A09901 Summary

• Establishes a five-year Rural Health Zone Pilot Program with zones in Orange/Sullivan/Ulster counties; Orleans/Genesee/Wyoming counties and contiguous areas; Cortland/Tompkins counties; and a fourth zone to be designated by the governor and legislative leaders within 30 days of enactment.

• Creates a rural health zone board for each zone comprised of at least eight members including county public health commissioners, state department representatives, and appointees from the governor, senate president, assembly speaker, and minority leaders representing business, health systems, healthcare financing, or the public.

• Authorizes each board to establish grants, contracts, loans, tax credits, and abatements to support healthcare delivery and infrastructure, and to evaluate implementing global medical budgets for safety net providers with recommendations due to the commissioner within two years.

• Grants the commissioner authority to waive, modify, or suspend state regulatory provisions necessary for pilot program implementation and directs application for federal funding through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center under Section 1115-A.

• Exempts rural health zone planning and implementation activities from state competitive bidding and antitrust law requirements, and requires annual public reporting on program progress using uniform data measurement tools.