[Derived from Charter Sec. 903]
In the performance of his functions, the Commissioner of Health
Services shall have, in addition to such others as may be conferred
upon him from time to time by law, the power and duty:
A.
To prepare and transmit the budget estimates of the Department as
prescribed by law.
B.
To supervise the execution and management of all programs, activities
and expenditures of the Department.
C.
To submit annually to the appropriate state departments, for their
approval and subsequent state aid, reports of long-range goals and
specific intermediate-range plans as modified since any preceding
report, along with a comprehensive proposal for expenditures for services
for the next fiscal year, which shall include sums to be expended
by the County unit and by voluntary agencies pursuant to contract
with such County unit.
[Derived from Charter Sec. 904; amended 10-9-1973 by L.L. No.
25-1973; 3-26-1974 by L.L. No. 12-1974; 3-26-1974 by L.L. No.
13-1974; 3-26-1974 by L.L. No. 14-1974; 9-23-1975 by L.L. No.
21-1975; 6-7-1977 by L.L. No. 24-1977; 9-6-1977 by L.L. No.
36-1977; 3-28-1978 by L.L. No. 5-1978; 9-26-1978 by L.L. No.
16-1978; 5-13-1980 by L.L. No. 15-1980; 11-12-1980 by L.L. No.
27-1980; 8-18-1992 by L.L. No. 16-1992]
The Department shall have the following divisions, which shall
have the powers and duties enumerated herein:
A.
Division of Public Health.
(1)
There shall be a Division of Public Health, the head of which shall
be the Director of Public Health. He shall be appointed by the Commissioner
with the approval of the County Executive and shall either be a physician
licensed to practice medicine in the State of New York or have a doctorate
in public health.
(2)
The Division shall have jurisdiction and responsibility for the public
health of the people of Suffolk County. The Division shall be responsible
for disease control functions, including, but not limited to:
B.
Division of Patient Care Services.
[Amended 2-24-1981 by L.L. No. 10-1981]
(1)
There shall be a Division of Patient Care Services, the head of which
shall be the Director of Patient Care Services. He shall be appointed
by the Commissioner with the approval of the County Executive and
shall either be a physician licensed to practice medicine in the State
of New York or a dentist licensed to practice dentistry in the State
of New York.
(2)
The Division shall maintain and operate all medical ambulatory patient-care
clinics under the jurisdiction of the Department for the care of the
sick, injured, aged or other infirm persons.
(3)
The Division shall maintain and operate all public nursing homes
and health-related facilities for the care of the sick, injured, aged
or other infirm persons as shall be authorized by the County Legislature.
C.
Division of Community Mental Hygiene Services. There shall be a Division
of Community Mental Hygiene Services, the head of which shall be the
Director of Community Mental Hygiene Services. The Director shall
be appointed by the Commissioner with the approval of the County Executive
and shall meet such minimum qualifications of education and experience
and other standards set by the New York State Commissioner of Health.
The Division of Community Mental Hygiene Services shall be made up
of two subdivisions: Community Mental Health Services and Alcohol
and Substance Abuse Services.
[Amended 6-29-1999 by L.L. No. 27-1999]
(1)
Subdivision of Community Mental Health Services. There shall be a
subdivision of Mental Hygiene Services known as the "Subdivision of
Community Mental Health Services," the head of which shall be the
Deputy Director of Mental Health Services. The Subdivision of Mental
Health Services shall have the following functions, powers and duties:
(a)
Review community services and facilities and their relationship
to need; determine County needs of the mentally disabled; and encourage
programs for the prevention, diagnosis, care, treatment, social and
vocational rehabilitation, special education and training, consultation
and public education on mental disabilities.
(b)
Develop the community program of community services, establish
long-range goals of the County in its programs for the mentally disabled
and develop intermediate-range plans and forecasts, listing personnel
and estimated cost.
(c)
Seek to assure that under the goals and plans required pursuant
to this subsection all population groups are adequately covered, that
sufficient services are available for all the mentally disabled within
its purview, that there is coordination and cooperation among local
providers of services, that the County program is also integrated
and coordinated with the services and facilities of the State Department
of Mental Hygiene and that there is continuity of care among all providers
of services.
