7/27/2019 Letter to Department of Health Regarding Interfaith Medical Center

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July 25, 213

Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H.New York State Department of HealthCorning Tower, Empire State PlazaAlbany, NY, 12237

Dear Commissioner Shah,

Interfaith Hospital in central Brooklyn is a vital safety-net hospital, providing emergency room facilitiesand critical health care services to some of Brooklyns most vulnerable residents. At least 80 percent of itspatients are insured through Medicaid or other public insurance. As such, Interfaith has struggled toremain viable and entered bankruptcy proceedings last year.

On Thursday, July 19, the New York State Department of Health rejected Interfaiths restructuring plansto remain open, and ordered it to submit a closure plan. But a precipitous closure would be costly anddangerous to people across central Brooklyn in need of accessible emergency and critical care.

Interfaiths board has expressed a desire to revise the restructuring plan to gain Department of Healthapproval.

The 2011 New York State Medicaid Redesign Team for Brooklyn envisioned a smart restructuring, not aclosure, of Interfaith. The restructuring, in conjunction with other hospitals or health care providers,

would streamline inpatient and tertiary care, in a manner that is both sustainable and aligned with thecommunitys health needs. This vision for health care in central Brooklyn must not be allowed to die.

The Department of Health should diligently work with Interfaith in good faith to revise their sustainabilityplan, perhaps by expanding outpatient services and carefully reducing excess inpatient capacity, and findan alternative plan to continue health care at the site.

In addition, as I urged in a letter to Governor Cuomo earlier this month, the Department of Health mustreconsider its refusal of $1.6 million in state funds for Brooklyn Hospital to fully complete the duediligence necessary for a potential merger. Whether with Brooklyn Hospital, or with another health careprovider, the Department of Health should support Interfaith in exploring partners or alternative managerswho can keep critical health care in this vulnerable Brooklyn neighborhood.

Thank you for your consideration of this vitally important matter.

Sincerely,

Bill de BlasioPublic Advocate for the City of New York