Meetings, Hearings and Special Events

July 2008

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

The Love Canal Community Meeting with Advisory Committee will meet at the Crown Plaza Hotel, 300 Third Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY.

The Public Availability Session will be held on June 30 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. For more information please call 1-800-458-1158 ext. 27530. The meeting is open to the public. If you have questions pertaining to the meeting, please contact Karen Davda or Bettsy Prohonic at 402-7530, or call the toll free number 800-458-1158, ext. 27530.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

The New York State Toxic Mold Task Force will meet from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the New York State Department of Health offices, 217 Broadway, New York, NY.

The Task Force was created by Section 1384 of Chapter 356 of the Laws of 2005. The Task Force is charged with preparing a report to the governor and the legislature that assesses the current body of knowledge on toxic mold, provides the status of toxic mold in the state, and assesses the feasibility of any further actions to be taken by the legislature or state agencies. At this meeting, the Task Force will address housing and code enforcement issues related to mold in buildings and New York City guidelines for mold assessment and remediation. The meeting is open to the public, and a 120-minute public comment period will be included on the meeting agenda for members of the public to address the Task Force. Individual public comments will be limited, depending on the number wishing to comment, but in any event no more than five minutes.

Special security arrangements apply for members of the public wishing to attend this meeting. Prior registration and a photo-ID are required. For further information and to register your attendance, please contact Sarah Brazzell at seb03@health.state.ny.us or (518) 402-7511.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Advisory Board will meet from 10:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at The Century House, Route 9, The Commons Room, Latham, NY.

The Board is advisory to the Commissioner of Health on tobacco use prevention and control issues, including methods to prevent and reduce tobacco use in the State.

Anyone seeking further information, or wishing to attend the meeting, may call Rachel Iverson at (518) 474-1515.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Immunization Advisory Council will meet from 1:00 p.m to 2:30 p.m. at the New York State Nurses Association, 11 Cornell Rd., Latham, NY.

The Council advises the Governor and the NYS Legislature on matters related to immunization of children, adolescents and adults.

Advance notice and pre-registration are not required to attend the meeting

Friday, July 11, 2008

The Public Health Council meets at 10:00 a.m. at the New York State Department of Health offices at 90 Church Street, 4th Floor, Rooms 4E03 & 4E04, New York City.

For security purposes, anyone wishing to attend the meeting must call Ms. Colleen Frost's office at (518) 474-8009 to have their name placed on a list of attendees. For entry to the building, meeting attendees additionally must present a photo ID to the security personnel. You may contact Ms. Frost for additional information.

Friday, July 11, 2008

The Spinal Cord Injury Research Board will hold a Regular Business Meeting from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center Biggs Laboratory, Sturman Conference Room, Empire State Plaza, Albany.

A videoconferencing site will be available at:

  • Stony Brook: State University of New York at Stony Brook Health Sciences Center, Level 2, Room 2B, Nicholls Road, Stony Brook, NY.

The Board solicits, receives and reviews applications for awards from the Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust Fund.

To attend the meeting, please provide Ms. Mary Thatcher with advance notification by Wednesday July 2, 2008. She can be reached at (518) 474-7002 or via email at met03@health.state.ny.us. A photo ID and pre-registration will be required to gain access to the meeting. Space is limited.

A webcast of the meeting may be viewed at: http://www.nyhealth.gov/events/webcasts/.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

The Establishment Committee of the Public Health Council HAS BEEN CANCELLED; New York State Department of Health, 90 Church Street, floor 4, Meeting Rooms 4E03 & 4E04, NYC, NY.

The Establishment Committee of the Public Health Council regularly meets prior to the full Public Health Council meeting to review and provide recommendations on:

  1. Certificate of Need applications for the establishment or establishment and construction of new health care facilities,
  2. Certificates and Amendments to Certificates of Incorporation; and,
  3. Applications for Licensed Home Health Agencies.

The Committee also deliberates on issues related to the delivery of care in health facilities (including freestanding ambulatory surgery (ASC) and end stage renal dialysis (ESRD) facilities) and reviews position papers governing the need for, and extent of services, provided.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Please provide public notice for the next meeting of the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Panel. The meeting is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The location will be OGS Meeting Room 1, Concourse, ESP, Albany, NY.

The topics of discussion will include: quarterly review of the fiscal agent contract, Mandatory Generic Program implementation, Medicare Savings Program initiatives, Medicare Savings Program enrollments and dispensing limit exception.

