NYS Department of Health 2026: Services, Phone & Records
This guide helps New Yorkers, seniors, caregivers, families, providers, applicants, and out-of-state users find the right NYS Department of Health route for phone numbers, birth certificates, death certificates, marriage and divorce records, Medicaid, Child Health Plus, health insurance, local health departments, hospital complaints, nursing home complaints, doctor profiles, public records, and official forms.
The New York State Department of Health is different from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, local county health departments, local departments of social services, the NY State of Health marketplace, and the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions. Use this page to choose the correct official door before you call, pay, mail documents, file a complaint, or visit an office.
Quick answer: what the NYS Department of Health helps with in 2026
The New York State Department of Health, often searched as NYS DOH, NYSDOH, New York State DOH, or nys department of health, handles statewide public health programs, vital records for many New York State events, Medicaid policy and member help routes, health facility oversight, nursing home complaints, hospital complaints, public health emergency routing, local health department directories, physician profile information, public records requests, and consumer health care information.
| What you need | Best official route | Prepare first | Senior-friendly tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYS Department of Health phone number | General Information Line: 1-833-364-4695 | Your topic, county, callback number, and any record, case, or facility name | Ask staff, “Which program owns this issue?” before explaining every detail. |
| Birth, death, marriage or divorce records | NYS Vital Records Call Center: 855-322-1022 | Name on record, event date, place, ID, relationship proof, application, payment method | First decide if the event was inside New York City or outside New York City. |
| Medicaid help | Medicaid Helpline: 1-800-541-2831 | CIN/member ID if available, county, managed-care plan, notice letter, income or household question | For enrollment, you may also need NY State of Health or your local department of social services. |
| Child Health Plus | Child Health Plus Information Line: 1-800-698-4543 | Child age, household size, income, insurance status, county and preferred plan questions | TTY users can use the official TTY number listed by the program. |
| Health insurance marketplace | NY State of Health Customer Service: 1-855-355-5777 | Household, income, immigration or citizenship documents if applicable, tax filing status, current coverage | NYS DOH and NY State of Health are connected, but the marketplace has its own customer service route. |
| Food illness, rabies, sanitary regulation or local clinic | Local county/city health department | County, full address, business name, date, symptoms, photos or receipt if relevant | Address-based health issues usually start locally. |
| Hospital or diagnostic and treatment center complaint | Hospital complaint route: 1-800-804-5447 | Facility name, patient name, dates, department, facts, staff names, discharge papers if relevant | Try the hospital patient representative first when safe and practical. |
| Nursing home complaint | Nursing Home Complaint Hotline: 1-888-201-4563 | Resident name, facility name, dates, facts, witnesses, photos or documents if available | One designated family representative makes follow-up easier. |
| Doctor profile or physician misconduct complaint | NYS Physician Profile / Office of Professional Medical Conduct | Doctor name, location, specialty, dates, facts, documents, license details if available | Physician complaints route to DOH; many other licensed professions route to NYSED. |
| FOIL / public records request | NYS DOH Freedom of Information Law page | Program name, record type, date range, facility/provider name and request wording | A narrow request is faster to understand than “send everything.” |
For many records and local health issues, New York State is split by jurisdiction. New York City events and services may route to NYC Health, 311, NYC Office of Vital Records, the NYC City Clerk, or another city agency. Outside New York City, many county-level services route to a local health department or local department of social services.
NYS Department of Health route finder: choose the correct service before calling or paying
Use this local-style task router before you call NYS DOH. It maps common searches such as nys department of health phone number, nys department of health birth certificate, nys department of health Medicaid, nys department of health license lookup, nys department of health complaints and nys department of health records to the safest official route.
NYS DOH task router
Select your need. The best next step appears below.
