The legislature met for nearly four hours on Tuesday to gain information about a possible Public Benefits Corporation taking over the Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow.

The Nassau County Legislators called the meeting a "fact-finding mission." They are trying to discover if passing the hospital, which is county owned, to a PBC would be the best thing for the county, hospital officials, and residents of Nassau County. Legislator Dennis Dunne stresses that "Being able to provide the best quality of care possible to the people of my community" is his priority. According to the majority leader of the legislature, Bruce Blakeman, the county is looking at several possible options besides the PBC, such as a modified form of the present facility or privatizing the present facility. He says that there are a whole range of options. As far as the PBC is concerned Blakeman says that "I like the concept of the Public Benefit Corporation but we have to consider all the factors and whether or not we have to fine tune the proposal that was originally given to us." He adds, "This seems like one of the best options."

A PBC would allow for the hospital to get equipment, staffing, and improvements without having to go through governmental procedures as they do now. Since it would no longer be county-run, the PBC could do whatever needed to be done without having to wait for months to have it approved.

The original proposal was that a public benefit corporation pay the county $106 million for the hospital. In order to do this the PBC would be issued bonds, by Paine Webber, which would be guaranteed by the county. The county is now uncomfortable with this figure because if this idea failed then they would not only have the hospital reverted back to the county they would be stuck with a gigantic bill for the bonds. This is one of the issues of this idea that the legislature is currently dealing with. Dennis Dunne says that they do not want to rush into any plan for this reason. He adds, "We want to make sure what we will step into will work and that we will be comfortable with it."

This fact-finding hearing included testimony from hospital officials, the union president, representatives from Paine Webber, and representatives from the county's lawyers for this issue, Nixon Hargrave. The executive director and CEO of Nassau County Medical Center, Jerald Newman answered questions for the legislature about how the hospital was presently functioning. Legislator Dunne asked him if we need a PBC or if the hospital could make money without it, to which Newman responded that NCMC has currently been breaking even and has been for the past three years. Dunne would like to see a PBC brought in that will bring in money so that taxes can be cut. Legislator Bruce Nyman said that he feels like the hospital is backing away from the PBC idea that has been under discussion for the past year. He says that he is in favor of what is best for the county. Newman responded that he is not backing away from the PBC, he approves of the concept but he would like to see more flexibility in the budget. Anthony Angelo, MD, the medical director of NCMC, said that a PBC may give them more flexibility to move into the community.

Robert Becker, a board member of NCMC, who went to Westchester to see how the PBC that they have set up there is working, explained the concept of the PBC to those present. He also stressed the need for flexibility as well as pointing out the positive aspects of the NCMC. He stated that they have the best employees of any hospital on Long Island and that they have the finest trauma center anywhere. He told the group to "never diminish the capacity to deliver quality care."

One idea that was expressed by the board of managers of the medical center was that they wanted to get the hospital out of the hands of government. Dunne pointed out that the hospital will be much more efficient in caring for patients if they do not have to wait on the governmental procedures in order to get supplies.

Anthony Gustino, president of Civil Service Employee Association, also spoke about efficiency and the quality of care. The NCMC took a lot of heat for being the only hospital on Long Island whose doctors are covered by the union and Gustino had to field several questions about this issue. He said that they are looking to make this work for everybody, including the doctors who will be affected. According to Dunne, Gustino has done a good job of negotiating with the unions and making this proposal more palatable.

Bruce Blakeman's stand towards the end of the meeting was that; "I want to keep an open mind and consider all the options and wait and see what all the information proves." All the options have not thoroughly been examined yet because representatives from the hospital asked for another 30 days to gather more financial information for the legislature. At least one more hearing will be held before a final decision can be made.