Funding Could Provide New Hospital in New York

UTICA, N.Y. — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo allocated $300 million to health care integration in Oneida County in his proposed budget. This funding would allow a proposed Utica-area hospital to become a reality. The health system also is applying for another $100 million through a state program using savings from Medicaid to redesign New York’s health care system and improve care for Medicaid patients.
“It’s moved from a dream concept to really just a concept,” said Scott Perra, president and chief executive officer of the Mohawk Valley Health System, in a statement. “Now there’s really 12 to 24 months of really detailed planning.”
If the funding is approved the new hospital would replace Faxton-St. Luke’s Health care’s two campuses and St. Elizabeth Medical Center, however the details on the allocation of the funding are still unclear. Reports have estimated that a new hospital would cost more than $400 million and take four to six years to fully complete.
If the health system gets $400 million from the state, it should be able to get the rest of the money through borrowing or fundraising, Perra said. The system has a relatively low debt load and the community has historically been generous in its support, he added.
Securing the funding may be difficult, but Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, D-Utica, believes the area is in need of a new hospital and hope that others see the same.
"I believe there’s a compelling case for a new hospital in the region to consolidate the existing, aging hospitals into one modern, state-of-the-art facility, which will reduce the number of beds needed in the region and save the state Medicaid dollars,” said Brindisi in a statement.