New York Health Care Commission Recommends Closing Many Hospitals

Commission Predicts Bleak Future for NY Without Changes

The Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century has released their official report on the condition of New York's health care system. The report paints a bleak picture for the future of health care in New York without sweeping changes in the near future. The 240-page report was released November 28, 2006.

The Commission was created as a non-partisan panel to review New York's health care systems. According to the report the Commission was created to "undertake a rational, independent review of health care capacity and resources." The Commission was also charged with verifying that all areas of the state have adequate health care resources. "The Commission was specifically charged with rightsizing institutions." The report noted that rightsizing may involve consolidating, closing, converting and restructuring facilities and health care systems. The Commission, including representative advisory committees from each of six regions, spent 18 months evaluating each hospital and nursing home in New York State before issuing the report with the Commissions recommendations.

The report concludes that the New York health care system is not a unified system but a "fragmented patchwork" of health care providers and resources. New York has too much institution-based care and not enough home and community-based care options. Most areas of New York need additional community and home-based services. "Confronting and solving these problems will require difficult, perhaps unpopular, decisions and strong leadership from our elected officials and others. There is no other responsible choice. We cannot deny reality, bury our heads in the sand, or cling to established patterns. We must overcome our reliance on outdated institutions and strengthen those that remain. New Yorkers deserve and demand a 21st century health system that is more flexible, leaner, stronger and more affordable than the one we have today."