Please send this e-letter, which urges Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to bring proposed legislation to the floor that would mandate the Commissioner of Health to develop a sustainability plan for SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.

With the Assembly set to reconvene after the Juneteenth holiday, there is a real chance to get legislative approval for this important bill - which would require the Health commissioner to formulate a plan to address the financial sustainability of SUNY Downstate, in consultation with the SUNY Chancellor and the organizations that represent hospital employees. A companion bill has already passed in the Senate.

It is imperative that SUNY Downstate remains financially viable so it can continue to provide life-saving care to patients and a high-quality education to our state’s future doctors and medical professionals.

SUNY Downstate provides critical health care to all regardless of ability to pay, making it a crucial resource to Brooklyn residents. It serves a large population of at-risk individuals who have limited access to affordable health care and offers specialized care otherwise unavailable in the community to patients with serious conditions, including those that are difficult to treat.

Despite the many crucial services it provides, SUNY Downstate has suffered years of underfunding and unequal treatment from the state. Its financial distress was compounded by being designated a COVID-only hospital during the pandemic. This forced the hospital to suspend other revenue raising services, leading to a deficit of $133 million.

The enactment of this bill is crucial for the residents of Central Brooklyn, who deserve and depend on the health care services SUNY Downstate provides.