Thursday, October 1, 2026
This story has been updated to include Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s announcement that the county will pursue legal action against the state’s takeover of the hospital board.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced four appointments this weekend to the newly restructured board overseeing Nassau University Medical Center — a move that has sparked backlash from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who says the county will sue to overturn the state’s hospital takeover.
The appointments coincide with a sweeping reform of the hospital system’s governance under a new state law that took effect June 1. The law enhances state oversight and sets a path toward improved financial and operational stability at the East Meadow facility.
Hochul designated Stuart Rabinowitz, former president of Hofstra University, as chair of the 11-member board.
“NUMC is a vital lifeline for so many on Long Island, and today we are taking long-overdue steps to ensure it has the leadership and oversight it needs to thrive,” Hochul said in a statement. “These new appointments, and the new authority granted to the state and NIFA, will help ensure accountability, responsible fiscal management and high-quality care for the communities NUMC serves.”
Rabinowitz, a longtime leader in higher education and public policy, now serves as senior counsel at Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP. He called the hospital a “critical safety-net institution that has suffered from years of dysfunction and mismanagement.”
“I’m grateful to Gov. Hochul for the trust she’s placed in me, and I’m eager to get to work with my fellow board members to restore public confidence, implement long-overdue reforms and put this hospital back on a path to stability and excellence,” Rabinowitz said.
The newly restructured board includes six members appointed by the governor — including one each recommended by the Assembly speaker and Senate president — two by the Nassau County executive, two by the county legislature majority, and one by the minority. The governor also designates the board chair.
Under the law, the county executive no longer has approval authority over the hospital chief executive. The Nassau Interim Finance Authority now has expanded oversight, including the ability to approve NHCC contracts exceeding $1 million. NIFA can also declare a financial control period under specific conditions.
NHCC is required to conduct a study on strengthening NUMC by Dec. 1, 2026.
Two remaining appointments — from recommendations by the assembly speaker and senate president — will be announced in coordination with legislative leaders. The new board is expected to hold a special meeting in the coming days.
In addition to Rabinowitz, Hochul named Amy Flores, Dean Mihaltses and Lisa Warren to the board.
In response to the law change, Blakeman announced that the county would bring a lawsuit against the state to try to overturn the decision, adding that he would refuse to name directors to the board. At a June 3 news conference outside the medical center, Blakeman accused the state of bypassing local input and passing a law that he claimed was illegal.
“We will not roll over and play dead,” Blakeman said at the news conference. “We intend to pursue our rights with respect to the agreements that are in place”
Blakeman also criticized Hochul for prioritizing spending on recent migrants over the needs of Nassau County residents. He argued that despite Nassau and Suffolk counties contributing billions more to the state than they receive in return, the state has failed to provide funding support for NUMC.
Blakeman said the state’s recent takeover has thrown the hospital into turmoil and disrupted operations at a facility he described as having dedicated staff.
“Without any transition plan, without any local participation, without any consultation, discussion or coordination, the state blatantly passed a law which made it illegal to take over Nassau University Medical Center with the sole interest in closing the hospital,” Blakeman said.
Additional reporting by Jordan Vallone
