For Immediate Release

December 14, 2024

"It is very unfortunate that the governor has decided to veto the Local Input in Community Healthcare (LICH) Act. This bill, which passed by wide margins in the state Senate and Assembly, would have given a strong voice to communities impacted by the closure of a hospital serving their neighborhoods well before the hospital’s planned closure date.

“The bill would have formalized a community’s role in the closure process, allowing residents a say in what happens to the neighborhood hospitals they rely on for vital health care and emergency health care services. As we saw earlier this year, a poorly crafted plan to close Brooklyn’s Downstate University Hospital—forged behind closed doors without community input—was overwhelmingly rejected by the community and health professionals at Downstate. Communities must have a formalized say in any discussions concerning health care being curtailed or eliminated.

“Just as importantly, this bill would have also required hospital officials to submit a revised plan reflecting the needs and comments of the community. Such protections are needed to ensure that communities affected by hospital closures are heard and that the input they provide is considered before any final decisions are made.

“At a time when hospitals across the state and nation are closing or are under threat of closure, the LICH Act would have provided important protections and a formal process for communities impacted by hospital closures. “It is regrettable that the governor chose to reject this bill.”