The Lie:
County Executive Bruce Blakeman blames NYS Governor Kathy Hochul for the worsening financial problems at the Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) which may result in the hospital closing.
Why You May Believe the Lie:
The Blakeman-installed leadership of NUMC is trying to shift the narrative about the hospital’s worsening financial problems. A sophisticated media campaign is underway that includes mailers, TV commercials and social media posts, and press releases blaming the State, Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA) and Newsday for the hospital’s financial problems. NUMC filed lawsuits against the State in December 2024, seeking $1.06 billion in matching Medicaid funds, and against NIFA, claiming gross negligence.
The Truth:
In March 2024, NUMC ignored the State’s requirement to hire professional hospital administrators and create a detailed plan to reduce their growing budget deficits, needed to secure $83 million in State emergency funds.
Action You Can Take:
- Share this post on your social media and email and discuss it with your friends.
- Call Blakeman at 516-571-3131 and demand he bring in professional hospital administrators to address NUMC’s financial problems which have continued to grow under the leadership of Blakeman’s campaign donor who has no hospital administration experience.
Source & Additional Media:
- Newsday: Ferrette, C. (2025/02/08), “New NUMC ad blitz asserts closure. Will that actually happen?”
- NUMC: Press Release (2025/01/10), “Appeals Court Unanimously Sides with NUMC, Delivering Another Blow to NIFA’s Continued Attacks on Nassau County’s Only Safety-Net Hospital”
- NUMC: Press Release (2024/04/26), “It’s time for Newsday to get serious”
- Newsday: Ostadan, B. and Ferrette, C. (2025/01/14), “NIFA approves legal contracts for NUMC’s $1B suit against NY”
- Newsday: Ferrette, C. (2024/03/06), “Matthew Bruderman rejects demands for new leadership at NUMC”
- Long Island Herald: Willson, M. (2023/03/31), “Blakeman: No ‘state takeover’ of Nassau County medical center”.