(d)
Establish procedures for execution of the program of community
services as approved by the County Legislature and the State Department
of Mental Hygiene, including regulations to guide the provision of
services by all organizations and individuals within its program.
(e)
Make policy for and exercise general supervisory authority over
or administer community services and facilities provided or supervised
by it, whether directly or through agreements, including responsibility
for the proper performance of the services provided by other governmental
facilities, voluntary and private facilities and individual facilities
which have been incorporated into its comprehensive program, and exercise
general supervisory authority over the care and treatment of patients
in services or facilities provided or supervised by it or incorporated
in its comprehensive programs.
(f)
Further programs for special education and training, including
career incentive and manpower and development.
(g)
Have the power to conduct or contract for such research as may
be useful for the discharge of its administrative duties and for the
promotion of scientific knowledge of the mental disabilities.
(h)
Serve as a center for the promotion of community and public
understanding of mental disabilities and of the services necessary
for their care and treatment.
(i)
Seek the cooperation of and cooperate with other public health
and social services agencies, public and private, in advancing the
program of community services.
(2)
Subdivision of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services. There shall
be a Subdivision of Mental Hygiene Services known as the "Subdivision
of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services," the head of which shall
be the Deputy Director of Alcohol and Substance Abuse. The Subdivision
of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services shall have the following functions,
powers and duties:
(a)
To coordinate and assist in the activities in the County related
to the treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse.
(b)
To create a referral program whereby alcohol and drug abusers,
addicts and persons and agencies concerned with their treatment will
make use of available treatment facilities.
(c)
To encourage and, when so requested, assist cooperative efforts
among local community board organizations and state agencies in developing
solutions to the alcohol and drug problem.
(d)
To provide treatment services, including activities, to regular
drug abusers or addicts, which are focused on the individual whose
contact with the Division is planned on a regular, ongoing basis other
than formal classroom contact, and shall establish and operate directly
or by contract treatment services adapted to the needs of regular
drug abusers and addicts. Such programs shall include but not be limited
to medical detoxification, methadone maintenance programs, group therapy
and counseling provided on an outpatient or ambulatory basis.
(e)
To assist community board organizations of towns or villages,
located within the County in the development of preventive educational
programs.
(f)
To establish youth centers to provide individual and group therapy
and develop constructive work habits.
(g)
To establish and operate, directly or by contract, alcoholism
treatment and rehabilitation programs.
(h)
To provide consultation, coordination and assistance to other
private and governmental departments and agencies engaged in alcohol
and drug abuse prevention and treatment activities within Suffolk
County.
(i)
Such other functions, powers and duties as may be assigned by
the County Executive or delegated by the County Legislature.
(j)
The Director shall submit a monthly report to the Alcohol and
Substance Abuse Subcommittee of the Community Mental Hygiene Advisory
Board.
D.
[1]Division of Employee Health Services. There shall be a
Division of Employee Health Services. The Division shall provide health
services to other County departments with respect to preemployment
physicals, workers' compensation physicals and evaluations and such
other medical services as designated by the Commissioner of Health
Services, the County Executive or the County Legislature.
[Amended 9-15-2011 by L.L. No. 48-2011]
E.
[2]Division of Environmental Quality. There shall be a Division
of Environmental Quality, the head of which shall be the Director
of Environmental Quality. He shall be appointed by the Commissioner
and shall be a professional engineer licensed to practice professional
engineering in the State of New York and shall meet such minimum qualifications
of education and experience as set forth by the New York State Public
Health Council. The Division shall be responsible for the environmental
health of the people of Suffolk County, including, but not limited
to:
[Amended 8-12-1986 by L.L. No. 26-1986]
(1)
Pollution control (both water and air).
(2)
Waste management (solid or liquid), including the testing and monitoring
of sewage disposal systems.
(3)
Pollution prevention and abatement.
(4)
Comprehensive planning for sewage disposal facilities.
