Priority Areas

Reducing the Number of Uninsured

Approximately 2.6 million New Yorkers are uninsured. Federal health reform establishes a framework for near-universal coverage over the next decade. Its provisions provide historic and substantial opportunities to make affordable health insurance coverage a reality for New Yorkers. As many as 1.2 million New Yorkers are projected to become newly insured once Federal reform provisions are fully phased-in. The ultimate number who become insured, however, rests largely on how well Federal reform is implemented in New York State.

Improving Diabetes Prevention and Management

Nearly 1.8 million New Yorkers—almost 10% of the State’s population—have diabetes, a chronic condition that exacts an enormous human and financial toll, affecting individuals’ health but also health care institutions, health plans, and the State’s budget. The prevalence of diabetes has doubled in the last 16 years and affects racial and ethnic minorities disproportionately. NYSHealth is committed to reversing the diabetes epidemic by improving clinical care; mobilizing communities to identify, prevent, and manage diabetes; and promoting policies to sustain a comprehensive, coordinated care system for patients with diabetes and to enable communities to promote prevention strategies.

Integrating Mental Health/Substance Use Services

Nearly 1.4 million people in New York State suffer from co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders; however, individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders rarely receive services that effectively address both of these issues. For years, the mental health and substance use systems of care have operated separately, and regulatory and financial barriers have restricted integration of these services. Not surprisingly, poor health outcomes are associated with co-occurring disorders in the absence of integrated care and individuals with co-occurring disorders are at higher risk for other serious medical problems, homelessness, violence, social isolation, and early death. As a component of this priority area, NYSHealth has identified returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans and their families as a high-need, sub-population whose broad mental health needs are not being met.