Lance's Corner

NYSDOH Launches 2025-2030 Health Care Prevention Plan, Including Dental Care

Jul 17, 2025

Per the notice below, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has launched its 2025-2030 health care prevention agenda/plan, which extensively includes dental/oral health care.  You can read the complete NYSDOH prevention plan here: New York State Department of Health 2025-2030 Health Care Prevention Plan.  NYSDA participated in creating this agenda/plan.

New York State Department of Health Launches the 2025–2030 Prevention Agenda

Six-Year Plan Serves as a Blueprint for Community Action to Improve Health Statewide

The New York State Department of Health today announced the launch of the 2025-2030 Prevention Agenda.  The Prevention Agenda is New York's State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) and serves as a framework for coordinated state and local action to improve the health for all people in New York and reduce health disparities with a strong emphasis on prevention.

"Health is shaped by many factors beyond traditional medical care, and improving the health of our communities requires addressing those broader determinants," said State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald.  "The goal of New York's Prevention Agenda is to improve population health and reduce health disparities by preventing problems before they start and tackling the root causes that impact well-being — in partnership with local governments, health care providers, and community organizations across the state."

The development of the 2025–2030 Prevention Agenda priorities were shaped through a collaborative process that emphasized stakeholder engagement, data-driven decision-making, and alignment with health equity principles to ensure the Prevention Agenda reflects the needs of communities across New York State.  A cross-disciplinary team was engaged to develop a shared vision for the Prevention Agenda and inform the selection of health and health-related priorities.  The New York State Department of Health in collaboration with the Public Health and Health Planning Council, and local partners, recognizes the importance of fostering cross-sector collaborations to achieve collective impact in addressing the priorities outlined in the Prevention Agenda.  The 2025–2030 Prevention Agenda shifts its focus from overall health outcomes to reducing health disparities and advancing health equity, allowing more proactive focus on preventative actions that address root causes of injury and illness.  This shift is also aligned with the New York State Department of Health's vision and its commitment to ensure that every individual can attain their highest level of health across the lifespan.  The 2025-2030 Prevention Agenda is designed to be used by health departments, hospital systems, and other organizations at the state and local levels.  It prioritizes evidence-informed interventions that consider potential impacts on disparities and inequities by racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, geographic, and other characteristics.  Its success depends on strong, sustained partnerships and innovative use of available resources.

New York State Public Health and Health Planning Council Vice Chair Jo Ivey Boufford, M.D. said, "The Public Health Committee has been deeply involved in the development of the new Prevention Agenda on behalf of the NYS Public Health and Health Planning Council which has endorsed the plan.  The Committee has also worked with NYSDOH to convene a statewide group of over 120 representatives from 48 agencies to provide input on the new plan through its Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention Agenda.  We look forward to overseeing the progress on the Agenda and are enthusiastic about the potential for other State agencies to join NYSDOH in addressing the broader determinants of health.

New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO) President Heidi Bond said, "Developed with input from local health departments, the New York State Prevention Agenda is vital to ensuring that our public health work reflects the voices and needs of all community members.  Investing now to prevent disease and illness will not only save lives but also reduce long-term costs.  By addressing the health of our communities before people get sick, we can create healthier, more economically resilient communities, ensuring that our efforts have lasting, positive impacts for all."

Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) President Bea Grause, RN, JD, said, "HANYS thanks the New York State Department of Health for its continued commitment to improving community health.  The 2025-2030 Prevention Agenda recognizes the many factors that drive health and health outcomes and understands that collaboration within our communities is essential to reducing disparities and improving New Yorkers' health and well-being.  HANYS and our member hospitals and health systems look forward to continued engagement with DOH and local partners as we collectively work to address these new Prevention Agenda priorities."

Greater New York Hospital Association Senior Vice President, Community Health, Lloyd Bishop said, "The 2025-2030 Prevention Agenda reflects the State's critically important public health goals, with key new partners as stakeholders to address the social determinants of health.  Greater New York Hospital Association will continue to work closely with the State and provide technical assistance to our member hospitals to help them achieve Prevention Agenda goals."

New York State Department of Health Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Health Equity and Human Rights Tina Kim said, "The 2025-2030 Prevention Agenda embodies the New York State Department of Health's mission of public health work on a foundation of health equity.  The Department is eager to advance the next six-year cycle of this evidence-based, community-informed framework for how the State and its partners will address the root causes and the intersecting factors that impact all New Yorkers' health and well-being."

In addition, the Department established a Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Interagency Workgroup, which held its initial meeting in February 2025.  The Workgroup comprises experts in SDOH, health equity, health disparities, economics, and vulnerable populations.  This Workgroup serves as a platform for agencies to identify shared goals, resources, and opportunities to collaboratively address the Prevention Agenda priorities and SDOH.  The Workgroup will convene quarterly to review progress on the Prevention Agenda and explore interagency strategies to advance and prioritize health equity across New York State.  More information about the 2025-2030 Prevention Agenda can be found here.

