East End Health Alliance Briefs Elected Officials

(November 17, 2008)

Southampton, NY—The Board of the East End Health Alliance briefed East End elected officials, including Congressman Tim Bishop, NYS Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Town Supervisors, Village  Mayors and Trustees, on November 12 at Southampton Hospital’s Parrish Memorial Hall.  Alliance Board Chair, Stephen H. Shapoff provided an overview of the Alliance organization and accomplishments, followed by Paul J. Connor, Chair of the CEO Council for the East End Health Alliance and President/CEO of Eastern Long Island Hospital, who addressed the issues and challenges before the three East End hospitals that make up the Alliance. 

The briefing came in advance of Governor Patterson’s November budget proposal calling for reductions in the State’s Medicaid spending at a time when thousands of Long Islanders are losing their jobs and their health insurance, assuring that Medicaid enrollment will increase significantly.  Alliance hospitals, like all others in New York State, are still suffering from budget cuts endured in April, and then again in August.  According to Connor, Alliance hospitals lost a total $8 million last year.  He emphasized the looming crisis ahead and urged the elected officials present to do all that they can to work with other legislators and the Governor to find a solution.  Along with Andrew J. Mitchell of Peconic Bay Medical Center and Robert S. Chaloner of Southampton Hospital, Connor also expressed concern that the deepening financial crisis will have a serious impact on the ability of their hospitals to raise funds through philanthropy.

Nearly two-thirds of Long Island’s hospitals operate within a razor-thin operating margin of less than one percent, the second lowest operating margin in the nation.  Further cuts will force hospital administrators to eliminate or curtail programs, reduce staff, and take East End Alliance Briefs Elected Officials other corrective measures.  These additional cuts in Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals would have dire consequences for our local economy and delivery of healthcare to our communities.

The Alliance hospitals provide critical care to a year-round population of more than 250,000, and more than 170,000 summer residents and visitors to the East End.  In addition, these hospitals are an essential component of the economy of the East End and Suffolk County, employing more than 1,500 full-time employees and bringing an economic benefit of more than $500 million to the region.

For more information please email us at: info@healli.org