Chair Narcisse opening remarks on H&H budget priorities

Good afternoon.

And thank you for being here, Dr.

Katz.

We're happy to have you here.

I am Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, Chair of the Committee on Hospitals.

Thank you for attending today's hearing on the City's Fiscal 2027 Executive Budget for New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, or HNH.

I would like to thank Chair Lee to holding this executive budget hearing with me.

And of course, thank you to all the leadership and for coming here to testify today.

H&H proposed operating budget for fiscal 2027 executive budget totals $1.75 billion and is a $7.1 million higher than the fiscal 2027 preliminary budget.

The main changes include an increase of $32.6 million to support correctional health services expenses,

saving of $25.8 million to reduce reliance of temporary staffing, reducing overtime and improving revenue collections and contract rebates.

And lastly, a reduction of $4.8 million for Beard transfer of funding to FDNY.

We will also review H&H Executive Capital Commitment Plan of $2.9 billion, which includes funding for the Correctional Health Outpost Unit and critical health care expansion on the RAC.

Peninsula.

My top line topics for questions today hearing will focus on bridge to home and show, correctional health services, medical malpractice defense contracts, Mamanis health

merger, H&H maternal health services, H&H headcount changes,

and the Elmhurst Hospital Emergency Renovation Capital Project, and be heard.

Before we begin, I would like to thank the financial analysts, Aman Mahadevan, Assistant Director Florentine Carberry, and Deputy Director Isha White for preparing this hearing, as well as my staff committee.

Ria Ogazarara, and of course Manu, but for their support.

Finally, I would also like to thank my staff, Frank Shea, Jushina Jarlott, and Courtney Lee, and all my staff for keeping doing the work in the district office.

I will now turn it over back to my colleague, Shirley.