The chair of the state Assembly Committee on Higher Education wants direct aid for the State University of New York’s public teaching hospitals to be included in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget plan.
The governor’s budget doesn’t currently contain any direct aid to SUNY hospitals.
“We used to give the three SUNY hospitals a subsidy, recognizing that their public mission was crucial, that they provided certain services in their regions that were not available anywhere else and that they trained the health care professionals that we rely upon,” said Assemblywoman Deborah Glick.
That subsidy used to be $160 million, but its dwindled to nothing over the years. Glick says a reasonable amount would be $100 million moving forward, considering that’s what New York City gives its public hospitals.
“Whether or not there’s an appetite among the executive and the full Legislature, I don’t know yet, but I think it’s key,” said Glick.
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