Brooklyn pols fight to restore millions in budget for teetering hospitals
Brookdale, Interfaith, others affected
Brooklyn officials are fiercely negotiating in Albany to restore to the budget hundreds of millions of dollars meant to prop up teetering safety-net hospitals — including Interfaith Medical Center, Brookdale Hospital, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center and Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn.
Advocates say that seven New York Metropolitan-area hospitals, and 21 others throughout the state, could be at risk if the state Senate and Assembly fail to reach an agreement to restore $290 million for Vital Access Provider (VAP) funding slashed from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed Executive Budget. More than $100 million in additional funding is also affected.
The VAP funding had been reduced by $80 million in the Assembly’s budget, while the Senate’s budget eliminated the funding entirely.
Assemblymember N. Nick Perry (D-Canarsie – East Flatbush – Brownsville) told the Brooklyn Eagle on Thursday that earlier this week the Assembly’s entire Brooklyn delegation had signed off on a letter to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie calling for “full funding at the original proposed number.”