Mineola, NY- Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) and Nassau County Majority members proposed legislation today that would make the county's hospitals more accountable in providing proper health care to those patients who cannot pay. The law also tells hospitals to prominently post their policy on charity care, and when practical, to verbally tell patients of the policy.

Presiding Officer Jacobs and Deputy Presiding Officer Roger Corbin (D-Westbury) introduced the legislation today at a press conference in Mineola.

"While all hospitals are required to care for indigent patients, up until now there has been no accountability system in place," said Legislator Jacobs. "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.

"The NUMC takes on countless charity care cases that come from all over Nassau County," said Legislator Corbin, who is also chairman of the Health Committee. "This legislation will put a more equitable system in place."

The Nassau County Department of Health will be notified of each hospital's policy on charity care, the amount of care the hospital provides and how the hospital notifies patients of its policy.

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.

Any violation of the law may be reported to the "complaint line" at the Department of Health. Hospitals who violate the regulations will be unable to enter into any contracts with Nassau County, according to the law, Legislator Corbin added.

"Many of these not for profit hospitals also receive favorable tax treatment by the government," Corbin said. "We must have some system in place to see that all hospitals are doing their fair share. No indigent person in this county should go without proper health care."