Recommended Merger, Closure Of Hospitals In Albany, N.Y., Area Raises Abortion, Contraception Policy Conflicts

The New York state Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century's recent recommendation to merge St. Clare's Hospital with Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, N.Y, and close Bellevue Woman's Hospital in Niskayuna, N.Y., has raised conflicts over policies on issues such as abortion and contraception, the Albany Times Union reports (Crowley, Albany Times Union, 12/7). New York Gov. George Pataki (R) and the state Legislature formed the commission last year to recommend changes to the state's health care system, which is the most expensive in the country. The commission's report recommends nine hospital closures and the reconfiguration of 48 additional hospitals in the state. Pataki and Gov.-elect Eliot Spitzer (D) last week endorsed the report (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 12/4). St. Clare's -- a Roman Catholic hospital -- does not perform abortions, while Ellis and Bellevue provide abortion services. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops also prohibits Catholic hospitals from providing condoms, birth control, assisted reproductive technology, tubal ligation or vasectomies. Some obstetricians in the Albany, N.Y., area -- where the three hospitals are located -- on Wednesday expressed reservations that St. Clare's and Ellis can merge their policies. The merger is "probably not going to work because of the religious background," David Cryns, a Latham, N.Y.-based ob-gyn, said. Bishop Howard Hubbard of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany during a state Senate Health Committee meeting last week said the commission did not protect religious freedom in its proposed mergers. An Ellis spokesperson said the hospital is dedicated to provide women in the area with health care services. According to the Times Union, the commission gave St. Clare's and Ellis a deadline of December 2007 to merge, and if they fail to do so, one must close. Some obstetricians also questioned whether the hospitals, merged or separate, could handle the increase in patients if Bellevue closes, the Times Union reports. "Bellevue did 2,200 deliveries last year and St. Clare's did 800," Elaine Cheon-Lee, chief of obstetrics at St. Clare's, said, adding, "You are talking about tripling the number of deliveries." Bellevue CEO Anne Saile has said she will try to keep the hospital open (Albany Times Union, 12/7).

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