New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a settlement with Westchester County Health Care Corporation (WMC) and HealthAlliance, Inc., collectively WMCHealth, aiming to improve mental health care in the Hudson Valley. Following an investigation revealing inadequate care for psychiatric patients at three WMCHealth hospitals, a settlement mandates restoring inpatient psychiatric capacity and implementing significant reforms.
Attorney General James stated, "For too long, vulnerable New Yorkers experiencing mental health or substance use crises have been met with inadequate care when they went to an emergency room for help," emphasizing mental health care's equivalence to medical care.
The settlement, the first of its kind under EMTALA, follows an Attorney General's investigation into WMCHealth hospitals for discharging mental health patients prematurely, closing inpatient beds without state approval, and various protocol violations. Examples included discharging patients with suicidal tendencies and using restraints and medicating children without adequate attempts to de-escalate.
As revealed in the investigation, WMCHealth closed an inpatient psychiatric unit in Kingston for longer than allowed, forcing patients to travel for care and filling emergency rooms. These lapses led to extended emergency room stays and inadequate care.
The settlement directs WMCHealth to restore psychiatric beds at HealthAlliance Hospital, pledge not to close beds in the next three years, and consult the Attorney General’s office regarding potential capacity changes thereafter. WMCHealth will also enhance its emergency room procedures, focusing on comprehensive patient evaluation and post-discharge care coordination.
The institution must document and justify the use of restraints or medication for agitation, especially in children. It will face penalties for non-compliance with the settlement orders, which also include a $400,000 payment to the state and appointment of a compliance administrator to oversee adherence.
Leaders and advocates see this as essential progress. JCCA CEO Ron Richter highlighted children's safety, and Stephanie Marquesano from The Harris Project stressed a need for competent emergency care entry points. Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins acknowledged the settlement's significance for patient safety.
Additional support came from officials including Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger and various state senators and assembly members, all praising Attorney General James’s actions for reinforcing mental health services and community trust throughout Hudson Valley.
Assistant Attorney General Michael Reisman and Special Assistant to the First Deputy Gina Bull handled this matter under Health Care Bureau Chief Sudarsana Srinivasan, within the Division for Social Justice, led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux.