Greenport, N.Y.-based Eastern Long Island Hospital awaits the closure of its deal to join Stony Brook (N.Y.) University Hospital two years after ELIH's board of trustees greenlighted the affiliation, Southold Local reports.
ELIH declared its intent to join Stony Brook University in July 2015. While the Stony-Brook-ELIH deal gained approval from Stony Brook University trustees in May 2016 and the New York State Department of Health in December 2016, an OK from the state budget office and attorney general are still required to close the deal.
Paul Connor, ELIH president and CEO, told Southold Local the deal's timeline remains unclear. Stony Brook University spokesperson Lauren Sheprow told the publication the system is "working closely with New York State regulatory agencies to bring ELIH in as soon as possible."
The pending approval looms as ELIH's losses mounted in fiscal year 2016. The hospital ended fiscal year 2016 with more than $5.2 million in losses, compared to a $1.6 million deficit in 2015, the report states.