(5)
Water supply planning and management.
(6)
Fresh and marine water monitoring and control.
(7)
Monitoring and protecting the ecological integrity of the marine
environment, including but not limited to inland fresh waters, open
spaces and wetlands.
(8)
Preserving the diversity and fostering the survival of indigenous
flora and fauna.
(9)
Preserving the aesthetic and environmental quality of Suffolk County
through project review, environmental education and preservation projects.
[Derived from Charter Sec. 905B; amended 7-26-1977 by L.L. No.
29-1977; 10-13-1982 by L.L. No. 26-1982; 6-29-1999 by L.L. No.
27-1999]
There shall be a Community Mental Health, Mental Retardation
and Developmental Disabilities, and Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services
Planning and Advisory Board (Community Services Advisory Board), which
shall consist of 15 members appointed by the County Executive for
four-year terms of office with the approval of the County Legislature.
At least one member of said Board shall be a licensed physician, and
one member shall be a certified psychologist, who have demonstrated
an interest in the field of services for the mentally disabled. The
other members shall represent the community interest in all the problems
of the mentally disabled and shall include representatives from community
agencies for the mentally ill, the mentally retarded and developmentally
disabled, and those suffering from alcohol and/or substance abuse.
The Board shall have separate subcommittees for mental health, mental
retardation and development disabilities, and alcohol and substance
abuse. Each separate subcommittee shall have nine members. Six of
the members of each subcommittee shall be appointed by the County
Executive for four-year terms, except for the initial terms which
may be for a shorter period. The remaining three members of each subcommittee
shall be members of the Board designated by vote of the Board. Each
separate subcommittee shall be composed of persons who have demonstrated
an interest in the field of services for the particular class of mentally
disabled and shall include former patients, parents or relatives of
such mentally disabled persons and community agencies serving the
particular class of mentally disabled. The Mental Health Subcommittee
may have such additional members as required by New York State Mental
Hygiene Law, which members shall be appointed by the County Executive,
in order to fulfill their responsibilities. Each separate subcommittee
shall advise the Community Services Advisory Board, the Director of
Community Mental Hygiene Services and the Commissioner of Health Services
regarding the exercise of all policymaking functions vested in the
Director and the Commissioner, as such functions pertain to the field
of services for the particular class of mentally disabled individuals
represented by such subcommittee. The members of the Community Services
Advisory Board in office at the time of the enactment of this section
shall continue in office as members of the new Board until expiration
of their current terms. The members of the Board and of the subcommittees
of the Board shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed
for necessary and proper expenses incurred in connection with their
official duties. The Board shall, at the request of the Director of
Community Mental Hygiene Services, consider any matter relating to
the preservation and improvement of mental hygiene services in the
County and may advise the Director thereon. It may, from time to time,
submit to the Director any recommendations relating to the preservation
and improvement of mental hygiene services. The Board shall have no
executive, administrative or appointive duties except as otherwise
provided in this section.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Note regarding Res. No. 473-2002 included
at the end of this chapter.
[Derived from L.L. No.
16-1971; amended 9-11-1973 by L.L. No. 20-1973]
A.
ELIGIBLE BORROWER
HOSPITAL
OCCUPANCY DATE
PROJECT
PROJECT COST
Definitions. When used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning is plainly
required by the context:
Any corporation or association within Suffolk County which
provides health-related services or hospital facilities for the prevention,
diagnosis or treatment of human disease, pain, injury, disability,
deformity or physical condition and which is regulated by law as to
its charges, profits, dividends and disposition of its property or
franchises.
A facility or institution engaged principally in providing
services by or under the supervision of a physician or, in the case
of a dental clinic or dental dispensary, of a dentist, for the prevention,
diagnosis or treatment of human disease, pain, injury, deformity or
physical condition, including but not limited to a general hospital,
public health center, diagnostic center, treatment center, dental
clinic, dental dispensary, rehabilitation center other than a facility
used solely for vocational rehabilitation, nursing home, tuberculosis
hospital, chronic disease hospital, maternity hospital, lying-in asylum,
outpatient department, dispensary and a laboratory or central service
facility serving one or more such institutions; and the term "hospital"
shall include an institution, sanitarium or other facility engaged
principally in providing services for the prevention, diagnosis or
treatment of mental disability and which is subject to the powers
of visitation, examination, inspection and investigation of the Department
of Mental Hygiene, including those distinct parts of such a facility
which provide hospital service.
