Requires public notice and public engagement when a general hospital seeks to close entirely or a unit that provides maternity, mental health or substance use care

Requires public notice and public engagement when a general hospital seeks to close entirely or a unit that provides maternity, mental health or substance use care.

VETO MESSAGE - No. 137 TO THE SENATE: I am returning herewith, without my approval, the following bill: Senate Bill Number 1226, entitled: "AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to providing public notice and public engagement when a general hospital seeks to close entirely or a unit that provides maternity, mental health or substance use care" NOT APPROVED This bill would change the process for closure of an entire hospital or unit of a hospital. For the closure of an entire hospital, it would require at least 270 days prior notice to the Department of Health, providers, labor unions, local, state and federal legislative represen- tatives, and other parties; for the closure of a unit the time frame is at least 210 days. This is my second veto of this legislation, which does not appropri- ately reflect the financial realities that struggling hospitals face, which are only ex...