$95 Mil settlement to NHCC Approved

MINEOLA- At the February 11 hearing of the Nassau County Legislature, lawmakers finally approved the settlement of $95 million in tobacco money for the Nassau Health Care Corporation. This money now becomes available immediately upon the legislature’s approval. 

At the January 28 Nassau County Legislature Hearing, legislators were expected to approve $95 million in tobacco settlement money for the Nassau Health Care Corporation, after 9-0, and 7-0 approvals in the Rules and Finance Committees.  However, the Republicans did not support an emergency resolution which is needed when a bill goes straight from committee to full legislature for a vote.  But after further deliberation over the next 2 weeks, the proposal was accepted.

This settlement will allow NHCC to downsize the existing A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility from 581 beds to 381, while selling the remaining open-space property.  Currently, the nursing home staff is at about 600, but there will be no lay-offs as a result of the transition.  However a drop will occur through attrition, as when employees retire, they will not be replaced.  This also permits NHCC to conditionally sell some of its properties without the legislature’s approval.