NYS Department of Health phone number, helplines, address and call script
The NYS Department of Health publishes multiple official phone routes. The best number depends on the topic. Calling the wrong line can waste time, especially for certificates, Medicaid, hospital complaints, nursing homes, physician misconduct, local restaurant complaints or city records.
| Need | Official phone route | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| General NYS DOH information | 1-833-364-4695 | General routing when you do not know the correct DOH program. |
| Public Health Duty Officer | 1-866-881-2809 | Public health duty officer helpline routing. |
| Vital Records | 855-322-1022 | Birth, death, marriage, divorce, corrections and amendments questions. |
| Medicaid Helpline | 1-800-541-2831 | NYS Medicaid member or program help. |
| NY State of Health marketplace | 1-855-355-5777 | Health insurance marketplace enrollment and application support. |
| Child Health Plus | 1-800-698-4543 | Child Health Plus and children’s coverage questions. |
| Hospital complaint | 1-800-804-5447 | Hospital, clinic, diagnostic and treatment center complaint help. |
| Nursing home complaint | 1-888-201-4563 | Nursing home abuse, neglect, mistreatment or care complaint route. |
| Adult home / assisted living complaint | 1-866-893-6772 | Adult care facility and assisted living complaint route. |
| Home care or hospice complaint | 1-800-628-5972 | Complaints about home care agencies and hospices. |
| Physician, physician assistant or specialist assistant misconduct | 1-800-663-6114 | Office of Professional Medical Conduct complaint/inquiry route. |
Use a short call script
Say: “I need help with [birth certificate, Medicaid, Child Health Plus, local health department, hospital complaint, nursing home complaint, doctor profile, FOIL request, or public health issue]. My county is [county name], and the event or facility is in [city/town]. Which official program or page should I use?”
The NYS Department of Health contact page lists the mailing address as New York State Department of Health, Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237. Do not mail vital records, FOIL requests, complaints, or program forms to a general address unless the official page specifically instructs you to use that address.
NYS Department of Health records: birth, death, marriage, divorce, corrections and amendments
The NYS Department of Health Vital Records section is one of the most-searched parts of the agency. It handles certified copies and related guidance for birth, death, marriage and divorce records, but New York City events have special routing. Always confirm whether the event happened inside New York City or outside New York City before ordering.
Birth certificates
Use for eligible requests for New York birth certificates, with NYC routing checked first.
Birth guideDeath certificates
Use for eligible death certificate requests, estate needs, insurance, benefits and family records.
Death guideMarriage records
Use the official marriage record route and confirm whether a city or town clerk record is required.
Marriage guideDivorce records
Use the official divorce route, but ask if the receiving agency needs a court judgment or decree.
Divorce guideChoose the correct order method
NYS DOH says certified copies of birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates may be ordered directly from the Vital Records Section by mail. The mail page lists regular handling as 10 to 12 weeks from the day requests are received. Internet and telephone requests use priority handling and the official page lists a $45 certified copy fee that includes a $15 priority handling fee.
Use the Vital Records Call Center for corrections or amendments
If a birth, death, marriage or dissolution of marriage certificate has an error, the NYS Vital Records corrections and amendments page explains that vital records may be corrected when an error was made when the record was filed. The Vital Records phone route is 855-322-1022.
Before paying, ask the receiving agency whether it needs a certified copy, long form, short form, informational copy, apostille, court order, divorce decree, or correction. Ordering the wrong document is one of the most common vital-record mistakes.
NYS Department of Health birth certificate: eligibility, ID, NYC routing and checklist
The NYS birth certificate page says the Vital Records Call Center is 855-322-1022. For eligibility, the official page lists the person named on the birth certificate, a parent listed on the birth certificate, or a spouse, child or others only by New York State court order.
| Prepare | Why it matters | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Where the birth happened | New York City births route differently from many other New York State births. | Ordering from NYS DOH when the event belongs to NYC Health. |
| Full name on the record | The record search depends on the birth name, not necessarily the current married or legal name. | Using a current name that does not match the original record. |
| Date and place of birth | Needed to locate the correct record. | Not knowing whether the birth occurred in a city, town, village or borough. |
| Parent information | Can help match the record and determine eligibility. | Not having the requesting parent’s name on the certificate. |
| Valid ID and proof documents | Certified records require identity and eligibility verification. | Uploading or mailing unreadable ID copies. |
| Order method and fee | Mail, internet and telephone routes can differ in handling time and cost. | Paying for priority handling when the record type or jurisdiction is wrong. |
NYS Department of Health death certificate: estate, insurance, benefits and eligibility checklist
The NYS death certificate page lists the Vital Records Call Center at 855-322-1022. Death certificate requests often support estate work, insurance, bank accounts, benefits, pensions, genealogy, probate, property, and family records, so confirming the required version matters.
Certified death certificate
Often needed by banks, attorneys, insurance companies, benefit offices and courts. Ask if they require specific details.
