Public Hearing in Albany to Discuss SUNY Downstate Hospital and LICH

A commenter sends word that the NYS Senate Standing Committee on Higher Education will be holding a hearing on June 4 to discuss SUNY Downstate Hospital and Long Island College Hospital (LICH) "in regard to the sustainability plan required by the 2013-2014 state budget."

Photo: MK Metz

Oral testimony will be heard "by invitation only."

SUNY Downstate, nearly bankrupt, must submit a Sustainability Plan by June 1.

To dig itself out of its financial hole, SUNY had been hoping to sell LICH's valuable real estate for up to $500 million. But a lawsuit, political action and a huge outpouring of support for the 150-year-old Cobble Hill hospital put a crimp in that plan.

LICH is a critical provider of health care for Brooklyn residents from Red Hook to Williamsburg, including booming Downtown Brooklyn.

On May 1 SUNY said they would drop their plan to sell LICH, and instead start a search for another entity to take over the hospital. As part of the search they issued a Request for Information (RFI).

LICH supporters, however, said the RFI is designed to fail. It calls for potential LICH operators to put together a complex proposal providing medical, ownership, utilization, legal, regulatory and financial details by May 22 -- something SUNY has not been able to do in two years.

The hearing takes place in the Van Buren Hearing Room A, Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor,
Albany, New York
Time: 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Contact: Nicole Stewart (518) 455-3121 (LaValle)

http://www.nysenate.gov/committee/higher-education

This event will be streamed live.

More LICH stories here.

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