NuHealth, North Shore-LIJ 'exploring options'

NuHealth's board of directors is still "exploring options" on the possibility of expanding its relationship with North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and should have a final report from a consultant on the issue by January, according to the board's chairman, Craig Rizzo.

The board, in its regular bimonthly meeting, went into executive session Monday to hear a consultant's interim report "on whether or not to clinically integrate and with whom," Rizzo said. "We should have a better idea of where we're going by January."

Since 2005, NuHealth, which includes Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, has had a loose affiliation with North Shore-LIJ, a nonprofit hospital system that has provided the public hospital with specialists in areas such as pediatrics, cardiology and radiology. The association ended in June but was extended until June of next year.

Expanding the relationship became an issue two weeks ago when Nassau Comptroller George Maragos released a letter detailing his objections to a draft agreement between the two hospital systems. The draft agreement has not been released. Monday, Maragos called for public hearings before the board votes on any proposal. "The hospital is too important to be negotiated on behind closed doors," he said.

NuHealth chief executive Arthur Gianelli said he was "comfortable with the process and progress so far."