The date defined in the document providing for a mortgage
loan or guaranty between an eligible borrower and the County.
A specific work or improvement, including lands, buildings,
improvements, fixtures and articles of personal property acquired,
constructed, rehabilitated, owned and operated by an eligible borrower
pursuant to this section, to provide hospital or health-related facilities
for the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of human disease, pain,
injury, disability, deformity or physical condition, and for facilities
incidental or appurtenant thereto, which work improvement has been
approved by the New York State Health Department or New York State
Department of Mental Hygiene.
The sum total of all costs incurred by an eligible borrower,
as approved by the Health Facilities Commissioner and the County,
as reasonable and necessary for carrying out all works and undertakings
and providing all necessary equipment for the development of a project,
exclusive of any private or federal, state or local financial assistance
for and received by an eligible borrower for the payment of such project
cost. These shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, carrying
charges during the construction or rehabilitation up to and including
the occupancy date; the cost of all necessary studies, surveys, plans
and specifications and architectural, engineering, legal or other
special services; the cost of acquisition of land and any buildings
and improvements thereon, site preparation and development, construction,
reconstruction and equipment, including fixtures, equipment and articles
of personal property required; the reasonable cost of development
of the project up to and including the occupancy date; the fees imposed
by the County; and the cost of such other items as the County may
determine to be reasonable and necessary for the development of a
project, less any and all rents and other net revenues received from
the operation of the real property, improvements or personal property
on the project site, or any part thereof, by an eligible borrower
on and after the date on which the contract between an eligible borrower
and the County was entered into and prior to the occupancy date.
B.
Establishment of Suffolk County Health Facilities Commission.
[Amended 9-10-1980 by L.L. No. 22-1980; 12-20-1994 by L.L. No.
2-1995]
(1)
To assist in the accomplishment of the purposes of this section,
a Commission designated as the "Suffolk County Health Facilities Commission"
is hereby established.
(2)
The County Legislature hereby establishes a County Health Facilities
Commission of not less than nine members, herein called the "Suffolk
County Health Facilities Commission." The Commission shall consist
of the Commissioner of Health Services, Suffolk County, who shall
be its Chairman; the Presiding Officer of the County Legislature,
or his or her designee; two representatives of nonprofit hospitals
in Suffolk County to be appointed by the County Legislature; a member
of the Suffolk County Medical Society to be appointed by the County
Legislature; a member of the Long Island Bankers Association to be
appointed by the County Legislature; and three at-large members of
the public to be appointed by the County Legislature. In addition
thereto, the Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee,
or any successor committee thereto, and the Chairman of the Finance,
Technology and Management Services Committee, or any successor committee
thereto, of the County Legislature shall be ex officio members of
said Commission. All members shall be registered voters of the County
and shall serve without compensation except for their actual and necessary
expenses. The terms of office of those first appointed shall be as
follows: three members for terms of three years, two members for terms
of two years, and two members for terms of one year. Thereafter, such
appointments shall be for terms of three years. The Commissioner of
the County Department of Health Services shall serve until the expiration
of his or her term of office. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment
of the County Legislature for the unexpired term.[1]
C.
Regulation of eligible borrowers. Every eligible borrower, as a condition
precedent to a loan or a guaranty of a loan by the County, shall enter
into a regulatory agreement with the County which shall provide:
(1)
That the eligible borrower will maintain books and records and a
system of accounts satisfactory to the County and the County Comptroller,
including but not limited to separate books, records and accounts,
for:
(a)
All moneys advanced to the eligible borrower from any source
or sources, public or private, for the construction, reconstruction,
rehabilitation, improvement or equipment of the project.
