subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sun, Nov 08 2009 

Published: February 09, 2007 12:02 am    print this story  

HOSPITAL CLOSINGS: State puts Memorial, Mount St. Mary’s on merger timeline

Consolidation talks must begin by June

By Jill Terreri
Niagara Gazette

The Spitzer administration is marching forward with a plan to close and merge hospitals statewide and has given two local institutions a timeline to begin negotiations.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston have been told that they must begin formal discussions about creating a single unified governance structure by June 1 and submit an application detailing what that structure is by the end of the year.

Meeting the negotiating timeline won’t be a problem, said Memorial Medical Center President Joseph Ruffolo.

“Whether we’ll be successful in affiliating, merging with Mount St. Mary’s is another issue,” Ruffolo said.

Mount St. Mary’s spokesman Fred Caso says that the hospital is ready to talk.

“Mount St. Mary’s welcomes the opportunity to hold discussions with Niagara Falls Memorial consistent with the directive of the Berger Commission,” said Caso. “We will meet all of the legal obligations which we have regarding the commission’s report.”

The state Department of Health is sending timelines to all hospitals and nursing homes affected by the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century, also known as the Berger Commission.

Mount St. Mary’s is in the midst of talks geared toward merging with the Catholic Health System, but Caso said Thursday that a recent 90-day extension of those talks also allows for discussions with Memorial Medical Center.

Representatives from the state Department of Health were touring both hospitals on Thursday as part of the process for carrying out the commission’s recommendations.

The hospitals are asked to schedule discussions by March 1, initiate those discussions by June 1 and submit progress reports on the discussions on Sept. 30.

The results of the hospitals’ discussions must be submitted to the state by the end of the year. If a report is not made, the state health commissioner is instructed to decide whether negotiations were performed in good faith by March 31, 2008. A decision on the merger report will be made by the commissioner by June 30, 2008.

The commission recommended that western Niagara County’s two acute care facilities negotiate toward common governance to stop a “medical arms race” that is expensive and creates duplicative services.

During the negotiations the state has said it will not approve new projects at either hospital, with some exceptions. If the state believes a hospital is not negotiating in good faith, it could be shut down. If that happens, the other would be expanded to accommodate more patients.

Memorial’s plans for a renovated behavioral health unit have not received final approval from the state. Ruffolo said he believed the project fit within the acceptable exceptions to the ban on new projects.

Niagara County, which has filed a lawsuit against the state regarding the commission’s recommendation to close and demolish Mount View Health Facility and build an assisted living facility in its place, is also expecting a letter from Albany.

The county argues that the commission’s recommendation will have a negative impact on county finances, because a purchase agreement with buyer Senior Associates now cannot be executed. Senior Associates, a Williamsville firm that owns and operates nursing homes, agreed to pay $2.4 million for the county-run home, located in Lockport.

The county has been trying to sell the nursing home to a private buyer since 2004.

print this story  



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Featured Jobs

Facilities Director
Facilities
Director 
Strategically manage commercial and residential portfolios onsite in US and Canada. Exe
...>MORE

Assistant Director
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Alumni Relations (ft) sought by the Alumni Relations Department of Niagara University, a private
...>MORE

Nurses

NURSES

RN - LPN

Join our progressive
health care team

FT-PT - Per Diem
...>MORE

Cook Manager
COOK /Manager full time exp. req. Call for appt. 297-2500 ask for general manager. ...>MORE

Customer Service
Customer Service
CARPET CLEANING
$400-$600/week
Our customers have cleaning fever. Openings for men & wom
...>MORE

WAIT STAFF
WaitSTAFF P/T 11am -2pm or 3:15-6:45pm. Will train. Apply Amberleigh Retirement, 2330 Maple near Transit. ...>MORE

Echo Tech
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY TECHNICIAN, Full-time. Certification by ARDMS or registry eligible. Up to $7500 Sign On Bonus!; MEDICAL...>MORE

Instructors
Join Our Team!
Would you like to work on a top performing team who is ranked 17th in the nation and have the opport
...>MORE

Remedy Staffing
Inventory Control
Carousel Pickers
Order Pickers
Receivers/Shippers
Packers
Pay: $10/hr
Sh
...>MORE


MEDICAL SECRETARY: FT for Lkpt primary care office. Exp. preferred. Call/msg 807-1618...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

Dodge 2001 Neon
Dodge 2001 Neon 4 dr, auto, a/c, new tires, c/d no rust, inspected, $3900. white 860-2854...>MORE

Chevy 2007 Impala LT
CHEVY 2007 Impala LT
25,800 mi, ext. warranty
Exc. Cond, $16,500
297-2199
...>MORE

Buick 2005 Lesabre
BUICK 2005 Lesabre Custom, excellent condition, fully loaded, $6700 or best offer, 754-4540...>MORE

Mercury 1999 Grand Marquis
Mercury ‘99 Grand Marquis 4 dr, leather, all options, 49k org mi., showroom cond. $6000. 860-2854, ...>MORE

VW 2001 Beetle
VW 2001 Beetle, loaded, GLX turbo, exc. cond, all service records, fun to drive, blue bk $5600, take best offer, 990-06...>MORE

Chevy 2003 Impala
CHEVY 2003 Impala
25,600 miles, loaded
Exc. Cond. $10,000/bo
297-2199
...>MORE

Ford 1995 Crown Victoria
Ford 1995 Crown Victoria 4 dr, loaded, new tires must see & drive $3500. red. 860-2854...>MORE

Mazda 1995 Millenia
Mazda 1995 Millenia loaded, leather, only 26k mi. exc. cond. $2995. Best Offer
531-3548, 297-1526
...>MORE

See all ads

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index