FAMILY HEALTH NETWORK OF CENTRAL NEW YORK, INC.

Cortland County, where ten of eleven Family Health Network of Central New York, Inc. (FHN) health centers are located, continues to have a higher unemployment rate than contiguous counties (currently over 10%, up from 7.1% one year ago). In Cayuga County (Moravia Health Center) the unemployment rate is 9.0%, up from 6.1% one year ago, and doubled from 4.7% two years ago (NYS Dept of Labor, March 2009). A poor Central New York economy has reduced health insurance coverage even among those who remain employed. Many employers are ceasing to offer health insurance in order to cut costs in the face of falling profits, or are reducing their contributions and shifting health insurance costs to employees, causing some of these workers to decline coverage. In addition, previously full-time workers may be shifted to part-time jobs that no longer qualify for health insurance benefits. Based upon these statistics, the area FHN serves needs a local community health center that offers comprehensive health services for the whole family regardless of patient?s ability to pay. For FHN to continue as the refuge the community depends on for health care (FHN is only FQHC in the area offering sliding fee) we need to be able to retain and/or replace our medical staff, and avoid the loss of providers to private, more lucrative practices. In February 2009, a family practice obstetrical physician left FHN to join a local private practice after 24 years of service. It was subsequently determined by the Board of Directors that due to decreased and delayed funding from the State of New York, coupled with the anticipated shift in payor mix toward the uninsured due to the economy, FHN would be unable to financially support replacing this position in 2009; it was deleted. The nursing position tied to that physician has also been deleted for 2009. FHN has determined that with IDS funding, we will be able to recreate these positions and address the increase in demand for our services. Implementation of the additional 1.0 FTE physician (and associated 1.0 FTE nurse) will include: Primary placement of the physician and nurse in Marathon, NY. FHN serves as the only health care provider to this rural community, where they have had greater than 30 layoffs at one of the local machine businesses alone. FHN?s Facilitated Enroller will hold regular office hours at the Marathon Health Center to help complete Presumptive Eligibility paperwork, facilitate enrollment in Child and/or Family Health Plus or Managed Medicaid Programs, and/or help complete a sliding fee application. FHN will expand their 340B discount prescription drug program in the Marathon Health Center providing qualifying patients with a discounted rate on prescriptions and other miscellaneous health related items. With an Alternative Methods Demonstration Program application pending, FHN will be able to expand our discount program beyond the one pharmacy in Marathon. FHN?s Occupational Health Program will proactively contact all local businesses experiencing layoffs to educate their managers and employees on the essential services FHN provides regardless of their ability to pay. Finally, the additional revenue generated will help support an electronic health records implementation improving connectivity to the local hospital increasing the overall quality of care.

Clarification of Codes