(b)
All moneys repaid in satisfaction of any indebtedness to the
County or other indebtedness as required by the Commission, and that
the eligible borrower agrees that all of its books, records and accounts
shall be open to examination by the Commission, the County and the
County Comptroller at any time.
(2)
That the eligible borrower shall file with the Commission and the
County Comptroller such financial statements, including an annual
report, setting forth such information as the Commission and the County
Comptroller may require.
(3)
That the eligible borrower shall not, without first having obtained
the written consent of the Commission and the County Executive:
(a)
Construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, improve, alter or repair
the project or enter into a contract therefor.
(b)
Enter into contracts relating to the overall operation of the
project.
(c)
Make a guaranty of payment out of moneys pledged to the County
or pledge any or all of its assets, income or revenue pledged to the
County to secure payment of its obligations.
(d)
Voluntarily dissolve.
(4)
That no member, officer or employee of the corporation which is an
eligible borrower shall acquire any interest, direct or indirect,
in any property then or thereafter included or planned to be included
in a project, nor retain any interest, direct or indirect, in any
property acquired subsequent to his appointment or employment, which
is later included or planned to be included in a project. If any member,
officer or employee of a corporation which is an eligible borrower
owns or controls an interest, direct or indirect, in any property
included in a project which was acquired prior to his appointment
or employment, he shall disclose such interest and the date of acquisition
to the corporation, and such disclosure shall be entered upon the
minutes of such corporation, and a copy of such minutes shall be forwarded
to the Commission and the County.
(5)
That all income and earnings of the eligible borrower shall be used
exclusively for its corporate purposes.
(6)
That no part of the net income or earnings of the corporation shall
inure to the benefit or profit of any private individual, firm or
corporation.
(7)
That the eligible borrower shall pay a certain sum to the County,
in amount and manner as shall be determined by the County. Said sum
shall be placed in a reserve fund and used by the County for payment
of miscellaneous expenses reasonably connected with hospital loans
guaranteed by the County. Upon full payment of the loan and the payment
of miscellaneous expenses, any surplus remaining in that reserve fund
shall be returned to the borrower.
(8)
Such other matters as the Commission and the County may require.
D.
Mortgage loans or guaranties.
[Amended 7-8-1975 by L.L. No. 13-1975; 10-4-1977 by L.L. No.
38-1977; 5-28-1985 by L.L. No. 16-1985]
(1)
An eligible borrower may, subject to the approval of the County Legislature,
borrow funds from the County or, in the alternative, secure a guaranty
of loan made by a banking corporation and/or lending institution and
secure the repayment thereof by bond or note and mortgage which shall
contain such terms and conditions as may be deemed necessary or desirable
by the Commission or required by any agreement between the Commission
and the holders of its notes and bonds, including the right of assignment
or rates and charges, and entry into possession of such project, in
the event of such entry, shall be subject to regulations promulgated
by the Commission.
(2)
The County may make contracts to make loans or guarantee loans to
an eligible borrower in an amount not to exceed 90% of the total project
cost. Any such loan shall be secured by a first mortgage lien upon
all the real property and improvements of which the project consists,
by such a lien upon other real and personal property owned by the
eligible borrower as shall be specifically approved by the County
Legislature in the resolution authorizing such loan or a modification
thereof or by such security as shall be specifically approved by the
County Legislature affecting County-owned property leased by the eligible
borrower for the purpose of erecting the project.
(3)
Should the County agree to guarantee loans to an eligible borrower,
said loans shall not exceed 90% of the total project cost, and such
guaranty shall be secured in such a manner as shall be specifically
approved by the County Legislature in the resolution authorizing such
guaranty or a modification thereof.
E.
Conditions and security for a loan or guaranty. No loan or guaranty
will be made by the County to an eligible borrower until it finds
that:
(1)
The eligible borrower has complied with all of the provisions of
this section.
(2)
The plans and specifications conform to the requirements of all laws
and regulations applicable thereto and assure adequate light, air,
sanitation and fire protection.