Cause and confidential information
Do not assume every copy includes every detail. Ask the receiving agency what it requires before ordering.
| Prepare | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Decedent’s full legal name | Helps match the correct record. |
| Date and place of death | Determines NYS, NYC, local registrar or other route. |
| Your relationship to the deceased | Eligibility may depend on relationship or legal authority. |
| Receiving agency requirements | Prevents ordering a document that does not satisfy the bank, court or insurer. |
| ID and payment method | Required for many certified requests. |
NYS Department of Health marriage and divorce records: certificate versus clerk or court document
Marriage and divorce searches are easy to route incorrectly. A marriage certificate, divorce certificate, divorce decree, dissolution judgment, court record, and local clerk record may not be the same document. Ask the receiving agency exactly what it needs before paying.
Use the official marriage certificate route
NYS DOH’s marriage page explains eligibility and says the Vital Records Call Center is 855-322-1022. People eligible include spouses and certain other requesters with documented judicial or proper purpose or a New York State court order.
Open marriage recordsCertificate is not always the court decree
If an attorney, agency, immigration office or benefits office asks for the actual divorce decree or judgment, you may need the county clerk or court route instead of a certificate-only route.
Open vital recordsNew York City marriage and divorce-related records may have city or court routing. Do not assume the statewide NYS DOH certificate route is correct for every NYC document request.
NYS DOH versus NYC Health: birth, death, marriage, divorce and local services
This is the most important New York-specific section. “New York Department of Health” can mean New York State DOH or NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The correct route depends on where the event happened and what service you need.
| Need | NYS route | NYC route |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | NYS Vital Records for many New York State births outside NYC. | NYC Office of Vital Records for births in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx or Staten Island. |
| Death certificate | NYS Vital Records for many deaths outside NYC. | NYC Office of Vital Records for deaths in the five boroughs. |
| Restaurant complaint or foodborne illness | Local county health department outside NYC. | NYC 311 or NYC Health route for NYC food complaints. |
| Medicaid enrollment | NYS Medicaid, NY State of Health, or local department of social services depending on category. | NYC Human Resources Administration may handle many NYC Medicaid questions. |
| Local clinic or health inspection | County or city local health department. | NYC Health or 311 depending on issue. |
NYS Department of Health Medicaid, NY State of Health, Child Health Plus and EPIC
Many people searching for NYS Department of Health need health insurance or benefit routing. Medicaid, NY State of Health, Child Health Plus, local departments of social services, NYC HRA, managed-care plans, and EPIC can each have different phone numbers and document requirements.
Medicaid Helpline
Use 1-800-541-2831 for NYS Medicaid member and program questions.
Open Medicaid contactsNY State of Health
Use 1-855-355-5777 for marketplace application, plan, and enrollment help.
Open marketplaceChild Health Plus
Use 1-800-698-4543 for Child Health Plus and children’s coverage information.
Open Child Health PlusEPIC drug coverage
EPIC is New York’s Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program for eligible seniors.
Open EPICKnow whether you need enrollment, a notice problem or managed-care help
Enrollment questions may route to NY State of Health, a local department of social services, or NYC HRA. Managed-care problems may require plan details. Notices and renewals may require your case number, CIN, county, household details and document deadline.
When calling for a spouse, parent or older adult, ask whether the person must be present to authorize the discussion. Keep notice letters, Medicaid card, Medicare card, plan card, prescription list and callback number nearby.
NYS local health departments: county health department, food complaint, rabies, wells and sanitary rules
New York local health departments protect community health and often handle local restaurant complaints, foodborne illness reports, rabies questions, sanitary regulation questions, public health clinics, children’s camps, private wells, local environmental questions, and other address-based concerns.
Food illness or restaurant concern
NYS DOH food safety guidance tells users to contact the local health department to report a foodborne illness complaint.
Open food guidanceCounty phone and website
Use the NYS county health department directory when you need the local office phone or website.
Find county healthPrivate wells and local risks
For contaminated well concerns, NYS DOH guidance tells users to contact the local health department and DEC Spill Hotline when appropriate.
Open wells guidanceAlbany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Yonkers, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Erie, Monroe, Onondaga, Orange, Rockland, Dutchess, Ulster, Broome and other counties can have different local health pages and phone numbers. If the complaint has a street address, county routing matters.
