Our community has a once in a lifetime opportunity to reset health care delivery for the next hundred years by merging Erie County Medical Center and Kaleida Health.  If done right, this merger will improve health care in Western New York and save taxpayer dollars.  Unfortunately, certain members of our community want to move forward with a flawed plan, leaving you – the county taxpayer – on the hook for millions of dollars. 

As you may know, New York State – through the Berger Commission – recommended the complete and total merger of Erie County Medical Center and Kaleida Health.  The State also appointed a board (NewCo) to oversee the creation and operation of this new entity.  Sadly, the State Health Department has now backed away from its own recommendations, putting Erie County taxpayers in a very dangerous place. 

Instead of working toward a true asset merger that would protect taxpayers, Kaleida and NewCo are refusing to negotiate or even meet to discuss this merger.  Rather, they want a combination on their terms – terms that would do nothing more than fleece county taxpayers of their current investment in ECMC and leave taxpayers responsible for millions of dollars more for years to come.

Now the State Health Department is pushing legislation that would drive a combination on Kaleida and NewCo’s terms.  This legislation is wrong and does nothing more than force Erie County taxpayers to underwrite the cost of health care in our community.  I am confident that the Western New York State Delegation sees the dangers in this legislation and will not act on it.  As a preventive action,  Erie County and ECMC have filed a lawsuit against the State Health Department to enforce the full asset merger of ECMC and Kaleida.

Currently, ECMC is a cutting edge facility that is extremely profitable and efficient.  Under this proposed legislation, Kaleida and NewCo would be able to benefit for all that is good about ECMC and leave taxpayers with nothing more than debt and increasing liabilities.

I was elected seven months ago to protect taxpayers and that is exactly what I will continue to do.  The days of business as usual – where taxpayers are left holding the bag for businesses like Kaleida – are over.  Our community should not and cannot settle for yet another plan that leaves us with the short end of the stick. 

As your County Executive, I remain committed to finding a solution and available to Kaleida and NewCo for real merger discussion and negotiations.  If we all come together instead of airing personal attack ads, I believe we can achieve a win-win for both organizations and Erie County taxpayers.