Bellevue Hospital Still Fighting for Life
Bellevue Women's Hospital is continuing to try a range of strategies to stave off closure, from lawn signs to youTube to Oprah to crashing Spitzer's barbeque.
Two City Hospitals Give Up Fight Against Closure
St. Vincent's Midtown and Cabrini Medical Center, two of the hospitals slated for closure by the Berger commission, have indicated their intention to apply for funds from the state Health Department for help complying with the commission's orders.
New York Shown To Lead Way in Health Care Spending
The average New York City family spends approximately $2000 more per year on health care than the national average.
NJ budget talks focus on money for struggling hospitals
To put New York's hospital system in context, read about New Jersey's health care struggles on NJ.com.
More Berger Complaints
The last couple weeks have seen an increase in the number of groups seeking to block the hospital closings and mergers recommended by the Berger Commission. For example:
Assemblywoman Joan Christensen of the Onandaga County has introduced legislation to exclude the merger of Community General Hospital and Van Duyn Home from the Berger report. A lawsuit has been filed by the county as well.
Legislators Ask to Revise Plan for Hospitals
Republican State Senate majority leader Joseph Bruno and Democrat Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver have jointly asked Governor Spitzer to reconsider his plan to institute the recommendations of last year's Berger commission, arguing that the proposed hospital closings will be detrimental to health care in New York.
A Long Legal Battle Looms as Hospitals Fight Closure
After the Berger Commission's recommendations to close nine New York hospitals, only three have begun shutting down as ordered by the state Health Department. The other six hospitals, determined to remain open, are embroiled in legal battles that could continue for years.
Nursing home to shut down
Eden Park Health Care Center, the only nursing home in Schoharie County, has announced that it will close by the end of July, leaving residents without a home and 180 employees without jobs. The Berger commission had previously stated that it saw "no opportunity for rightsizing" in the area.
Health in Black and White
The American Prospect has published an interview with sociologist David Williams about racial and socioeconomic disparities in health.
A different commission
State politician Stan Lundine has been selected to chair Governor Spitzer's Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness, the agenda for which is to "examine ways of consolidating and sharing services among cities, towns, villages, school districts and other local taxing entities in New York state." Lundine openly criticized the Berger Commission's findings, and has said of this commission "I don't think it will be that radical."