NYS Department of Health license lookup, physician profile and professional misconduct routing
People often search “NYS Department of Health license lookup” when they really need one of three different systems: the NYS Physician Profile, the NYS Education Department Office of the Professions license verification system, or NYS DOH’s Office of Professional Medical Conduct for physician-related complaints.
| Need | Best route | Important warning |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor profile | NYS Physician Profile website | Use for profile information about physicians registered to practice in New York. |
| Physician misconduct complaint | Office of Professional Medical Conduct | Use for physicians, physician assistants and specialist assistants; complaint/inquiry phone 1-800-663-6114. |
| Nurse, pharmacist, dentist, social worker, psychologist, PT, OT or other licensed profession | NYS Education Department Office of the Professions | Many non-physician professions are not verified through NYS DOH. |
| Hospital, nursing home, home care, hospice or adult care facility | NYS DOH profiles and complaint pages | Facility complaints have separate hotlines and online forms. |
NYS Department of Health complaints: hospital, nursing home, assisted living, home care, hospice and doctor misconduct
Complaint routing depends on the facility or provider type. A hospital complaint, nursing home complaint, assisted living complaint, home care complaint, hospice complaint, physician misconduct complaint and Medicaid plan issue are not the same route.
Hospital complaint route
Use the hospital complaint form or call 1-800-804-5447 when the issue is a hospital, diagnostic and treatment center, clinic, ambulatory surgery center or similar covered facility.
Open hospital complaintNursing home complaint route
Use the nursing home complaint form or call 1-888-201-4563. The online form explains anonymous and confidential complaint options.
Open nursing complaintAdult home / assisted living
Use the Adult Care Facility Centralized Complaint Intake route. The complaint phone commonly listed is 1-866-893-6772.
Open adult careHome care and hospice
Use the home care and hospice complaint route. The hotline commonly listed is 1-800-628-5972.
Open home care complaintPrepare facts before filing
Write the facility or provider name, address, date, time, patient or resident name, unit or department, staff names if known, what happened, who witnessed it, and what you already tried. Use copies of documents, not originals, when the official complaint route permits attachments.
If someone is in immediate danger, needs urgent medical care, has signs of abuse happening now, has a severe allergic reaction, chest pain, stroke symptoms, serious injury, poisoning, or unsafe conditions requiring immediate help, call emergency services first. A complaint form is not an emergency response tool.
NYS Department of Health public records request, FOIL and personal medical records confusion
A FOIL request is for government records under New York’s Freedom of Information Law. It is not the same as ordering a birth certificate, requesting a hospital chart, getting a Medicaid card, replacing a vaccination record, or filing a complaint.
Agency records
Use FOIL when you want NYS DOH agency records, reports, correspondence, inspection records or similar disclosure records.
Open FOILCertificates
Birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates use the Vital Records route, not FOIL.
Vital recordsPatient chart
Your medical record usually comes from the hospital, clinic or provider where you received care.
Know your rightsMake the request narrow
Include the program name, facility, provider, record type, subject, date range and preferred format. Narrow requests are easier to understand and less likely to need clarification.
Do not include unnecessary Social Security numbers, medical details, bank details, identity documents, immigration documents or payment card information in a general public-records request. Use official secure channels only when required.
NYS Department of Health Albany address, map and before-you-visit checklist
The NYS Department of Health mailing address is listed as Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237. Do not assume the Albany address is the right walk-in location for certificates, Medicaid, complaints, facility records, or local services.
| Before you visit or mail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Call the program-specific number | Vital Records, Medicaid, FOIL, complaints and facility offices can use different mailing addresses or online forms. |
| Check if the service is appointment-only | Some records, corrections or program services may not accept walk-ins. |
| Use the correct application | Old PDFs and third-party forms may be rejected. |
| Do not mail originals unless required | Complaint and records routes often request copies, not original documents. |
| Use a trackable mailing method when important | Useful for time-sensitive legal, estate, benefit or appeal documents. |
The Albany address is not a universal customer-service answer. Many NYS DOH tasks are handled online, by mail, by phone, by a county health department, by NY State of Health, by NYC Health, by a hospital, or by NYSED Office of the Professions.
Official NYS Department of Health links used in this guide
Use these official pages for final phone numbers, forms, fees, eligibility, complaint routes, public-records instructions and updates. This independent guide does not process records, take payments, verify identities, file complaints, or replace official agency pages.
