New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation

Affiliation Agreement with the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center

New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) has an affiliation agreement between its Kings County Hospital Center and the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center. The agreement requires Downstate Medical Center to provide Kings County Hospital with a certain number of full-time equivalent physicians and be reimbursed up to $15.7 million annually for the services of these physicians.

We examined the reimbursements made under this agreement and found that Downstate Medical Center was providing the physicians required by the agreement and that the time worked by those physicians was supported by time records. However, we found these services were not being reimbursed in full accordance with the agreement. HHC officials indicated that this was necessary in order to pay these individuals at a level commensurate with the market rate of pay for their medical specialty, and we recommended such modifications in the agreement be appropriately documented.

For a complete copy of Report 2006-N-19 click here.
For a copy of the 90-day response click here.
For a copy of the associated follow-up report click here.