DOH Updates Health Equity Impact Assessment Documents
(July 2, 2024) Members planning or engaged in a project that requires a Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) may want to ensure that they are using the most up-to-date program documents. The Department of Health (DOH) recently revised HEIA materials to clarify guidance related to redactions and treatment of protected health information contained in the assessments. While the revisions are not highlighted, the footer on the updated documents reads “Revised June 2024.” The following pages and sections are impacted:
- Pages 3, 10, and 11 of the HEIA Template Instructions.
- Meaningful Engagement tab of the HEIA Data Tables.
- Sections 4 and 5 of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
The updated materials should be used starting June 28th.
In addition, the Department has also determined that Independent Entities must maintain all documents and records collected or created as part of the HEIA process (including demographic source material and meaningful engagement surveys, focus group materials, individual stakeholder statements made to support the summary of statements, and names associated with identifiers) for three years after the end of the calendar year in which a Certificate of Need (CON) determination has been finalized.
Members may recall that the health equity regulations require providers to have an independent evaluator with experience in health equity, anti-racism, and stakeholder engagement complete the HEIA. The requirement applies to specified CON applications (i.e., construction, establishment, addition/reduction/expansion of service) submitted by hospitals, nursing homes, and certain diagnostic and treatment centers as of June 22, 2023. The purpose of the HEIA is to demonstrate how a facility’s proposed project affects the accessibility and delivery of services, and whether the project will enhance health equity and contribute to mitigating health disparities in the project's service area, specifically for medically underserved groups.
DOH fields HEIA-related questions at HEIA@health.ny.gov.
Contact: Darius Kirstein, dkirstein@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8841