Attorney General James to Hold Public Hearing on Status of Burdett Birth Center in the Capital Region

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office will hold an in-person public hearing regarding the potential closure of the Burdett Birth Center at Samaritan Hospital in the Capital Region. The hearing is scheduled for Monday, September 18, at 1 PM at Russell Sage College, and members of the public, community groups, and health care providers are encouraged to testify. Individuals who wish to provide oral testimony at the hearing must submit their written testimony online by 5 PM on Friday, September 15, and written testimony will be accepted online through Monday, September 18. 

“As the only maternal unit in Rensselaer County, the Burdett Birth Center is an integral part of the local community and the entire region for essential health care,” said Attorney General James. “The prospect of this center closing is deeply concerning, as it would greatly affect communities throughout the Capital Region and beyond. While we continue to monitor and assess this matter, it is essential that we hear directly from local residents and families on how to move forward in the best interest of the community.”  

Since 2011, the Burdett Birth Center at Samaritan Hospital has served as the sole birth center in Rensselaer County, providing childbirth and maternity care services to individuals in the area. In 2022, 881 infants were born at Samaritan Hospital, and as of May this year, 320 infants have been born at the hospital. Citing financial difficulties due to the pandemic, St. Peter’s Health Partners, which owns the hospital, has proposed a plan to consolidate its locations and close the hospital’s birth center. The proposed plan is currently under review by the New York State Department of Health, and if approved, would result in the closure of the Burdett Birth Center by the end of this year.  

Through this hearing, Attorney General James aims to gain insight directly from families, providers, organizations, and public officials in the region and will use that information to find a resolution to this matter.  

The hearing will be held at the Bush Memorial Center, Russell Sage College, 50 1st Street, Troy, NY 12180. Individuals who wish to provide oral testimony at the hearing must submit their testimony in writing by 5 PM on Friday, September 15. Oral and written testimony may be submitted online. 

The hearing will be viewable to the public via livestream.