Long Island pols demand more state funding for NUMC
A group of Long Island politicians is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to increase taxpayer funding for the struggling Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC), which has faced financial challenges for years. The hospital, operated by the Nassau Health Care Corporation, has incurred $700 million in losses over the past decade due to a surge in demand for services and a decrease in state aid.
In 2021, New York State allocated $180 million in subsidies to NUMC, but in 2024, no funds were provided, putting the hospital at risk of closure. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman highlighted the efforts made by hospital leadership to reduce costs and enhance services, despite the lack of financial support from the state.
A bipartisan group of local lawmakers, including Long Island GOP State Senator Steven Rhoads and Republican Assemblyman Edward Ra, penned a letter to Governor Hochul urging her to include funding for NUMC in the upcoming state budget negotiations. The hospital, which houses Nassau’s only Level One trauma center, has not received any state aid in over two years, a situation deemed “a glaring and unacceptable failure” by the lawmakers.
However, Governor Hochul’s Long Island press secretary, Gordon Tepper, refuted the claims made by the lawmakers, stating that NUMC has received substantial financial assistance, including $117 million in 2024 and $38 million in 2025. Tepper mentioned that further payments were halted due to a lawsuit filed by NUMC against the state, alleging the withholding of over $1 billion in Medicaid funds dating back two decades.
The hospital is seeking the release of withheld funds and an additional $40 million in direct aid to cover employee contracts and other expenses. NUMC representatives emphasized that they have not received the funds mentioned by Tepper and that none of their grant applications in 2024 were approved.
Critics of NUMC’s leadership, such as Democratic State Senator Siela Bynoe, have raised concerns about corruption, inflated salaries, nepotism, and cronyism within the hospital. While advocating for NUMC’s survival, they also advocate for a change in leadership to address these issues.
Nassau County Legislature’s presiding officer, Howard Kopel, expressed support for the demand to restore funding to NUMC and criticized Governor Hochul for “playing politics” with the healthcare of Nassau’s most vulnerable residents. The debate continues as stakeholders navigate the complex financial and administrative challenges facing the vital healthcare institution.
