May 7, 2025
Nassau Health Care Corporation (NHCC) Board Chair Dr. Irina Gelman has voiced strong opposition to language in budget bill S.3007-C, which was released overnight. The bill seeks to assert state control over Nassau County’s only public safety-net hospital.
Dr. Gelman described the state’s actions as “unprecedented, immoral and dangerous,” criticizing what she sees as targeted interference with NHCC while other public benefit corporations in New York State remain unaffected. She emphasized that prioritizing politics over patient care is “deplorable.”
She urged Nassau County residents and elected officials to review the Alvarez & Marsal Assessment of Strategic Options for NHCC/NuHealth from December 11, 2020. This assessment highlighted that only two options could approach a sustainable operating model by transferring outpatient care to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and focusing on behavioral health for inpatient care. Notably, none of these options included maintaining a skilled nursing or long-term care facility.
The assessment also indicated that out of an estimated 3,400 full-time employees, only 290-310 would remain if the Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) converted into a behavioral/mental health-only facility model.
A letter from the New York State Department of Health dated March 1, 2024, addressed to the Chairman of NHCC supported this view: “the A&M strategic assessment provided 5 options for transformation but concluded that only one would lead to financial sustainability: Conversion to an Article 31 [NYS Mental Hygiene Law entitled Regulation and Quality control of services for the Mentally Disabled] facility with approximately 120 beds providing only behavioral health services.”
Dr. Gelman further expressed concern about both the state’s power overreach and the proposed construction of a new behavioral/health facility in Nassau County. She questioned whether a state-appointed board could effectively manage such a critical care facility given New York State’s track record with its SUNY hospital facilities.
