LIJ, NUMC in talks to expand affiliation

North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and Nassau University Medical Center are in talks to expand their affiliation, but the Nassau comptroller said Tuesday he strongly objects to a draft proposal.

NuHealth, which includes NUMC, and North Shore-LIJ, one of the region's biggest health systems, have had a loose affiliation since 2005. The affiliation, which provided the public hospital with some specialists in areas such as pediatrics, radiology and cardiology, ended in June but was extended until next June.

On Tuesday, Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos said he had seen a copy of a new draft agreement between the two systems, though he would not provide details on the document called "NuHealth and NSLIJ Master Affiliation and Management Service Agreement."

While both health systems acknowledged Tuesday that there were ongoing talks, a North Shore-LIJ spokesman said the two systems were "a long way" from reaching any agreement, and that any public discussion of an agreement was premature.

Maragos, who declined to discuss the nature of the proposal, nevertheless made public a two-page letter he sent Tuesday to Craig Rizzo, chairman of board of directors for NuHealth, listing 14 objections to the draft. "We are strongly against the proposed agreements as outlined. They do not appear to be in the best interest of the County, NuHealth or the taxpayers," Maragos' letter said.

NuHealth spokeswoman Shelley Lotenberg would only say the two hospital systems "have been in ongoing discussions."

Terry Lynam, spokesman for North Shore-LIJ, confirmed the two systems are talking but said "any discussions are extremely premature. We're a long way from having any agreement in place."

Rizzo, named chairman earlier this year by Republican County Executive Edward Mangano, said the board was "acting with due diligence to explore all avenues available for the sustainability of the NuHealth system."

Union leaders and politicians were swift to question any possible agreement. Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) said the legislature would look skeptically on the proposal - referring to bonds the county guaranteed for NuHealth, when the former county hospital and nursing home became part of a public benefit corporation in 1999.

The union representing some 3,800 workers at the hospital charged that the proposal would privatize the East Meadow institution. "We're going to lose our public hospital," Jerry Laricchiuta, president of CSEA Local 830 said.

County Legis. Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) said the proposal took her by surprise. She and other lawmakers said they were blindsided by the draft agreement after being promised by Arthur Gianelli, head of NuHealth, that they would be kept informed. With William Murphy