New York State Department of Health

The New York State Department of Health is the Cabinet-level Department in the State of New York, which is the governmental body that bears the responsibility for ensuring public health in the State. The NY State Department of Health is headed by the Health Commissioner. Since March 21, 2007, that position has been held by Richard F. Daines, M.D.

The New York State Department of Health is one of the Nation's leading public health care agencies. The NY State Department of Health has an annual budget of approximately 49 billion dollars. The New York State Department of Health administers health insurance programs, regulates hospitals as well as other health care facilities, and conducts research in one of the premier biomedical laboratories in the county, as well as supports public health prevention initiatives.

In recent years, the NY State Department of Health has shaped significant health care reforms that have been approved by the State Legislature. Some of these reforms include increased access to health insurance coverage for the uninsured and under-insured, an increased focus on providing both preventative and primary care to patients, initiatives to improve the quality of care given to patients, and an increased level of investing in health information technology in order to help doctors and health care professions increase the standard of care provided to patients.

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