After years of being on rocky monetary footing, the State College of New York Downstate Hospital, Well being Sciences Middle, and College (SUNY Downstate) could also be on the way in which to stability with Governor Kathy Hochul’s promised $450 million in funding within the state finances.
“Tonight, I’m talking not solely as an elected official however as a neighbor who has personally been handled at Downstate, my spouse handled at Downstate, so I do know the significance of the function it performs in the neighborhood,” mentioned Senator Zellnor Myrie, who can be operating for mayor this 12 months.
Hochul’s government finances for fiscal 12 months (FY) 2026 allotted a complete $15.3 billion for SUNY tasks total. Inside that allocation, $100 million in working help and a further $450 million for modernization prices are put aside for SUNY Downstate Hospital.
Constructed in 1966, SUNY Downstate is in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. The educating hospital has 342 beds and is the state’s largest tutorial medical middle; housing a number of undergraduate nursing and medical establishments, a graduate college, and a multifaceted biotechnology initiative. SUNY Downstate is the 93rd percentile for complete Black graduates and fiftieth percentile for complete Hispanic or Latinx graduates. The hospital portion at present has greater than 800 physicians representing 53 specialties, supported by about 3,000 healthcare professionals who work to handle well being disparities, persistent circumstances, and systemic inequities in underrepresented communities.
SUNY Downstate can be a Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH), that means it serves numerous these with Medicaid and with out insurance coverage — an enormous consider why it was in monetary destroy after the COVID-19 disaster in 2020.
In February 2024, the state introduced it will be “remodeling” the amenities. The transformation meant $300 million capital funding towards shifting inpatient companies throughout the road to Kings County Hospital, and $100 million final 12 months to cowl the hospital’s deficit.
Myrie and different electeds, advocates, clergy, unions, and hospital employees led a sequence of huge demonstrations towards the plan, saying the modifications would successfully shut the hospital.
“Downstate is an anchor establishment in Central Brooklyn, dwelling to the one kidney transplant middle on this borough, and one among two regional perinatal facilities. Critically, it’s the solely state-run hospital in New York Metropolis,” continued Myrie. “Final 12 months, when the governor’s finances proposed closing SUNY Downstate and sending its sufferers elsewhere to obtain care, this group, which has a number of the worst racial well being disparities; the worst maternal well being outcomes; the worst charges of coronary heart illness, diabetes, bronchial asthma, and the least entry to inexpensive high quality healthcare — discovered concerning the finances proposal and was rightfully outraged.”
This 12 months’s government finances announcement about extra funds for SUNY Downstate got here on the first convening of the hospital’s new group advisory board assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The eight-member board was established final April by Hochul and is tasked with making suggestions to develop an affordable and fiscally accountable plan for SUNY Downstate’s future with group enter.
SUNY Downstate falls in Councilmember Rita Joseph’s district. On the assembly, she known as the hospital a lifeline for companies and training. She urged the board to develop group engagement and public hearings from the scheduled three to accessible city halls and digital boards. “SUNY Downstate should place itself as a pacesetter in superior care, not only for Brooklyn, however for sufferers throughout this metropolis and past,” mentioned Joseph.
Equally, others testified to wanting extra staffing to assist with affected person ratios; a discount within the hospital’s mattress capability from 342 to 250 to enhance effectivity; enchancment in outpatient preventive care facilities; renovation of the emergency room division; creation of personal labor, supply, and postpartum rooms within the maternity ward; and rebuilding coronary heart surgical procedure applications and sustaining cardiothoracic companies, amongst different strikes.
Khari Edwards, the primary vice chairman of shade of exterior affairs at Brookdale Hospital in Brownsville (one other security internet hospital that serves Medicaid and Medicare sufferers or these with out insurance coverage), recalled an identical effort: combating to maintain Brookdale from closing in 2017.
“I’m ecstatic that the governor dedicated to protecting Downstate’s doorways open with an infusion of capital cash. Fifteen years in the past, I used to be a part of a bunch created to handle the second Berger Fee that needed to shut security internet hospitals. The battle for security internet hospitals might want to proceed as a result of capital cash won’t be sufficient,” mentioned Edwards, who’s operating for Brooklyn Borough president towards Antonio Reynoso. “With the brand new management in Washington, my hope is that the governor will change the reimbursement charges, giving hospitals an opportunity to actually survive this federal administration and pending Medicaid cuts for low-income communities.”
“She [Hochul] can’t simply be giving cash and we don’t know the place it went,” testified one nurse, responding to the truth that the state’s government finances proposal hasn’t been finalized but.
Many attendees criticized the state and the advisory board for taking nearly 9 months to carry its first public listening to, when it promised to launch a report by April 1, 2025. The state’s last adopted finances is normally accepted by the start of April.
“SUNY Downstate has at all times stood as a vibrant a part of the group. We should proceed working towards options to make sure the healthcare of Black and Brown people and its safety,” mentioned Anita Taylor, a consultant for Congressmember Yvette Clarke, who demanded that the deadline for a last report be prolonged to listen to extra public testimony. “As we close to an April deadline, we’re involved concerning the lack of transparency from the governor-appointed fee and their course of and findings, in addition to concerning the many delays in conducting public hearings.”
Reynoso thanked the teams that rallied to avoid wasting SUNY Downstate. He hinted at much more funding coming from his workplace in his quick speech, however didn’t make an official announcement about how a lot. “I wish to maintain again on info that I’ve as a result of we wish to be certain we announce it the suitable method, however I will likely be right here with SUNY Downstate,” mentioned Reynoso. “Brooklyn borough corridor will likely be supporting SUNY Downstate, and it’ll not simply be phrases — there will likely be funding hooked up to that.”
The advisory board is slated to have two extra public hearings, on Feb. 27 and Mar. 13.