USDOL Issues Comprehensive Employer Guidance on Long COVID

The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has issued a comprehensive set of resources that can be accessed below for employers on dealing with Long COVID.

Supporting Employees with Long COVID: A Guide for Employers

The “Supporting Employees with Long COVID” guide from the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) and Job Accommodation Network (JAN) addresses the basics of Long COVID, including its intersection with mental health, and common workplace supports for different symptoms.  It also explores employers’ responsibilities to provide reasonable accommodations and answers frequently asked questions about Long COVID and employment, including inquiries related to telework and leave.

Download the guide

Accommodation and Compliance: Long COVID

The Long COVID Accommodation and Compliance webpage from the USDOL-funded Job Accommodation Network (JAN) helps employers and employees understand strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID.  Topics include Long COVID in the context of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), specific accommodation ideas based on limitations or work-related functions, common situations and solutions, and questions to consider when identifying effective accommodations for employees with Long COVID.  Find this and other Long COVID resources from JAN, below:

Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities: Recommendations for Employers

The research-to-practice brief “Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities” synthesizes an extensive review of documents, literature and data sources, conducted by the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) on the impact of Long COVID on employment, with a focus on demographic differences.  It also outlines recommended actions organizations can take to create a supportive and inclusive workplace culture for people with Long COVID, especially those with disabilities who belong to other historically underserved groups.

Read the brief

Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace

The policy brief “Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace” explores Long COVID’s impact on the workforce and provides examples of policy actions different states are taking to help affected people remain at work or return when ready.  It was developed by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) as part of its involvement in USDOL’s State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED) initiative.

Download the policy brief

Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID

The report “Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID” summarizes key themes and takeaways from an ePolicyWorks national online dialogue through which members of the public were invited to share their experiences and insights regarding workplace challenges posed by Long COVID.  The dialogue took place during summer 2022 and was hosted by USDOL and its agencies in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General.

Download the report

Working with Long COVID

The USDOL-published “Working with Long COVID” fact sheet shares strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID, including accommodations for common symptoms and resources for further guidance and assistance with specific situations.

Download the fact sheet

COVID-19: Long-Term Symptoms

This USDOL motion graphic informs workers with Long COVID that they may be entitled to temporary or long-term supports to help them stay on the job or return to work when ready, and shares where they can find related assistance.

Watch the motion graphic

A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure

In the podcast “A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure,” Pam Bingham, senior program manager for Intuit’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Tech team, shares her personal experience of navigating Long COVID symptoms at work.  The segment was produced by the USDOL-funded Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT) as part of its ongoing “Future of Work” podcast series.

Listen to the podcast

HHS OIG Issues Annual Report on State MFCUs

Per the notice below, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued its annual report on the performance of state Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs).

Medicaid Fraud Control Units Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report (OEI-09-24-00200) 

Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) investigate and prosecute Medicaid provider fraud and patient abuse or neglect. OIG is the Federal agency that oversees and annually approves federal funding for MFCUs through a recertification process. This new report analyzed the statistical data on annual case outcomes—such as convictions, civil settlements and judgments, and recoveries—that the 53 MFCUs submitted for Fiscal Year 2023.  New York data is as follows:

Outcomes

  • Investigations1 - 556
  • Indicted/Charged - 9
  • Convictions - 8
  • Civil Settlements/Judgments - 28
  • Recoveries2 - $73,204,518

Resources

  • MFCU Expenditures3 - $55,964,293
  • Staff on Board4 - 257

1Investigations are defined as the total number of open investigations at the end of the fiscal year.

2Recoveries are defined as the amount of money that defendants are required to pay as a result of a settlement, judgment, or prefiling settlement in criminal and civil cases and may not reflect actual collections.  Recoveries may involve cases that include participation by other Federal and State agencies.

3MFCU and Medicaid Expenditures include both State and Federal expenditures.

4Staff on Board is defined as the total number of staff employed by the Unit at the end of the fiscal year.

Read the Full Report

View the Statistical Chart

Engage with the Interactive Map

GAO Issues Report on Medicaid Managed Care Service Denials and Appeal Outcomes

The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes.  GAO found that federal oversight is limited because it doesn't require states to report on Medicaid managed care service denials or appeal outcomes and there has not been much progress on plans to analyze and make the data publicly available.  To read the GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the first link below.  To read GAO highlights of the report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the second link below.
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627.pdf  (GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627_high.pdf  (GAO highlights on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)

CMS Issues Latest Medicare Regulatory Activities Update

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its latest update on its regulatory activities in the Medicare program.  While dentistry is only minimally connected to the Medicare program, Medicare drives the majority of health care policies and insurance reimbursement policies throughout the country.  Therefore, it always pays to keep a close eye on what CMS is doing in Medicare.  To read the latest CMS update on its regulatory activities in Medicare, use the link below.
https://www.cms.gov/training-education/medicare-learning-network/newsletter/2024-03-14-mlnc