Brooklyn’s Maimonides Medical Center on Thursday cleared a major hurdle to becoming part of the city’s public hospital system, even as the long-discussed merger remains contentious in the surrounding community of Borough Park.
The state’s Public Health and Health Planning Council, which oversees certain healthcare transactions, voted to approve the proposed merger with NYC Health and Hospitals. The merger still requires court approval before it can be finalized.
Maimonides, a 700-bed teaching hospital with roots going back to the early 20th century, has become a centerpiece of Brooklyn’s healthcare system. But at a planning council hearing last month, state Medicaid Director Amir Bassiri emphasized that Maimonides is struggling financially and needs a lifeline. The proposed merger would come with $2.2 billion in funding from the administration of Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Leaders at Maimonides and NYC Health and Hospitals celebrated the planning council’s endorsement. By joining the public hospital system, they said, Maimonides will become eligible for higher reimbursement rates under the Medicaid program.