On Aug. 31, the Establishment and Project Review Committee of the New York State Public Health and Planning Council voted unanimously to approve the proposal for Maimonides Health to join NYC Health + Hospitals, according to a press release. The proposal will now move forward to a full council vote later this month, scheduled for Sept. 17.
“We are grateful that we are one step closer to securing the financial support we need to maintain and expand the outstanding care our communities have come to rely on,” said Ken Gibbs, president and CEO of Maimonides Health.
According to Gibbs, joining NYC Health + Hospitals would give Maimonides more than $2.2 billion in grant funding over five years. Funding would include more than $500 million to adopt electronic health record systems and upgrade labor and delivery rooms.
By joining a public health care system, Maimonides would be reimbursed at a higher rate by Medicaid.
“We hope to receive final approval from PHHPC in September and other regulatory and legal approvals shortly,” Gibbs said.
Maimonides Health is Brooklyn’s largest health care system, providing more than 1 million patient visits each year. It operates three hospitals in Brooklyn and more than 80 community practices and outpatient centers across the borough. NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the country, operating more than 70 patient care locations across New York City.
There was support from groups such as the New York State Hospital Association, the Greater New York Hospital Association and the Healthcare Association of New York State during the decision on Monday. However, NYC Health + Hospitals also noted “vigorous opposition” from those who disagreed with the transaction.
The partnership is part of one of six investments made by Hochul to improve safety net hospitals throughout the state.
