WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), New York State Senator Mark Walcyzk (R-49), and Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown) launched a state and federal investigation into multiple reports that the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has allegedly failed to fully support and possibly even obstructed Carthage Area Hospital, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Campus from completing their approved restructuring that would preserve critical healthcare services throughout the North Country.
"The Worst Governor in America Kathy Hochul is weaponizing her Department of Health to target, block funding, and close a rural hospital in my district to try to make a desperate political point. This is the epitome of single party rule and corruption in New York State, and we caught her red handed. The serious allegations of bureaucratic incompetence and willful mismanagement from the Hochul Administration directly jeopardizes the entire safety net healthcare infrastructure of New York's rural hospitals in the North Country and must be addressed by Governor Hochul immediately," said Stefanik. "Today I am calling on the New York State DOH to release its funding immediately, as promised, and halt what appears to be deliberate delay tactics that have placed our North Country hospitals on the brink of crisis. I will be announcing significant funding at the federal level directly to save this hospital from Kathy Hochul's abysmal and heartless leadership."
"Northstar Health Alliance has been a good faith partner, bending over backwards to provide Governor Hochul with the information her Department of Health has asked for. This withdrawal by Hochul to the transition plan and abandonment of rural healthcare is disgusting," said Walczyk.
"NYSDOH’s failure to act and meaningfully engage in this approved restructuring is a profound disservice to the North Country. Governor Hochul must direct her administration to resolve this situation immediately, release the promised support, and work with these hospitals to preserve jobs and safeguard access to healthcare for the communities they serve. The prospect of families being forced to move their loved ones out of Meadowbrook’s long-term care over the holidays, the thought of expecting mothers having to find new services, or the displacement of cancer treatment patients in the midst of treatment, and the list goes on, is inexcusable and underscores the urgency of action now," said Gray.
"Despite achieving final milestones in collaboration with the DOH and federal regulatory agencies, financial support has stalled at a critical point. This transformational plan for the North Country is in jeopardy, clearly threatening Safety Net Hospitals, its employees and the patients who trust us for their care," said Richard A. Duvall, North Star Health Alliance President and CEO.
This funding and restructuring plan, developed with the hospitals’ boards of directors and leadership, is the first of its kind in the state. The plan preserves critical healthcare services, protects jobs, and truly transforms the hospitals to continue to care for the community as they have done for a combined 244 years of service to the North Country. Despite public support from State officials and DOH officials under Governor Hochul’s failed leadership before Congresswoman Stefanik announced her campaign, Kathy Hochul's DOH has repeatedly delayed financial steps necessary to complete this strategic transformation.
Stefanik's investigation is the first step in holding the Hochul Administration accountable for threatening the healthcare of thousands of New Yorkers and livelihoods of roughly 1,700 healthcare workers.
