Health Care

Cuomo: NY hospitals could close over fed funding delay

Three ailing Brooklyn hospitals could close because the Obama administration is dragging its feet in reallocating $10 billion in health-care funding to the state, Gov. Cuomo warned Tuesday.

A clearly frustrated Cuomo raised the smoldering issue during his budget presentation, saying he’s waited 18 months for the federal government to approve New York’s application to overhaul medical services, including restructuring ailing hospitals.

The governor pointed to three Brooklyn facilities in particular — Long Island College, Interfaith and Brookdale hospitals — that are on life support.

“We have been propping up [the hospitals] the last 18 months, frankly,” Cuomo said. “This is truly a crisis. This is a serious situation that affects a lot of people.”

The governor warned, “This budget does not have the resources to keep the hospitals open without the Medicaid waiver.”

He was referring to a request to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services for permission to reallocate $10 billion in federal health care funding.

Ironically, the Cuomo administration plan aims at advancing the goals of the Affordable Care Act, also know as ObamaCare, by providing better care at lower cost.

Cuomo said state actions have generated $17 billion in federal savings, and New York wants to reinvest reallocated federal funds to bolster medical care.

The governor’s plan calls for expanding primary care, protecting or restructuring “safety net” facilities, hiring and training more doctors to prepare for ObamaCare, and implementing strategies to reduce hospital readmissions.

The State University of New York is blowing through $13 million a month to keep open Long Island College Hospital, even though the facility serves few patients amid a legal war over its survival.

The courts have blocked state attempts to shut the facility — with Mayor de Blasio leading the charge as one of the plaintiffs demanding the hospital stay open.

Only minutes after Cuomo aired his concerns, state Health Commissioner Dr. Nirav Shah complained that the feds were treating New York unfairly in comparison to other states.

Shah said the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services approved California’s similar health care application in six months and Texas’ proposal in only five months.

“Nearly half of New York’s 227 hospitals are financially distressed,” Shah said. “The biggest problem is in Brooklyn where we have eight hospitals in distress, three in jeopardy of closing.

“If the federal government doesn’t act on the waiver, a number of hospitals in Brooklyn and statewide will close.”

Albany insiders said it’s rare to see Cuomo publicly air his gripes at fellow Democrat Obama’s administration. But the issue has been simmering for some time.

“It’s certainly extraordinary how long it is taking to get this done,” said Assembly Health Committee chairman Richard ­Gottfried (D-Manhattan). “The governor’s people have been frustrated over this for over a year.”

Gottfried said it’s unclear what the holdup is because the negotiations between Albany and Washington are secret. Cuomo submitted the proposal in August 2012.

Obama health officials held their tongue about the tiff.

“We can’t comment on waivers that are still under review.,” said a spokeswoman for the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.

Medical emergency

Cuomo vs. Obama on health care:

  • August 2012—New York submits request to Washington to restructure $10 billion in federal health care funds. State still awaiting answer.
  • The funds would provide $1.2 billion in capital for hospitals, clinics and nursing homes.
  • Three ailing hospitals in Brooklyn—Long Island College, Interfaith and Brookdale—at risk of closing if state doesn’t get federal funds reallocated.
  • State Health Commissioner Dr. Nirav Shah says nearly half of state’s 227 hospitals are financially distressed.