After a court hearing Monday, Brooklyn’s Interfaith Medical Center has the funding to stay open until the middle of next month. Jeanine Raimirez filed the following report.
Interfaith Medical Center got a reprieve Monday after a bankruptcy court judge approved $ 7.5 million to keep the hospital open. That money will only fund Interfaith until February 14, but staff members say it’s still good news.
“It’s kicking the can down the road but it’s happy. Each day that we come out of court and we have more time, it is essential,” said Interfaith employee Michaelle Ned.
“It’s good news today. The judge gave us more hope, you know to stay open so that they can work out all the logistics to keep the hospital open,” said Interfaith employee Ari Moma.
Interfaith is working with state officials to come up with a sustainable plan to keep the hospital open.
On Monday in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo took up the Brooklyn hospital crisis issue with Mayor Bill de Blasio at his side. They’re calling on the federal government to pitch in and save financially struggling hospitals like Interfaith and Long Island College Hospital. They’re asking for a Medicaid waiver of $ 10 billion, savings they say the state provides to Washington through various efficiency programs.
“We are united in our plea to the federal government that we need help and we need it now. It’s not enough to say ‘it’s on it’s way.’ It’s got to be here on an immediate basis,” said Cuomo.
“The state has stepped in each and every time. I know it hasn’t been easy, governor, and I know it hasn’t been cheap, but you did something powerful by helping us have the opportunity to bridge two long-term solutions. We are united, as the governor said, we are united in our plea to the federal government to do the right thing for New York, to do the right thing for Brooklyn,” said de Blasio.
Interfaith has been in and out of financial trouble for years. The community has been rallying to save it and says their calls are finally being heard.
“We thank the governor because he’s actually listening to us at this time. He is listening,” said Ned.
Interfaith is scheduled to be back in court on February 12 to present a new plan to stay open.
http://ift.tt/1mQ7caG
via Great Local News: New York http://ift.tt/1iZiLP1
No comments:
Post a Comment