NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SUBJECT:
The Brooklyn Health Care Crisis

PURPOSE:
To assess the health care delivery system in Brooklyn

Brooklyn - RESCHEDULED DATE
Friday, February 8, 2013
10:30 A.M.
Brooklyn Borough Hall
209 Joralemon Street

Brooklyn's health care delivery system is at a critical juncture. A report issued late last year by the State Health Department's Brooklyn Health Systems Redesign Work Group - At the Brink of Transformation: Restructuring the Healthcare Delivery System in Brooklyn - found a community "grappling with high rates of chronic disease and a healthcare delivery system that is, in many areas, ill-equipped to address them." The report also found high rates of preventable hospital admissions and avoidable emergency department visits - signs of deficiencies in primary care services. This situation has created a financial distress for several Brooklyn hospitals that are safety net providers, putting at risk their ability to deliver services.

Together with the Brooklyn Assembly delegation, the Health Committee will explore the factors contributing to the Brooklyn health care crisis and how to resolve it.

Testimony at this hearing is by invitation only. Persons planning to attend the hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form by Monday, February 4. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation of the hearing.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Questions about the hearing may be directed to Michelle Newman at 518-455-4371 or newmanm@assembly.state.ny.us.

Hon. Richard N. Gottfried
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Health



PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons planning to attend the public hearing on the Brooklyn Health Care Crisis are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible, but no later than Monday, February 4, by email or fax it to:

Michelle Newman
Legislative Analyst
Assembly Committee on Health
Room 442 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
Email: newmanm@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4371
Fax: (518) 455-4693
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I plan to attend the public hearing on the Brooklyn Health Care Crisis to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Health on Friday, February 8.
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I would like to be added to the Committee's mailing list for notices and reports.
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