People also search for: NYS Department of Health Google and Bing intent guide
These are common Google and Bing style search intents around the NYS Department of Health. Each phrase maps to a real user task, so this section connects the query to the correct route instead of sending users to unrelated pages.
nys department of health phone number
Use the general helpline 1-833-364-4695 or the program-specific number for records, Medicaid or complaints.
Phone guidenys department of health birth certificate
Use the NYS birth certificate route, but first confirm whether the birth happened in New York City.
Birth guidenys department of health death certificate
Use the NYS death certificate route, but confirm the receiving agency’s document requirements.
Death guidenys department of health medicaid
Use Medicaid Helpline, NY State of Health, local DSS or NYC HRA depending on the exact issue.
Medicaid guidenys department of health license lookup
Use NYS Physician Profile, NYSED license verification, or DOH facility profile depending on license type.
License guidenys department of health complaints
Use different complaint routes for hospital, nursing home, adult care, home care, hospice and doctor misconduct.
Complaint guidenys department of health local health department
Use the county health department directory for local food, rabies, sanitary and environmental concerns.
Local guidenys department of health public records
Use the FOIL page for agency records, not birth certificates or personal medical charts.
FOIL guideSafety, privacy and independent guide notice
HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent guide. It is not the official New York State Department of Health website, not Health.NY.gov, not NY State of Health, not NYC Health, not a local health department, and not the New York State Education Department.
Do not send Social Security numbers, birth certificates, death certificates, driver licenses, passports, medical records, Medicaid notices, complaint evidence, payment cards, immigration documents, or patient information to an independent guide page. Use official secure pages only.
Phone numbers, hours, fees, forms, eligibility rules, processing times, complaint instructions, FOIL routes, office access, mailing addresses and portal links can change. Confirm final details on official Health.NY.gov, NY State of Health, NYC.gov, county health department, or NYSED pages before taking action.
NYS Department of Health FAQs
What is the NYS Department of Health phone number?
The NYS Department of Health Toll-Free Helplines page lists the General Information Line as 1-833-364-4695. Program-specific numbers include 855-322-1022 for Vital Records, 1-800-541-2831 for Medicaid, 1-800-804-5447 for hospital complaints and 1-888-201-4563 for nursing home complaints.
What is the official NYS Department of Health website?
The official New York State Department of Health website is Health.NY.gov. NY State of Health, NYC Health, county health departments and NYSED Office of the Professions are separate official routes for certain services.
How do I order a New York birth certificate?
Start with the NYS DOH Birth Certificates page and call the Vital Records Call Center at 855-322-1022 if needed. First confirm whether the birth occurred in New York City or outside New York City because NYC births route through NYC Health.
How do I order a New York death certificate?
Use the NYS DOH Death Certificates page for the official route and call 855-322-1022 for Vital Records questions. Ask the receiving agency whether it needs a specific certified copy type before ordering.
Does NYS DOH handle New York City birth and death records?
New York City birth and death records usually route through the NYC Office of Vital Records, not the standard NYS DOH route. If the event happened in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx or Staten Island, check NYC Health first.
How do I contact NYS Medicaid?
The NYS Medicaid Helpline is 1-800-541-2831. Enrollment or marketplace questions may route to NY State of Health at 1-855-355-5777, a local department of social services, or NYC HRA depending on the person’s situation.
How do I find a local health department in New York State?
Use the NYS DOH County Health Departments directory for county health department phone numbers and websites. Local health departments often handle food illness reports, rabies questions, sanitary regulation questions, local clinics and environmental health concerns.
How do I file a hospital complaint with NYS DOH?
Use the NYS DOH hospital and facility complaint form or call 1-800-804-5447. Prepare the facility name, dates, patient details, department, facts, staff names if known and what you already tried to resolve.
How do I file a nursing home complaint in New York?
Use the NYS DOH Nursing Home Complaint Form or call the Nursing Home Complaint Hotline at 1-888-201-4563. Complaints may concern abuse, neglect, mistreatment or care problems in a New York State nursing home.
Is HealthDepartmentGuide.org the official NYS Department of Health website?
No. HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent guide. It does not process records, collect payments, verify identities, file complaints, provide Medicaid decisions, or replace Health.NY.gov, NY State of Health, NYC.gov, local health departments or NYSED official pages.