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Q&A
Council Member Brannan questions DOHMH on disease prevention funding and recent outbreaks
2:43:43
·
3 min
Council Member Justin Brannan engages in a Q&A session with Acting Commissioner Michelle Morse and CFO Aaron Anderson of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene regarding funding for disease prevention and treatment programs, particularly focusing on tuberculosis and measles. The discussion covers state and federal funding, budget allocations, and recent disease outbreaks.
- The exchange reveals concerns about potential cuts to federal funding for public health programs, including immunization initiatives.
- Questions are raised about the continuation of tuberculosis prevention programs for asylum seekers beyond FY '25.
- Recent measles cases in New York City are discussed, noting they are unrelated to the Texas outbreak and mostly connected to international travel among unvaccinated individuals.
Justin Brannan
2:43:43
The executive plan includes a one time additional state funding of $25,000,000 in FY25 to support tuberculosis prevention program for asylum seekers.
2:43:54
The program is run by H and H and DOHMH.
2:43:57
But since the funding is only added in FY25, '5, what is the city's plan on continuing this program beyond FY '25?
Michelle Morse
2:44:06
Thank you for that question.
2:44:07
We did well, first and foremost, I'll just say that we are looking very closely at tuberculosis.
2:44:13
We do have higher rates of tuberculosis and more cases than we've had in quite some time.
2:44:19
In FY '26, we did receive additional funding, dollars 7,200,000.0 in FY '26 for tuberculosis work and case management specifically, which is an additional 50 FTE, includes an additional 50 FTE.
2:44:36
We expect that those additional funds in FY '26 will allow us to really address many of the needs that we're seeing in tuberculosis across the city.
2:44:45
For your specific question about tuberculosis screening for immigrants and asylum seekers, we're in conversation with our colleagues at DHS and H and H and OMB about what the ongoing needs will be for tuberculosis screening and management.
Justin Brannan
2:45:02
Okay.
2:45:03
So in the executive plan, the FY twenty five budget for the entire disease prevention and treatment program area totals a little over $570,000,000 but it decreases to $286,000,000 in FY twenty six.
2:45:18
Can you explain the difference there?
2:45:20
It's a difference of about $285,000,000
Michelle Morse
2:45:24
For that one I will pass to my chief financial officer.
Justin Brannan
2:45:27
We we just wanna make sure you're fully funded to prevent and combat diseases here in this moment.
Michelle Morse
2:45:33
We appreciate that.
Aaron Anderson
2:45:35
Yeah.
2:45:35
Thanks, chair Brandon.
2:45:36
A lot of the a lot of what you're seeing as and what appear to be reductions are often related to the timing of grant funding, different grant cycles, things that are loaded throughout the fiscal year.
2:45:47
So in many cases that's really the explanation.
Justin Brannan
2:45:52
So most of that is federal funding?
Aaron Anderson
2:45:55
A lot of disease control work is federally funded.
2:45:58
Funded.
2:45:59
Majority of the work is federally funded.
2:45:59
Majority of the work is federally funded.
2:46:02
And those grants are loaded typically year to year throughout the year.
Justin Brannan
2:46:05
So are we assuming that federal funding for measles prevention and treatment is at risk?
Michelle Morse
2:46:11
I can start and I'll have Erin add to my response.
2:46:17
So within the $600,000,000 in federal funding that we have, a large amount of that funding is covering our immunization programs.
2:46:27
So about $40,000,000 of that $600,000,000 is specifically for our immunization programs.
2:46:34
And that includes our childhood immunization programs which includes MMR, which prevents measles.
2:46:43
So it is fully federally funded, that program for immunization.
2:46:50
And because we've seen such clear signals from the federal government that public health and funding through the CDC is not a priority, we are quite concerned that funding for our immunization programs as well as so many other core public health programs could be at risk, particularly when the federal budget comes out in September.
Justin Brannan
2:47:12
Any measles cases connected to the Texas, the outbreak in Texas?
Michelle Morse
2:47:17
We have had cases of measles here in New York City this year, this calendar year, but they are not related to the Texas outbreak.
2:47:25
They are mostly related to international travel and they are a large majority in people who are unvaccinated.