Times Union: More like Burdett Birth Center will happen if wrongful death statute changed

By: Nicholas Kulbida, MD

When a local healthcare facility is forced to limit services or worse yet, to close, as has been proposed regarding the Burdett Birth Center in Troy, the equity gap in access to care widens. Losing a local birthing center because of increasing costs will mean that patients — many of whom come from underserved and underrepresented communities and rural areas — will face new obstacles.

After years of serving on the front lines of numerous public health crises, New York's dedicated healthcare professionals are critically understaffed and overwhelmed, leading to unnecessary and excessive wait times. Fewer local care options create additional burdens for families who rely on public transportation or need to travel longer distances for routine healthcare visits and emergencies requiring immediate attention.

Given all that is at risk, Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers in Albany must avoid enacting policies that could make the healthcare equity crisis worse, especially when it is about protecting our mothers, spouses, sisters and daughters and their maternity and reproductive care. New York’s hospitals have made significant strides to reduce maternal mortality and they have been successful. We need to maintain that trend.

Among the policies under consideration is a bill that is projected to increase liability premiums for doctors and healthcare facilities. Clearly, our healthcare system cannot afford additional cost hikes. Hochul should veto the measure as written and work with the healthcare sector to craft a balanced bill that will protect patients without giving them fewer options and forcing them to travel further and wait longer for high-quality care.

The writer is an OB Hospitalist with OB Hospitalist Group NY PC and Bellevue Woman's Center at Ellis Medicine.