For Immediate Release

June 29, 2010

Legislature Passes
the “Hospital Closure Planning Act”

Requiring State To
Address Impact Of Hospital Closings On Communities

           
Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Queens) and Senator Shirley Huntley (D-Queens)
announce passage of the "Hospital Closure Planning Act" (A.10748A/S.7483A)
in both houses of the legislature.  This bill would require the NYS
Department of Health to hold a public forum and report on the impact of a
hospital's closure on the surrounding community's access to medical care. 
The legislation comes in response to the recent closings of Mary Immaculate and
St. John's hospitals in Queens,
and St. Vincent's hospital in Manhattan, where in each instance the state lacked a clear and
comprehensive plan for how to meet the ongoing healthcare needs of those affected
communities.

 
           
“A hospital's closing should not mean the closing off of healthcare services
for the surrounding community, but that's what happens unless the state listens
to the community and makes plans for meeting its healthcare needs," said
Assemblyman Lancman.  "We may not be able to stop a hospital from
closing, but we ought to be able to measure the impact of that closing and come
up with a plan for serving the residents who relied on that hospital for
healthcare services," said Assemblyman Rory Lancman.

 
            “Losing a
hospital can adversely affect a community and its residents.  We’ve seen
it happen here in Southeast
Queens and most recently in Manhattan, with the closing of St. Vincent’s hospital.  Due to current economic climate New York State is facing we must ensure that neighborhoods across
the state can access alternative health care when a hospital closes. It is
equally important to involve communities in the planned closure of a hospital
and in replacing the most important services residents rely on.  The
residents of the community where a hospital is located have the best
understanding of the services they need and what needs to be done,” said
Senator Shirley Huntley. 

 
           
“In Manhattan, the community has been up in arms about the closing
of St. Vincent’s Hospital.  People are also concerned about
what services the community will have, and who will provide them,” said
Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried.  “An enormous amount of
time and effort has been put into trying to resolve that crisis, including by
the State Health Department.  But the community has had little formal
opportunity to be heard or to know what the response is.”

 
            "The
loss of St. Vincent's has not only dramatically reduced access to
healthcare for Manhattan's Westside, but the loss of jobs and foot traffic
from visitors has devastated the neighborhood's economy," said
Assemblymember Deborah Glick.  "No other neighborhood should
experience the shock of rapid closure as we have."--------------------------------------------------------Jane Carey, Chief of StaffOffice of Assemblyman Rory Lancman

159-16 Union Turnpike, Suite 210Hillcrest, New York 11366718-820-0241 (District); 518-455-5172 (Albany); 718-820-0414 (Fax)301-775-9956 (Cell); www.nyad25.org; jane@nyad25.org