If you have any questions regarding this meeting, please contact Deborah Vitale at (518) 452-6828.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

The Department of Health's State Hospital Review and Planning Council and Public Health Council will be soliciting public comment in conjunction with two upcoming SHRPC Planning Committee meetings from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., located in Meeting Room #6, Concourse Level, Albany.

The other meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 18, 2008 immediately following the SHRPC committee meetings, located in Meeting Rooms 4E03 and 4E04, 4th Floor, 90 Church Street, New York, NY.

The Department is undertaking a comprehensive review of the CON process in an effort to identify changes that may be needed to ensure that the CON process accomplishes its intended objective - the development of a high-quality, accessible and cost-effective health care delivery system. The Department's staff has been meeting with stakeholders representing all industry sectors and consumer groups in order to solicit their views. In particular, DOH is focusing on the migration of services from inpatient settings to ambulatory settings and on local planning needs and models.

If you would like to attend either or both of the meetings, please contact Tracy Howe at (518) 402-0964 by COB the day before the meeting dates listed above to be placed on the security list.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

The Committees of the State Hospital Review and Planning Council will meet on July 24, 2008, in meeting room 2, Concourse, Empire State Plaza, Albany. The following is a list of Committees and meeting times:

  • The Project Review Committee will meet Thursday, July 24, at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The purpose of this Committee is to review Certificate of Need applications involving construction, service changes or establishments. A recommendation from the Project Review Committee will be presented to the State Hospital Review and Planning Council on Thursday, August 7, 2008. Anyone seeking further information, or wishing to speak may phone Julia Richards at (518) 402-0964.
  • The Fiscal Policy Committee will meet Thursday, July 24, at 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The purpose of this Committee is to review proposed changes to Part 86 of the State Hospital Code concerning medical facility rates of reimbursement. Anyone seeking further information on this Committee may phone John Shahda at (518) 474-1673.
  • The Major Medical Equipment and Appropriateness Review Committee (MME&RC) has been CANCELLED but will forward one stroke center for designation to the Full Council. The purpose of this Committee is to develop and review appropriateness standards (Part 708) for various services. The Committee evaluates high technology equipment and advises the Council on such specialized services as organ transplants. Anyone seeking further information on this Committee may phone John Milliren at (518) 402-0935.
  • The Codes and Regulations Committee has been CANCELLED. The purpose of this committee is to review new or revised regulations relating to medical facility operational and structural standards, including quality of care and the need for the facilities and/or service. Anyone seeking further information on this Committee may phone Sandra Haff at (518) 402-1008.

* Be sure to have photo identification if parking in the Empire State Plaza parking garage.

Friday, July 25, 2008

The Minority Health Council will meet on July 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the New York State Department of Health offices, 90 Church Street, 4th Floor, Meeting Room 4C, New York, New York.

Please be advised, for security purposes, anyone wishing to attend the meeting must contact Ms. Addario at (518) 474-2180 or via email at dma01@health.state.ny.us by July 18 to have their name placed on a list of attendees. For entry to the building, meeting attendees additionally must present a photo ID to the security personnel. You may contact Ms. Addario for additional information

September 2008

Friday, September 19, 2008

The Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant Advisory (MCHSBG) Council meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the Binghamton State Office Building, 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY.

The Council serves in an advisory capacity to the Department in the administration of funds under Title V of the Social Security Act, also known as the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant and assists the Department to fulfill Title V requirements for public input. New York's Title V program employs strategies to identify the need for various levels and types of services for pregnant women, mothers, infants and children, including children with special health care needs.

To register for the public comment period, send an email to Ms. Jayne Keneston by Friday, September 5, 2008. Ms. Keneston can be reached at (518) 473-4441 or at jxk14@health.state.ny.us. Oral comments may not exceed 10 minutes and should be accompanied by two written summaries of the comments. Written testimony by persons unable to attend is also welcome and will be read into the record. All testimony (oral or written) should begin with the individual's name, affiliation (if applicable), and city/town of residence and be submitted to jxk14@health.state.ny.us or faxed to (518) 473-2015 no later than Friday, September 12, 2008.

Persons wishing to attend in person should contact Jayne Keneston at(518) 473-4441 or via email at jxk14@health.state.ny.us. A photo identification and pre-registration are required to gain access to the meeting.

This meeting will also be webcast. To view this webcast, go to http://www.nyhealth.gov/events/webcasts/ and click on the link to this meeting.

For more information, please call Cathy Tucci-Catalfamo at 518-473-9883.