Mineola, NY -A local law was approved today that will make the county's hospital's more accountable in providing proper health care to those patients who cannot pay. The law, which was unanimously approved by the legislature at the first session of the new year, also asks hospitals to prominently post their policy on charity care, and when practical, to verbally tell patients of the policy.

"While all hospitals are required to care for indigent patients, up until now there has been no accountability system in place," said Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury). "This new law will authorize the County's Department of Health to require all hospitals to report their policies and amount of charity care they provide."

Modeled after similar legislation already in effect in San Francisco, Ca., lawmakers believe this legislation will take some of the burden off Nassau University Medical Center and compel other hospitals within the county to take on their fair share of charity cases.

Under the Charity Care legislation, each hospital must notify patients of its policy and prominently display bilingual signs in such locations as the emergency room, billing office, waiting room, out patient areas and in patient areas. The notices will be in both English and Spanish, according to the proposed law.

In the Rules Committee, an appropriation of $622,979 was approved to support the Nassau HUB Investment Study. These funds will be used by the Planning Department to hire STV, Inc. to conduct a study of the future transportation needs of the Nassau HUB and to develop a system that would best promote efficient transportation and development of the HUB area. The County pays 10 percent of the total, or $62,298. The balance is funded by the state and federal governments.

The committee also approved a resolution authorizing the County Executive to execute a contract between the County and the City of Long Beach to provide bus service to serve the communities of Point Lookout, Lido Beach and Long Beach.

In other business, the legislature approved:

• An ordinance to allow for the establishment of a Nassau County order for the rental of snow removal equipment with and without operators in the event of a snow emergency or when supplementation of the county's snow forces is needed.
• A resolution authorizing the County Executive to execute an agreement with the Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau and Suffolk County regarding the Route 25A Scene Corridor Signage Project. Signage along the route will be marked as a legislated scenic and historic corridor with markers highlighting historic sites. The project will also include informational signs to guide travelers to cultural faculties on or near Rt. 25A. The cost of the project is $630,000, with Nassau and Suffolk each contributing $63,000 towards the 20 percent local matching share of $126,000.
• A resolution to authorize the County Executive to execute a grant agreement with the New York State Department of Parks and Recreation in relation to Recreational Trails Program. The program awards funds for the restoration and construction of recreational trails and for the acquisition of property for trail use. The Nassau County Planning Commission has submitted an application requesting $100,000 to be used to construct a handicap assessable walking/biking trail, approximately 1.2 mile in length on 7.2 acres of land, south of the Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway. The County must match 20 percent of the cost, with the remainder reimbursable by the New York State Department of Transportation.
• A resolution, which repealed the requirement to fingerprint juveniles living in foster and adoptive homes in order to be consistent with state law.

The next session of the Legislature will be held on Monday, February 10 at 6 p.m.