The issues raised by the Berger Commission report have serious implications for health care in communities around the state.

I am, therefore, requesting that the Assembly Health Committee immediately notice and convene hearings on the commission's recommendations.

The members of the Assembly Democratic Conference are being briefed on the commission report and discussing its recommendations. We will further examine the recommendations through our hearings to gain public input in helping us identify those proposals that are a concern.

Unfortunately, the commission's report did not rectify its violation of the Open Meetings Law in the conduct of its work. Had the public been able to weigh in and see the deliberations in an open and public forum, New Yorkers would have been afforded a greater opportunity to comment on issues of immense and fundamental importance to our state's public health policy.

NOTE: Below is a copy of a news release announcing Assembly hearings on the commission's recommendations.

WHAT DOES THE BERGER COMMISSION REPORT MEAN FOR COMMUNITIES AND HEALTH CARE?
Assembly Hearings Seek Public Comments and Recommendations;
Send Comments to:
HealthHearing@assembly.state.ny.us

The Berger Commission's report on hospital and nursing home closing and downsizing "could seriously limit access to health care and damage our health care system, and the touted savings may turn out to be an illusion," said Assembly Health Committee chair Richard N. Gottfried. "Now that the Commission has made its recommendations, the Assembly wants to hear from people in the affected communities and on the front lines of the health care system. What will these recommendations mean for communities and health care? What should be done with the recommendations?"

The Assembly Health Committee will hold regional public hearings on the Commission report in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Albany, Syracuse and Buffalo.

"We will also hold New York's first electronic hearing," Assembly Member Gottfried said. "People can e-mail us their comments to the Assembly Committee on Health at our new address for hearing testimony: HealthHearing@assembly.state.ny.us." People may also mail or deliver statements to the Committee at: 822 Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248. To be fully considered, comments should be received by Friday, December 8.

The New York City hearing will be held at 250 Broadway, between Park Place and Murray Street in Manhattan, on Monday, December 11, at 11:00 AM. The dates, times and locations of the other hearings will be announced shortly.

People wanting to testify at or attend any of the hearings should contact Richard Conti of the Assembly Health Committee staff, 518-455-4941 or GottfrR@assembly.state.ny.us.

"Time is short," Gottfried said, "and we want to hear from people in many different communities. This 'e-hearing' will enable us to hear from many more people than will be able to testify at the formal hearings."

The Commission report is available on the web at: www.nyhealthcarecommission.org/.

Governor George Pataki appointed most of the members of the Commission, including the chair, Stephen Berger. The new State Health Commissioner, to be appointed by Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer, will have the power to implement the recommendations, unless the State Senate and Assembly both vote to reject the entire package by December 31, 2006. The commission was created by state budget legislation in 2005.