While New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he has saved the city's public hospital system — NYC Health + Hospitals — from bankruptcy, a new plan to provide universal care to 600,000 uninsured residents may be a promise he has trouble keeping, according to Bloomberg.
In early January, Mr. de Blasio unveiled a $100 million plan he said would guarantee primary and specialty care to 600,000 uninsured residents, including undocumented immigrants. He plans to steer New Yorkers from emergency rooms to less expensive managed care clinics.
However, the 11-hospital public system, which already provides free care to uninsured residents, has a $2 billion price tag for taxpayers each year. Upcoming federal Medicaid cuts may put another $1 billion or more on the line next year. Private and government analysts told the publication those financial pressures far outweigh potential savings Mr. de Blasio promised on his proposal.
"It may show a positive cash flow compared with last year, but it certainly doesn't have surplus," Stephen Berger, private equity investor and former supervisor of New York's budget, told Bloomberg. "Its underused hospitals should be shut down, but that's not going to happen. Whether it can achieve financial stability remains to be seen."
For the full Bloomberg report, click here.
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