned certificates of qualification for clinical laboratory directors (24-15), involving the repeal of Part 19 and the addition of Subpart 58.6 to Title 10 of NYCRR. This change aligns state regulations with federal requirements, particularly regarding the board certification of doctoral degree holders who serve as clinical laboratory directors, establishing a pathway for existing non-certified directors to serve as technical directors. The second item, presented for adoption, was the regulation for cybersecurity requirements for public water systems (25-09), adding Appendix 5-E to Subpart 5-1 Title 10 NYCRR. Key requirements include establishing cybersecurity programs, conducting vulnerability analyses, training staff, and incident reporting protocols. Changes made in response to public comment included clarifying reporting thresholds and revising designation requirements for leadership in large systems.