By Douglass Dowty
syracuse.com
ALBANY, N.Y. 鈥� State lawmakers have thrown their support behind Upstate Medical University鈥檚 request for $450 million in this year鈥檚 budget to replace its outdated, emergency room.
The proposals from the state Senate and Assembly come after Gov. Kathy Hochul set aside only $200 million for the project in her proposed budget in January.
On a recent trip to Syracuse, the governor to negotiate Upstate鈥檚 amount.
The state Senate and Assembly are expected to pass their proposed budgets, including Upstate鈥檚 full funding request, this week. The two legislative branches will then work with the governor鈥檚 office to craft the final state budget, which is due April 1 .
Central New York鈥檚 bi-partisan delegation sent a letter to Hochul in December asking her to put $450 million into the budget. That led to her opening offer of $200 million.
It鈥檚 unknown how much a new ER would actually cost. A proposed annex to house the new facility would also include an expanded burn unit and more operating rooms.
The SUNY system, which operates Upstate, had received a request for $450 million in improvements to its state hospital in Brooklyn . Central New York lawmakers contended that it was only fair to give Upstate $450 million, too.
The lawmakers鈥� proposal adds $250 million each to both the Syracuse and Brooklyn hospitals.
Regardless of what happens, it will be at least a couple years before anything is built. Upstate鈥檚 president Dr. Mantosh Dewan has said that the first $50 million will be spent studying exactly what is needed. The proper approvals will take time after the initial study is complete.
But Upstate officials and lawmakers are hoping to have the money dedicated in this year鈥檚 budget, even if it won鈥檛 be spent until all the preliminary work is complete.
Upstate鈥檚 adult ER is overwhelmed every day, routinely treating three times more patients than it has permanent beds.
There are 31 adult beds in rooms beyond the waiting area. Yet 80 to 90 people are receiving care at once during the peak around 4 p.m. daily, hospital officials say. Last year, 1 in 7 patients left the adult ER without getting care.
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