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Q&A
Council Member Brannan questions DOHMH on school-based health centers funding and distribution
2:40:47
·
173 sec
Council Member Justin Brannan engages in a Q&A session with DOHMH Acting Commissioner Michelle Morse and CFO Aaron Anderson regarding school-based health centers. They discuss funding, distribution across boroughs, and potential impacts of Medicaid cuts on these centers.
- The discussion reveals that out of 134 school-based health centers, only 35 receive city funding.
- Major nonprofit organizations operating these centers include Mount Sinai, NYP, Montefiore, Northwell, and various FQHCs.
- Concerns are raised about potential Medicaid cuts affecting the centers that rely on insurance reimbursements.
Justin Brannan
2:40:47
In our budget response, we requested $18,000,000 in funding for school based health centers, which would bring the city funding total for the these centers to 25.
2:40:58
Do we know why this request was not granted?
Michelle Morse
2:41:01
Thank you for that question.
2:41:04
I would have to refer you to our colleagues at OMB and City Hall.
Justin Brannan
2:41:11
What are the major nonprofit organizations that are operating school based health centers?
Michelle Morse
2:41:17
For our school based health centers, I'll just start by saying that there are about 200 school based health centers about across about 300 different schools.
2:41:27
There are there is also a nurse in every school except about a 13 schools for very specific reasons.
2:41:34
So we rely very heavily of course on our colleagues that we partner with in school based health clinics.
2:41:41
Many of them are partnered through academic institutions provide a number of different preventive services and things like that.
2:41:49
So to your specific question, I will pass to Aaron Anderson, my chief financial officer.
Aaron Anderson
2:41:56
Thanks for the question and thanks Doctor.
2:41:58
Morris.
2:41:58
Yeah, school based health centers are operated by local medical centers.
2:42:01
So for example Mount Sinai, NYP, Monty, Northwell, as well as FQHCs, Morris Heights, Urban Health Plan, NYU Langone, Sunset Park.
Justin Brannan
2:42:11
And how many school based health centers are in each borough?
Michelle Morse
2:42:16
I don't have the breakdown right now per borough but we can get that to you.
2:42:21
Overall the number is we have a 35 centers across 314 schools.
2:42:30
It serves about a 40,000 students.
2:42:33
And of those a 35 school based health centers, 35 of them are fully city funded.
Justin Brannan
2:42:39
Right.
2:42:40
So there's 134, right, and the other 99 35 out of the 134 receive city funds.
2:42:48
The other 99 do not receive any city funding, right?
Michelle Morse
2:42:51
That is correct.
Justin Brannan
2:42:52
Okay.
2:42:53
So they rely on reimbursement through Medicaid or other insurance?
Michelle Morse
2:42:57
That's my understanding.
2:42:58
Yes.
Justin Brannan
2:42:59
So do we know if any of these threatened Medicaid cuts would affect those centers?
Michelle Morse
2:43:04
Unfortunately, we are extremely concerned that any reductions to Medicaid coverage would result in some changes to revenue that fund some of the school based health centers.
2:43:15
Yes, that's a possibility.
2:43:17
However, most of the Medicaid cuts that have been proposed are imposing things like work requirements, are reducing funding for Medicaid coverage or other types of coverage for people who are immigrants.
2:43:29
We have yet to see anything specifically focused on children's Medicaid.
Aaron Anderson
2:43:35
I would just add that some also get state grants.
2:43:37
So they're not exclusively relying on Medicaid, but that's certainly a concern.