Yesterday, Governor Hochul signed into law, Assemblyman Charles D. Fall legislation (A.5713) requiring the operator of a healthcare facility to give a 30-day notice to the Department of Health and local officials on the closure, relocation or decertification licensed under Article 28 of the Public Health Law. Additionally, it would direct the Commissioner of Health to conduct a statewide study on the delivery of healthcare as it pertains to COVID and non-COVID care. The bill passed unanimously 148-0 last session.

• The study would not include ambulatory surgery centers or office-based surgery practices and shall include healthcare facilities licensed under Article 28 of the Public Health Law, federally qualified health centers and community health centers.
• The Commissioner of Health would be required to make recommendations to improve the delivery, quality, accessibility and cost of full range ambulatory health care services required by communities in New York.

The legislation was inspired by the temporary closure of a healthcare facility on the North Shore at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a concerted effort led by Assemblyman Fall with all the other elected officials on Staten Island, the operator of the facility reopened the urgent care clinic. Senator Diane Savino carried the legislation in the Senate (S.6375). I want to thank Senator Savino for championing this bill in the Senate.

“Since there are no public hospitals located on Staten Island and in certain parts of New York State, many residents rely on community-based health care for a wide variety of medical services, including physicals, injury related and illness diagnosis and care, rapid lab tests and screening, pediatric care and women's wellness needs for some of the most vulnerable residents.

As we continue to address this pandemic and its variants, which continues to wreak havoc on our daily lives, we need to make sure that residents continue to receive their healthcare needs. Having residents who may be elderly or lack reliable transportation to travel to another facility during heightened federal and state protocols is detrimental to the well-being of all New York residents, especially those residing on the North Shore of Staten Island,” said Assemblyman Charles D. Fall.