Public Health

I was under the impression that hospitals in New York were, in general, private entities, but it appears that I was mistaken. The New York State Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century recently released a report containing recommendations which, if not rejected by the State legislature, require the closure or merger of a number of hospitals throughout the State. Again, I was under the impression that recommendations were not mandatory, and that a report was not legislation, but apparently I was mistaken.

§ 9. Implementation of recommendations. (a) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, … the commissioner of health shall take all actions necessary to implement, in a reasonable, cost-efficient manner, the recommendations of the commission … including, but not limited to: … (ii) the rescission of operating certificates and establishment approvals issued to those facilities selected for closure by the commission; [emphasis and link mine]

Most of the discussion I’ve heard on this matter concerns whether or not certain hospitals should be closed, merged, or not. Perhaps I’m alone here, but if the State is intent on “right-sizing” health care facilities in the public interest, then perhaps the State should simply appropriate said facilities and operate them as public hospitals, rather than proceeding with this farce.

As Larry pointed out,

It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous State may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.