To control soaring medical costs, New York state must shut nine hospitals and reorganize another 48 centers to save $1.5 billion a year while also improving the quality of care, a reform commission proposed on Tuesday.
The Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century has recommended the closure of nine hospitals statewide including the Bellevue Woman’s Hospital in Niskayuna.
The report, which must be approved by the state Legislature in order to become final, also recommends the reconfiguration of 48 other hospitals including St. Clare’s Hospital and Ellis Hospital in Schenectady.
About a quarter of the state’s hospitals would be affected by the report which would eliminate 4,200 hospital beds statewide.