Elected officials and administrators of a hospital in downtown Brooklyn are sounding the alarm that the hospital could be forced to shut down by the end of the year if Gov. Kathy Hochul doesn’t come to the rescue.

It could become a political headache for the governor ahead of her reelection campaign next year.

What You Need To Know

Gary G. Terranoni, Brooklyn Hospital Center’s CEO, admitted to NY1 that the organization is considering filing for bankruptcy

Officials are making their case to Gov. Kathy Hochul to approve $160 million to pay healthcare workers, update its electronic record system and buy medicine

Located in a gentrifying Downtown Brooklyn, servicing neighboring Clinton Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant during the pandemic, the hospital served as a temporary morgue for the borough

“We’re the only game in town, to be quite frank with you, in this demographic. So it is essential,” said Gary G. Terranoni, Brooklyn Hospital Center’s CEO — admitting the organization is considering filing for bankruptcy.

Officials are making their case to Hochul to approve $160 million to pay healthcare workers, update its electronic record system and buy medicine.

“We really don’t want state support. It’s not something that we desire. However, when you get to a point where you can’t pay your bills, and a lot of that [has] to do with [a] lack of adequate reimbursement,” Terranoni said.

Known as a safety net hospital, most patients are low income on Medicaid and Medicare plans, meaning it’s hard to make ends meet.

“A hospital can’t operate without supplies, but also it can’t operate without employees, and the hospital has contractual obligations to pay for health care and things like that,” Bill Hammond, the senior fellow for Health Policy at the Empire Center for Public Policy, said.

The CEO says federal funding concerns have made it harder.

“We have obstetrics, we have pediatrics, we have surgical services that we provide. I think we’re pretty well-rounded in doing that. It’s important for us in our community that we [can] provide these services more locally, so people don’t have to travel into Manhattan,” Terranoni said.

The hospital’s finances have been in the red for years.

“The hospital industry is in the middle of a shakeout. The demand for inpatient services is stagnant or declining, and that’s true kind of nationwide, and then you have hospitals forming these networks trying to control a larger and larger share of the market in their area,” Hammond said.

Located in a gentrifying Downtown Brooklyn, servicing neighboring Clinton Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant during the pandemic, the hospital served as a temporary morgue for the borough.

For years, Brooklyn Democratic Assemblywoman and nurse, Phara Souffrant-Forrest, has been sounding the alarm.

“This credible messenger has been sending the message that a vital resource in central Brooklyn is under siege. They are at threat, the threat of bankruptcy is real,” Souffrant-Forrest said in an interview with NY1. “But yet, we’re continuously funding projects like Buffalo Bills Stadium.”

Since 2022, $413 million has flowed to Brooklyn Hospital, including $74 million this year, and statewide, $3.5 billion is budgeted for safety net facilities, according to the State Department.

“We are working with all safety net hospitals in New York, including Brooklyn Hospital Center, to make them aware of all available funding opportunities and to work towards financial sustainability as they navigate ongoing pressures,” Cadence Acquaviva, a DOH spokeswoman, said. “However, requests from hospitals across the state continue to exceed available state funding.”

Souffrant-Phara compared it to SUNY Downstate Hospital in Brooklyn, which was recently saved from closure.

“The state can always step in and help. Especially when it comes down to when it’s time to step up and support the executive and support many other offices. They know where to come!” she said.

Not only is the issue personal to her, but she warns: it could also hit home for Hochul, who is facing reelection.

“In 2026, voters across my district are going to make decisions for themselves and their families, and it is quite clear from this election cycle that New Yorkers, New York City residents, care very deeply about their communities,” Souffrant-Phara said.

The hospital is also located in the district represented by Democratic City Councilwoman — and Council Speaker candidate — Crystal Hudson.

“The potential closure of The Brooklyn Hospital Center is a blow for the many Brooklynites, especially marginalized New Yorkers, who rely on this site for care in times of extreme need. As a safety net hospital, TBHC provides care for anyone who needs it regardless of their means. The doctors, nurses, administrators, and medical personnel who work here literally save lives day in and day out and provide care to those who have no place to turn,” Hudson told NY1 in a statement.

“It is incumbent on all elected officials in New York to work together to find a path forward to ensure the hospital is financially solvent and has the resources it needs to serve its clients. I will work with my colleagues in Albany and City Hall to deliver any available funding and help TBHC lay out a path to financial security to maintain its stability for years to come,” she continued.