Thousands of New York heart patients may lose access to care—state senator asks governor to intervene
A New York senator is asking the state’s governor for help as he works to secure heart care for the approximately 50,000 constituents caught in the middle of an ongoing legal battle.
Things first got heated when Ellis Medicine, a not-for-profit New York health system, sued St. Peter’s Health Partners (SPHP), a large physician group that serves the same area, over an alleged breach of contract.
Ellis and SPHP spent years considering a merger before ultimately going their separate ways. SPHP did go on to acquire Cardiology Associates of Schenectady (CAS), a practice of 27 cardiologists serving the Schenectady area that had a prior working relationship with Ellis. In its lawsuit, Ellis alleges that SPHP has breached multiple contracts by saying CAS cardiologists will not be permitted to work with Ellis clinicians or treat their patients.
While both sides are standing firm, the dispute has created some concerns about the heart care for patients who will no longer have access to a cardiologist without traveling a substantial distance. That is where New York Sen. Jim Tedisco stepped in, publicly calling for New York. Gov. Kathy Hochul to issue an executive order and/or call for a special session of the state legislature to work out a solution.
“The situation taking place at Ellis Medicine in Schenectady impacting thousands of cardiology patients is very concerning and totally unacceptable,” Tedisco said in a statement. “The clock is ticking. Ellis Medicine cardiology patients can’t wait until the legislature returns to session in January.”
Tedisco wants legislation passed that would ban noncompete agreements in healthcare. He also claimed that the situation could have been avoided had Gov. Hochul not vetoed legislation in 2023 designed to avoid issues like this one.
He also pointed to New York’s ongoing clinician shortage, saying “the last thing” the state needs is noncompete agreements preventing patients from receiving the care they need.
“The health, safety and well-being of our residents is more important than the majorities playing games and passing poison-pill bills that they cynically know will never get the Governor’s signature to score cheap political points while people’s lives are at stake,” he added.
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.