Opinion
November 5, 1998
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (William Wetzel, J.).
Determination of respondent Department of Health dated April 1, 1998, which, after an administrative hearing, affirmed respondent's prior determination to exclude petitioner from participation in the Medicaid program for two years, unanimously confirmed, the petition denied and the proceeding brought pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of the Supreme Court, New York County [William Wetzel, J.], entered June 24, 1998) dismissed, without costs.
Petitioner did not divest the agency of jurisdiction by choosing to resign from the Medicaid panel ( see, Matter of Senise v. Corcoran, 146 Misc.2d 698, 600). The provision in 18 NYCRR 519.22 (b) that a "decision will be issued * * * in any event within 120 days of the conclusion of the hearing or the closing of the record" is directory, rather than mandatory ( cf., Matter of Gonkjur Assocs. v. Abrams, 57 N.Y.2d 853, 856), such that respondent's failure to issue its decision within the specified time frame did not, without more, deprive it of jurisdiction ( see, Matter of Cosmos Forms v. State Div. of Human Rights, 150 A.D.2d 442, 443), and petitioner, having made no showing of prejudice by reason of the delay, is not entitled to relief ( see, Tiffany Co. v. Smith, 224 A.D.2d 332, lv denied 88 N.Y.2d 806). The administrative determination is supported by substantial evidence ( see, Matter of Sarfo v. Glass, 243 A.D.2d 824, 826) and the penalty is not inappropriate ( see, e.g., Matter of Mirilashvili v. Dowling, 213 A.D.2d 175, 176).
Concur — Sullivan, J. P., Rosenberger, Wallach, Mazzarelli and Andrias, JJ.