Cold Spring Hills nursing home employees risk losing health insurance, says union.

Scores of healthcare workers gathered along the road in front of a Woodbury nursing home, urging their employer to settle its health insurance dues promptly to prevent coverage loss.

The Cold Spring Hills Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation allegedly hasn't fulfilled its payment obligations to the health insurer for three months, putting the health insurance of the 443 workers, represented by 1199 SEIU, at risk. If the payments aren't made by Aug. 25, these workers could lose their health insurance, cautioned Timothy Rodgers, the vice president of the union's nursing home division.

Rodgers emphasized, "Given the resurgence of COVID in New York State, it's imperative that healthcare workers maintain their health insurance."

Cold Spring Hills' administrator, Josef Simpser, directed inquiries to outside attorney Ari Weiss from Morris Tuchman law firm, who remained unresponsive to Friday's comment requests.

According to Rodgers, the company pays the 1199 National Benefit Fund, a union insurer that operates independently from the union. Rodgers stated, "As per the contract, the employer must furnish health insurance and fulfill payments to the National Benefit Fund. If they're unable to do so and run the facility efficiently, it's essential for the state to intervene."

Rodgers expressed that if the owners refuse to cover health insurance costs, the union advocates for the state to designate an emergency receiver to oversee facility operations.

In addition, the owners of this nursing home, the second-largest on Long Island, are confronting a civil lawsuit initiated by State Attorney General Letitia James in December. The lawsuit alleges that they participated in fraudulent activities, channeling $22.6 million of government funds away from resident care to benefit themselves.

The attorney general's lawsuit was filed 28 months subsequent to Newsday's investigation, titled "Crisis, Care and Tragedy on LI," which shed light on the pandemic's impact on the facility and unveiled its role within the owners' portfolio of profitable nursing homes.

The worker action on Friday marked the initiation of an 11-day "informational picket," as per organizers. Although the workers are contractually prohibited from striking, they intend to utilize their lunch and other breaks for roadside demonstrations outside the facility. This arrangement allows them to continue working while making their concerns visible, as confirmed by spokeswoman Jenna Jackson on Friday.

According to Jackson's text message, the company is in debt for approximately $4.6 million in outstanding payments related to various insurance coverage for union members. This encompasses health, dental, vision, prescription, disability, and paid family leave benefits.

Around noontime on Friday, approximately 70 workers joined in chants such as "Shame on you, Cold Spring Hills!" and "What do we want? Benefits!" while passing cars honked their horns in solidarity.

Certain workers mentioned that they've been hurrying to visit doctors and refill prescriptions in the past few days to ensure they possess sufficient medication supplies or complete medical treatments before their benefits are discontinued later this month.

"I'm striving to meet the deadline," remarked Judith Patterson-Djalo, aged 60, who works as a program aide in adult day care and resides in Valley Stream. "Visiting the doctor and obtaining necessary medications are integral aspects of work that nobody can forgo."

Patterson-Djalo revealed that she had arranged several medical appointments and was actively ensuring she possessed a 90-day reserve of prescription medication, foreseeing the impending loss of her health insurance coverage.

Edward Ferguson, aged 57, who works as an occupational therapist residing in Bay Shore, shared that if his health care coverage is terminated, he will be obligated to personally cover the costs of medications for both himself and his son, who is included in his health care plan.

"I'm dealing with diabetes," Ferguson explained. "I rely on maintenance medications, and I need to sustain my health."

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