The New York Public Health and Health Planning Council granted Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center preliminary approval to build a surgery center in Niskayuna, N.Y., despite protests from Schenectady, N.Y.-based Ellis Hospital, the Times Union reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. Albany Med plans to develop a gastroenterology-focused ASC in Niskayuna.
2. Albany chose the site to accommodate Schenectady County-based demand.
3. The council framed the decision around healthcare competition. Council Chairman Jeffrey Kraut said, "We're living in an environment where there is competition. We permit it."
4. Ellis opposed the project on the grounds it would take revenue from Ellis' main campus.
5. In a report accompanying the approval, the state said Albany's presence in the area likely already impacted Ellis financially.