Release #027-98

Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958, /Brenda Pérez, Sandra Mullin, DMH (212) 219-5523

MAYOR GIULIANI PROPOSES MERGER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL RETARDATION AND ALCOHOLISM SERVICES

Dr. Neal L. Cohen To Be Appointed Commissioner

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today announced plans to merge the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services (DMH), and the Department of Health (DOH). The newly integrated agency will be under the direction of Commissioner Neal L. Cohen, MD, who currently serves as DMH Commissioner.

"The merger of DMH and DOH will allow the City to combine the strengths and expertise of these two agencies and continue to build a system that provides more efficient integrated health care coverage," said Mayor Giuliani. "This merger is an important step in modernizing and enhancing New York's long-standing commitment to the health and safety of its citizens.

"During his tenure as DMH Commissioner, Neal Cohen has demonstrated a strong commitment to public health. He has extensive experience in bringing community-based services to high risk populations, including the homeless mentally ill, those in the criminal justice system, individuals with a dual diagnosis of mental illness and substance abuse, and immigrants," the Mayor added. "He is an advocate of integrated treatment models that link primary and mental health care, and has worked to ensure that people with mental illnesses are adequately served through managed care. His background and commitment to public health will bring the combined DMH and DOH to its optimum performance."

"I would also like to thank Dr. Benjamin Mojica for his meaningful contributions to our health care efforts as Acting Health Commissioner since last Spring," the Mayor concluded.

Dr. Neal Cohen said, "I am honored that the Mayor has asked me to head this combined agency. The union of our two public health Departments enhances New York City's commitment to the Public Health and safety of its citizens. It makes every member of the City's health constituency into a working partner and ensures that our public health agenda reflects the diverse needs of all our communities."

The new Department of Public Health will administer all of the City's core health and mental hygiene programs. In addition, the new agency will:

• Develop integrated health initiatives that address the comprehensive needs of people who depend on the public sector for treatment;

• Create an administrative structure that reflects the implementation of managed care. (Nearly two million New York City Medicaid recipients will soon enter managed care plans that will provide health and mental health services):

• Serve as a managed care watchdog;

• Strengthen the Mayor's drug abuse initiative by ensuring access for people who want treatment , and by developing new drug education and prevention programs;

• Develop initiatives to better serve children and adolescents with complex health and mental health needs;

• Sustain and improve programs for specialized populations, including the mentally ill, the developmentally disabled, those with AIDS and TB, the homeless, and prisoners;

• Enhance health education and disease prevention efforts;

• Work with communities to create prevention and education health agendas that reflect the individual needs of New York City's neighborhoods; and,

Prior to his tenure at DMH, Dr. Cohen was Clinical Director and Vice Chairman of Mount Sinai Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry and Director of its Division of Community Psychiatry. From 1980 through 1989, Dr. Cohen was Director of Psychiatry at Gouverneur Hospital and, from 1975 through 1980, Clinical Director of the Milhauser Center for Psychiatric Disorders at the NYU-Tisch Hospital. From 1994 through 1996, Dr. Cohen headed the City's Community Services Board and in March 1996, he was appointed DMH Commissioner by Mayor Giuliani. In the last two surveys of New York City's physicians, conducted by New York Magazine, Dr. Cohen was named by his peers one of the best doctors in the City.

As DMH Commissioner, Dr. Cohen has launched several initiatives. With funding from the State, he has started over 150 new mental health programs. The Commissioner also established a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week information and referral service -- 1-800-LIFENET -- for New Yorkers with mental health, substance abuse and other problems. In addition, Dr. Cohen expanded the City's assertive treatment programs which ensure that those needing care remain in treatment, and initiated the Link program, which provides mentally ill prisoners with community-based care upon their release from jail.

A native New Yorker, Dr. Cohen received his BA from Columbia University and his MD from New York University School of Medicine. He completed his residency and a fellowship in psychiatry at NYU-Tisch Hospital and Bellevue Medical Center.

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