Author: tourist_yp6g7u

As a labor union lawyer and general counsel to the Center for the Independence of the Disabled, NY, representing thousands of hardworking New Yorkers, abled and disabled, I stand alongside many others who are deeply concerned about the state of healthcare in our city. 

The rising cost of living squeezes families, yet one of the biggest drivers of this crisis is not often talked about: sky-high healthcare costs, particularly at institutions like New York-Presbyterian Hospital. This hospital, which operates under a “not-for-profit” status, has become the most expensive health system in New York while maintaining double-digit profit margins but deteriorating service. This situation is not just unsustainable; it’s unconscionable.

Americans already spend more on healthcare than people in other developed countries, but New Yorkers pay even more. According to the nonprofit Health Care Cost Institute, per-person spending on healthcare services in New York was 20% above the national median in 2020. This is a staggering figure, and it’s no coincidence that New York-Presbyterian is at the center of it. A 2022 report by the 32BJ Health Fund found that hospital charges were the leading driver of soaring health costs for its members, with New York-Presbyterian charging, on average, 358% more than Medicare rates for equivalent services.

All of us—political leaders, unions, and civil rights organizations—have a responsibility to advocate for better pricing transparency, lower patient-to-professional ratios, fair healthcare charges, less crowded emergency rooms, shorter waits for admission in those emergency rooms, and more equitable redistribution of profits to benefit the community, perhaps even aid to failing institutions like Beth Israel and St. Luke’s Hospitals. If we fail to act, we risk undermining our core mission of what is supposed to be the goal of our regulated healthcare system: the highest-quality healthcare at an affordable price.

Let’s be clear: New York-Presbyterian’s profit margins are not just healthy—they’re astronomical. In 2021, the hospital reported the largest profit windfall ever for a New York hospital, totaling roughly $1.5 billion with an operating profit margin of 17.4%, which is 65% higher than the national average. This trend has continued into 2024, with the hospital reporting an operating income of $112.5 million in the first quarter alone, a significant increase from the previous year.

It is even more troubling that New York-Presbyterian reaps huge tax benefits due to its nonprofit status. It received more than $415 million in tax breaks in 2021, yet allocated a mere 1.7% of its revenues to charity care and spent only $142 million on community benefits—a roughly $247 million gap. This raises serious questions about the hospital’s commitment to the community it serves rather than to its executives and their seven-figure salaries.

Moreover, the exorbitant charges at New York-Presbyterian cannot be justified by quality. While the hospital claims to be a premium provider, publicly available data paints a different picture. Their flagship hospital on the Upper East Side earned a “C” grade for quality, with patients at higher-than-average risk of having dangerous objects left in their bodies after surgery, experiencing serious breathing problems during surgery, or even just developing bed sores from lack of basic attention. (My own 102-year-old mother experienced this poor treatment, topped off by having an ambulance drop her off in her unattended apartment rather than the rehab nursing home they were supposed to take her to.) This, coupled with concerns about staffing levels and working conditions flagged by unions led by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), should alarm everyone.

As healthcare costs continue to rise, the burden falls squarely on the shoulders of New York’s workers and consumers, exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis in our city. Half of working-age households in New York City do not make enough money to cover basic needs, yet they are being asked to shoulder the financial burden of a hospital system that prioritizes profits and high executive salaries over people.

It’s time for our elected leaders to demand accountability from New York-Presbyterian and respond to the rising demands of unions and the affected communities. We need transparency, fair pricing, and a commitment to reinvest profits into the community, not corporate coffers and executive pockets. Only then can we ensure that healthcare in New York is accessible, affordable, and of the highest quality for all.
Arthur Schwartz is the general counsel of the Center for the Independence of the Disabled, NY, and counsel to numerous unions, including Transport Workers Union Local 100 and the Amazon Labor Union.

The post OP-ED: The hidden costs of healthcare at New York-Presbyterian appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

Back in the summer at Riverside Church, Mayor Adams was late arriving for a ceremony to rename a street in tribute to New York City’s first African American mayor David Dinkins, his idol. Eric entered the room and stood right next to me. He was not aware that his coattail dangled just above a lit candle. After calling it to his attention, I said, “You don’t need another flame, you are hot enough.” He chuckled and stepped away from the fire. This time though, he may not be able to avoid the current political heat as calls mount for him to resign after being indicted and arraigned on federal charges alleging he took bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources.

During his arraignment Friday morning, Adams maintained he was not guilty.

As a reporter who has covered his activities for more than a generation, including those days when he was still in uniform and attended our rallies while a leader of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, I gathered an abiding respect for him. So, the welter of charges he’s facing now places me in concert with many Black Americans who are not calling for his resignation, but insisting on a presumption of innocence.

Among the notable New Yorkers echoing this plea is Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who, if Adams is removed or steps down, will be the interim mayor. In a recent statement, Williams said, “It is federal officials’ obligation to prove their case. It is the mayor’s obligation to prove to New Yorkers that there is a real plan and path to govern the city effectively and regain trust, and his time to show that plan is rapidly running out.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton was equally concerned about the rush to judgment and said the mayor should only be judged by the outcome of a potential trial. Earlier Sharpton expressed a more cautionary stance, noting that the mayor’s aggressive self-defense could hurt Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats seeking office. He promised to convene a meeting with Black leaders to chart a path forward.

Speaker of the New York City Council Adrienne Adams, who is not related to the mayor, said that she would continue to monitor the situation. She later added, “I ask the mayor to seriously and honestly consider whether full attention can be given to our deserving New Yorkers who need our government to be sound and stable.”

A presumption of innocence was the response from Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. “A jury of the Mayor’s peers will now evaluate the charges in the indictment and ultimately render a determination. In the meantime, I pray for the well-being of our great city.”

Two elderly leaders of the community, the Rev. Herbert Daughtry and Hazel Dukes, a former NAACP leader and currently president of the New York Chapter of the organization, stood by Adams on Thursday outside Gracie Mansion. Dukes asked the crowd to be quiet as she stepped to the microphone to defend the mayor. “I’m 92 years of age. I’ve known this young man for over 40 years. I come with a heavy heart today but my head is unbowed. He’s going to have his day in court and we’re going to stand by him.”

On several occasions, Eric and I have talked about collaborating on a book, an autobiography that would feature a life of recovery from a beating by a police officer, to one who became one of New York’s finest, and his political accomplishments. We now have a chapter to explain the tumultuous incidents now commanding the headlines — you ready Eric?

The post OP-ED: Mayor Adams is adamant appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here