(3)
The estimated revenue of the project or from other funds of the eligible
borrower pledged, assigned or otherwise to be made available to the
lending institution will be sufficient to cover all probable costs
of operation and maintenance, of fixed charges and such reserves as
may be authorized by the Commission or required by the County.
(4)
Provision has been made for the purpose of providing for the payment
of the difference between the estimated project cost and the guaranteed
mortgage loan and, in the event that the final project cost shall
exceed the estimated project cost, the difference between such final
project cost and the mortgage loan or guaranteed loan.
F.
Functions and duties of the Suffolk County Health Facilities Commission.
The Suffolk County Health Facilities Commission shall have the following
functions and duties:
(1)
To establish recommended criteria for the guaranteeing of loans or
making loans to voluntary nonprofit hospitals, and such criteria shall
include but shall not be limited to the following: need, as specified
by the County Health Facilities Commission and other appropriate planning
and review bodies, for acute-care hospital beds; projections of future
demand caused by increased population in the hospital service area;
need for replacement and renovation of nonconforming beds and ancillary
services; demonstrated plans and programs of applicant hospitals to
provide community health service, including all or portions of the
following comprehensive hospital-based clinical outpatient services:
neighborhood health clinics under sponsorship of participating hospitals;
short-term psychiatric beds and detoxification beds for the alcoholic
and the narcotic patient; and other such criteria as may be established
from time to time by the Commission.
(2)
To review applications from eligible borrowers and to approve or
disapprove same in accordance with criteria established by the Commission
and within funds available for that purpose.
(3)
In addition to the matters already specified in Subsection C, to establish a recommended criteria for the making of or the guaranteeing of loans by the County of Suffolk pursuant to need and pursuant to plans developed by various state and County agencies, boards and commissions for a comprehensive plan of health facilities in the County of Suffolk, and such other criteria as shall be established by the Commission.
(4)
To examine the financial records of the eligible borrowers in consultation
with the County Comptroller.
(5)
To establish rules and regulations applicable to the making of loans
or the guaranteeing of loans for the purposes set forth herein, subject
to the approval of the County Legislature.
(6)
To report annually to the County Executive and the County Legislature
and at such other times as requested by the County Executive or the
County Legislature.
(7)
To perform such other functions and duties as shall be directed by
the County Executive.
G.
Miscellaneous provisions.
(1)
Within the appropriations made therefor, the Suffolk County Commissioner
of Health Services may employ such personnel as may be necessary for
the administration of the County Health Facilities Commission and
pay the expenses thereof out of the funds provided for such hospital.[2]
(2)
In the event that a participating nonprofit hospital corporation
fails to administer, maintain and operate the funded hospital as a
public general hospital in accordance with the terms of the agreement,
admitting patients to such general hospital without regard to race,
creed or color, then, after an opportunity is given by the County
Health Facilities Commission to be heard on written charges, such
agreement may be terminated by the County Health Facilities Commission
with the consent of the Legislature of the County of Suffolk or by
the County without such hearing.
[Derived from L.L. No.
8-1972[1]]
Notwithstanding any provisions of Section 3702 of the Charter[2] to the contrary, the enforcement of standards by the periodic
sampling of effluents in connection with facilities directly operated
by the Department of Environmental Control shall be the responsibility
of the Commissioner of Health Services.
[2]
Editor's Note: Section 3702 appeared in former Art. XXXVII,
Department of Environmental Control, which article was repealed 11-12-1980
by L.L. No. 27-1980. Said section pertained to the powers and duties
of the Department.
[Added 6-24-1997 by L.L. No. 20-1997]
In the event that a proposal or plan to provide any of the services identified in Article IX of the Suffolk County Charter or Article IX of the Suffolk County Administrative Code, including but not limited to public health, patient care, alcohol and substance abuse, mental health services, environmental quality, emergency medical services, forensic sciences, a skilled nursing facility and education of preschool children with disabilities, is submitted to the County Executive and/or County Legislature for the purpose of providing these services through entities other than Suffolk County government and/or the County Department of Health Services, using employees other than employees of the County of Suffolk, then the following procedures shall apply:
A.
