Q&A
Council members and state senators discuss hospital closure notifications and the LICH Act
1:58:21
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131 sec
Council members and state senators engage in a Q&A session about hospital closures, focusing on the lack of notifications and the potential impact of the LICH Act. They discuss the need for community involvement and independent health impact assessments for hospital closures.
- Council Member Lynn Schulman inquires about support for pushing for hospital closure notifications in New York City.
- State Senator Zellnor Myrie expresses strong support for this initiative, linking it to the LICH Act.
- State Senator Gustavo Rivera elaborates on the LICH Act's provisions and mentions ongoing efforts to engage with the governor's office for bill approval.
Lynn Schulman
1:58:21
I have a quick question for you.
1:58:24
So earlier in the testimony, it was New York City Department of Health said that the state doesn't have to tell them when they're having a closure in New York City.
1:58:35
So would you support us if we push for that?
Zellnor Myrie
1:58:39
A 1000%, I think this is in part what the Litch Act is getting at.
1:58:43
But the truth is that they don't it's not just that they don't notify you notify anybody.
Cynthia Walker
1:58:48
Right.
Zellnor Myrie
1:58:49
None of us know, and that's the problem that we could have such a critical institution in our communities be shut down or reduced without notification and notice.
1:58:58
And so we would be fully in support to that.
Lynn Schulman
1:59:01
Okay.
1:59:01
Thank you very much.
Zellnor Myrie
1:59:02
Thank you.
Mercedes Narcisse
1:59:03
Thank you.
Zellnor Myrie
1:59:03
Thank you.
Gustavo Rivera
1:59:04
And just to reiterate and just to reiterate the the
Mercedes Narcisse
1:59:06
Oh, yeah.
1:59:06
One more thing.
Gustavo Rivera
1:59:08
Yeah.
1:59:08
Just really quickly, this is precisely what the what the bill would do.
1:59:12
It would create a it would create a process that would mandate community involvement from the beginning and would continue along as well as an independent entity to assess the health impacts of a particular closure, whether it's an entire entire hospital or a section of the hospital, etcetera.
1:59:30
That's where that's where this bill is so essential, which is why I again thank you because we are you know, it's October.
1:59:37
The bill passed months and months and months ago, and we have consistently talked to the governor's office and said, do you wanna have a conversation about whether you would sign this, whether you have potential changes that you would like to make sure that you leave the core of the bill untouched.
1:59:50
But we have not we have not heard back yet.
1:59:52
Hopefully, we do.
1:59:54
But I am certainly hopeful that all this pressure would mean that the governor again does the right thing inside this bill.
Mercedes Narcisse
1:59:59
Since we cannot sign on your bill, but we'll do Razor, we'll do whatever it takes.
2:00:03
So make sure that we have the equity in healthcare in New York City.
2:00:08
Thank you so much.
2:00:09
Thank you.
2:00:10
Appreciate you.
2:00:12
Now we're bringing back our honorable gracious panelists that we we thank you for your time.
2:00:22
Thank you.
2:00:25
And I believe chair majority of whips book books, powers.
