Council members discuss healthcare access amid hospital closures in New York City

The Committees on Finance and Hospitals convened on May 26, 2025, to discuss the Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget for the City of New York, focusing on critical healthcare services and the implications of recent hospital closures. The meeting highlighted the urgent need for strategic planning to address the healthcare needs of approximately one million residents who rely on city health services.

The discussion began with concerns regarding the closure of Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital, which has raised questions about patient care continuity, particularly as patients are expected to shift to Bellevue Hospital. The potential impact on Kings County Hospital, already facing high patient volumes, was also noted, with an anticipated increase in demand for services. Council members expressed the need for clarity on how these changes would affect Medicaid beneficiaries, especially those losing their healthcare coverage.

Participants emphasized the importance of collaboration between city officials and health institutions to ensure that vulnerable communities continue to receive essential services. Recommendations were made to review existing affiliation contracts between Health and Hospitals (H&H) and private institutions like NYU Langone, which reportedly has high compensation rates and significant surplus revenue. The discussion raised questions about the appropriateness of tax exemptions for these institutions and whether those funds could be redirected to support public health services.

The meeting concluded with a call for strategic solutions to ensure that public hospitals are adequately resourced to meet the needs of uninsured patients, particularly as private hospitals may refer patients to public facilities when insurance coverage is insufficient. The council members expressed a commitment to working collaboratively on these proposals to safeguard access to healthcare for all New Yorkers.