Statement from NHCC Leadership on Albany’s Illegal Attempt to Take Control of Nassau County’s Only Safety-Net Hospital

(EAST MEADOW, NY) – Nassau Health Care Corporation (NHCC) Board Chair Dr. Irina Gelman, DPM, MPH, PhD, and NHCC President, CEO and Chief Legal Officer Megan Ryan, Esq., released the following statements today in response to reports that the forthcoming FY 2026 New York State Budget could include language that would illegally attempt to take control of the NHCC Board of Directors.

Nassau County Health Commissioner and NHCC Board Chair Dr. Irina Gelman said, “It is time to put people before politics, and leave healthcare operations to the local experts in the field not political transplants from Albany. This deliberate scheme by NYS to first starve the hospital of resources owed to them and now provide a purported budget allocation equivalent to a mere fraction of their legally required share as incentive for accepting this politically contrived hostile takeover is reprehensible. The notion that a state appointed board would have a higher rate of success in managing this critical care facility from afar is a logical fallacy, given the abysmal record NYS has with their own SUNY hospital facilities. NHCC manages the only safety net hospital and provides critical healthcare services to the most vulnerable, otherwise underserved residents in our population of nearly 1.4 million residents. I remain hopeful that the esteemed legislators from across the state will vehemently oppose this evident overreach of state powers and prevent a grave travesty of justice.”

NHCC President, CEO and Chief Legal Officer Megan Ryan, Esq., said, “Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) has undergone a remarkable transformation, becoming a beacon of hope for Nassau County, especially for our most vulnerable communities. In 2024, we achieved our most significant financial turnaround in years, increasing revenue, cutting expenses, and boosting cash-on-hand by an extraordinary 650% year-over-year—reversing the payroll struggles of prior leadership. New financial standards have driven higher collections, optimized resource use, and enhanced efficiency across every department.   Beyond finances, we’ve elevated patient care, earning improved national safety ratings both at NUMC and A Holly, recertification with the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal, and reaffirmation as a Level One Trauma Center, while expanding clinical services and launching a mobile mammography center to serve thousands of women annually.  Under current leadership, our physicians, staff, and management have collaborated to expand access to care, improve patient outcomes, and sustain these transformative reforms. Any move to reverse course now through an illegal power grab would be devastating-especially in light of the fact that this team exposed and is litigating a billion-dollar fraud perpetuated by NYS on NUMC. The changes in the budget increase power to the Governor and NIFA over the hospital, allowing them to slowly close down services at the hospital. Instead of drafting policy that affects the health and welfare of Nassau County residents in the dark, the State must show the public now the language it is proposing to takeover NUMC.”