At least two public hearings shall be held by the County Executive
on the particular proposal or plan. One such public hearing shall
be held in the western portion of Suffolk County (Towns of Babylon,
Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip and Smithtown), and one such public
hearing shall be held in the eastern portion of Suffolk County (Towns
of East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton and Southold).
B.
At least two public hearings shall be held by the County Legislature
on the particular proposal or plan. One such public hearing shall
be held in the western portion of Suffolk County (Towns of Babylon,
Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip and Smithtown), and one such public
hearing shall be held in the eastern portion of Suffolk County (Towns
of East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton and Southold).
C.
No such public hearing shall be held unless and until such written
proposal or plan has first been submitted to the County Executive
and/or County Legislature.
D.
A written evaluation shall accompany any such plan or proposal. Such
written report shall include an evaluation and analysis of the cost
of performing services through County government as compared to the
cost of performing the services through the pertinent plan or proposal
and shall include an evaluation and analysis of the quality of services
to be provided by the plan or proposal, as compared to the quality
of services being provided by the County of Suffolk through the Department
of Health Services.
E.
Written documentation from the appropriate state department or state
governmental entity, including a statement expressing approval of
the plan or proposal and outlining projected subsequent state aid
for such plan or proposal, shall accompany the proposal or plan.
F.
A report identifying expenditures for services under the proposal
or plan, including such sums as must be expended by the County of
Suffolk and/or voluntary agencies, shall also accompany the plan or
proposal and shall specifically identify the precise level of services
to be provided under the plan or proposal, as compared to the level
of the services provided by the County of Suffolk.
G.
No such plan or proposal shall take effect unless approved and ratified
by duly enacted resolution of the County Legislature explicitly adopting
the specifics of such plan or proposal.
H.
No such plan or proposal shall take effect unless and until the Legislative
Budget Review Office has certified, in writing, that the plan or proposal
will result in a cost savings to the County in at least each of the
first five years of said plan or proposal of at least 10% in each
of those first five years, as measured by net County expenditures
(i.e., County appropriations less federal aid, state aid, third-party
payments and/or private contributions).
[Amended 9-15-2011 by L.L. No. 48-2011]
I.
No such plan or proposal shall be made part of a recommended operating budget or recommended capital budget, nor approved as part of an adopted operating budget or adopted capital budget, unless and until such public hearings have been concluded and the items in Subsections A through H have been complied with.
[Added 8-5-2003 by L.L. No. 25-2003]
A.
During the admission process, whenever practicable, hospitals located
within the County of Suffolk shall provide patients with verbal and
written notification as to the hospital's policies describing the
availability of charity care and any process necessary to apply for
charity care. Reasonable efforts shall be made to notify patients
as to determination on such application.
B.
Any hospital located within the County of Suffolk shall post multilingual
notices as to any policies on charity care in several prominent locations
within the hospital, including, but not limited to, the emergency
department, billing office, waiting rooms for purposes of admissions,
the outpatient area, and the inpatient area. Said notices shall be
published in at least the following languages, English and Spanish,
and shall be clearly visible to the public from the location at which
they are posted.
C.
Any hospital located within the County of Suffolk shall submit a
copy of its written policy regarding the indigent care provided at
said hospital, including copies of the signage and written information
brochures made available to the public, to the Department on December
31 of each year covering the upcoming calendar year.
[Added 8-5-2003 by L.L. No. 25-2003]
A.
The Suffolk County Department of Health Services shall maintain a telephone line to receive complaints by patients in connection with alleged violations of the provisions of § A9-7. Such complaints shall be forwarded to the New York State Department of Health.
[Added 8-16-2011 by L.L. No. 39-2011]
Prior to enacting a change in County policy in accordance with
recommendations set forth in the updated Suffolk County Comprehensive
Water Resources Management Plan, the Department of Health Services
shall obtain the approval of the Suffolk County Legislature for such
change by the enactment of a duly enacted resolution.
