Two new federal policies tying Medicare reimbursements to quality of care took effect in October 2012. Hospitals are now penalized for excess readmissions. An additional penalty or bonus can be awarded, based on adherence to clinical standards and ratings on patient surveys.
EXECUTIVE BUDGET FOCUS: After years of struggle, NYC Health + Hospitals’ fiscal condition has improved. Part of the elixir has been increased city support. But will this support be able to continue?
For years, some providers of city-funded social services have questioned disparities in the funding of their programs, with wide differences in how much support some groups receive for each participant despite offering a similar set of services.
NYC BY THE NUMBERS: Following an investigation into health care in the city’s jails, in 2015 Mayor de Blasio shifted responsibility for providing health care in the jails from private firms to the city’s public hospital system. Despite a shrinking jail population, the cost of care has increased.
The Economic Development Corporation is required to issue annual reports on the discretionary economic incentive deals it makes with businesses and nonprofit organizations that affect New York City.
IBO has examined the shares of reports to the hotline over several years that came from mandated reporters versus those that came from the general public, such as relatives, neighbors, or anonymous callers.
The city is in the process of spending $8.7b to close Rikers Island & replace it and other jails with new borough-based facilities. But the new jails are not expected be ready until 2026. In the interim, the city needs to spend millions of dollars on major repairs of the jails destined for closure.