December 10, 2014 (Hauppauge, NY ) - The Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council (NSHC), which coordinates the Long Island Health Collaborative (LIHC), was selected as the Population Health Improvement Program (PHIP) contractor for the Long Island region by the New York State Department of Health. The state announced that the Hospital Council will receive a $2.4 million award over two years to forward the population health-based activities already underway by the collaborative. Nine other entities representing nine other regions throughout the state were named as winners in this competitive grant process.

The Long Island Health Collaborative, which was formed just about two years ago, is a diverse group of health care providers, community-based social and human services organizations, academic institutions, the two county health departments, behavioral health providers, health plans and unions, and patient advocacy organizations, among others. LIHC’s work focuses on chronic disease prevention and treatment, with an emphasis on reducing obesity in adults and children. It will also address the need for better coordinated mental health/substance abuse treatment and prevention services. 

The PHIP grant will enable the collaborative to offer more in-depth assistance to not only collaborative members, but all entities working to improve the health of Long Islanders. The PHIP grant will fund such activities as data collection and analysis, professional level training for evidence-based programs, especially in the area of nutrition and physical activity, and education related to best practices in population health-based care. The LIHC, which has served as a convener for its diverse membership for the past two years, will continue in this role and broaden its reach to become a true regional resource for all providers, patients, payers, and others who have a vested interest in improving our region’s collective health. 

“This award provides the collaborative with the resources it needs to bring the group’s work to the next level,” said Kevin Dahill, president/CEO of NSHC. “As more care is delivered in outpatient settings and we become better at integrating and coordinating the full range of health and social services to help and heal individuals, the data reports, professional education, and coordination that LIHC brings to the effort will ensure better health outcomes for all.”

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Long Island Exchange