Keeping New York Safe From Big Dialysis

Kerry Howley | December 28, 2006

New York has some of the worst kidney dialysis care in the country, and diabetic New Yorkers are dying of complications in relatively high numbers. Analysts blame understaffed mom-and-pop dialysis operations. Big national chains provide better care, and their patients are simply less likely to die. There aren't many national chains in New York. And that's because the state has banned them:

The ownership restriction...was intended to ensure that hospitals are responsive to local concerns, not to far-flung shareholders. Though the Health Department talks of changing the law, no one has made it a priority, and not even the large chains have pushed the issue in Albany.

Better dead than Wal-Martized! Ron Bailey cast a wary eye on New York's compulsory diabetic surveillance program back in July.