Meeting of the
PRIORITY SETTING & RESOURCE ALLOCATION COMMITTEE
Monday, February 2, 2026
By Zoom Videoconference
3:00 – 3:50pm
MINUTES
Members Present: Marya Gilborn (Co-chair), Paul Carr (Co-chair), Raffi Babakhanian, Joan Edwards, Billy Fields, Camila Gomez, David Klotz, David Martin, Guadalupe Dominguez Plummer (ex-officio), Stella Safo, MD, John Schoepp, Diane Tider
Members Absent: Matt Baney, Marcelo Maia
Other Council Member Present: John Goldenbridge
Staff Present: Michael Navejas, Doienne Saab, Scott Spiegler, Johanna Acosta, PhD, Laura Moya Adames, Gina Gambone, Frances Silva (DOHMH); Barbara Silver, Arya Shahi (Public Health Solutions)
Agenda Item #1: Welcome/Introductions/Minutes
Ms. Gilborn opened the meeting, followed by introductions and a moment of silence. The minutes of the January 12, 2026 meeting were approved with no changes.
Agenda Item #2: GY 2026 Spending Scenario Planning
Mr. Klotz gave an update on the 2026 federal appropriations. The Senate passed a final budget (a compromise worked out with the White House) that holds funding for all HIV programs at 2025 levels, except for a 7% cut to the Minority AIDS Fund (it is not clear how this will be implemented). (HOPWA programs would get a small increase.) The House is expected to vote on the bill tomorrow (there is a partial government shutdown until then, as the current continuing resolution expired over the weekend. Mr. Klotz also provided a recap of the discussions on the spending plan to date.
Mr. Spiegler presented a proposal from the Recipient to increase the baseline allocation for Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) by $910,000. There are currently 11 programs across all NYC boroughs who are able to fully spend down their baseline allocations, as well as all the carryover enhancements they have received. There have also been continuous increases to food costs for the past three years with food prices in NYC rising by 56.2 percent between 2012-2023. Increased demand for services and budgetary constraints due to increased food costs have resulted in reduced quantities of congregate meals, pantry bag distributions, and home-delivered meals. Program reports indicate increases in client waitlists for voucher distribution, necessitating supplemental funding to ensure service continuity. A Permanent enhanced allocation IS required to expand capacity and address the rising demand for services and the cost of food. The proposed amount is based on historical overspending.
Mr. Babakhanian stressed the need to involve PWH in all decision making to vote in favor of the motion.
A motion was made and seconded to approve an enhancement of $910,000 to the FNS allocation for GY 2026. The motion was adopted 9Y-0N.
Mr. Klotz presented the GY 2026 Tri-County (TC) spending scenario plan. Last month, the TC Steering Committee voted to reallocate any available uncommitted funds for FNS. There was a consensus in the PSRA Committee to accept the TC spending scenario plan.
Mr. Klotz presented a spending scenario that assumes up to a 2.5% reduction in the Base award and a 7% reduction in MAI. Given the savings in carrying costs of $651,294 from Care Coordination Programs, $113,314 in savings from TC programs plus the addition of $910,000 to FNS, in this scenario there would be a deficit of $2,475,755.
The Committee was reminded that the methodology approved for GY 2025 made up any potential large deficit through a cut to the lowest ranked category, Early Intervention Services (EIS). This category is ranked low due to the large number of other payers of this service. As discussed at the previous PSRA meeting, given the wide availability of testing, the PSRA Committee will reconsider the allocation for this service in the GY 2027 spending plan, given other pressing needs. This will allow the Recipient and Council staff to gather more data on EIS and other service category needs for the application spending plan to be developed this summer. EIS is currently provided by the DOHMH Sexual Health Clinics, which have been underspending and have informed the Recipient that they can take a reduction. The alternative would be to give an upfront reduction to ADAP (already reduced considerably over the years and needed to help balance the Base and MAI awards) or take down another category.
A motion was made and seconded to absorb any remaining deficit by reducing the EIS category. The motion was adopted 11Y-0N.
The Committee will take March off and meet again on April 13th.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
