Bad
MedicineThe Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century has come up with recommendations that will take New York State back to the 19th Century.
The commission’s plan to “stabilize and strengthen” New York’s health care system includes a recommendation that will “breakdown and weaken” what’s already in place.
The state panel wants to privatize SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse by merging it with Crouse Hospital in Syracuse.
This privatization scheme won’t save any money — but it could jeopardize Upstate Medical Centers’ high quality of care.
The panel recommends using a privately run facility as the operating model. It’s an operating model that has failed at Crouse Hospital.
Crouse recently emerged from bankruptcy after running up $91 million in debt. The hospital must repay $62 million in debt. Its occupancy rates are under 50 percent on average.
Meanwhile, SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse got it right. SUNY Upstate is financially sound and has an average occupancy rate of 80 percent. A study in 2000 concluded that SUNY Upstates’ current operating structure is competitive and successful.
Call lawmakers at 1-877-255-9417, and tell them the commission made the wrong recommendation. Privatizing SUNY Upstate would threaten public health care and ultimately shift the burden to taxpayers.
New Yorkers shouldn’t be forced to take this bad medicine.
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This ad was created by PEF's Public Relations Dept. © Copyright 2006. This ad appeared in the Legislative Gazette on Dec. 4, 2006. A revised version also ran in the Syracuse Post-Standard on Sunday, Dec 10, 2006.