Megan Ryan, the former CEO of Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, N.Y., plans to file a lawsuit against the hospital’s parent company, alleging wrongful termination.
Ms. Ryan filed a notice of claim, with plans to file a full lawsuit within 30 days, according to a July 11 news release shared with Becker’s. She intends to sue for wrongful termination, lost wages and reputational damage.
She had previously announced plans to resign July 20 following a state-approved restructuring of the Nassau Health Care Corp.’s board. On June 10, the board placed her on administrative leave. Interim CEO Richard Becker, MD, later terminated her for cause, alleging she authorized excessive payments to herself and other recently resigned executives — claims Ms. Ryan denies, according to the release. It also contends Dr. Becker did not have the authority to terminate her under Nassau Health Care Corp. procedures.
Her attorney, Alex Hartzband, said in the release that the payments were permissible under hospital policy and aligned with the practice of prior CEOs.
More than 30 hospital executives and staff resigned ahead of the board restructuring, which is now governed by 11 members, including six appointees of Gov. Kathy Hochul.
In December, the hospital filed a lawsuit against the state, alleging violations of federal Medicaid law that deprived it of more than $1 billion in aid. According to Ms. Ryan’s release, the board members appointed by Ms. Hochul have since fired the attorneys involved in that lawsuit and requested an adjournment.
“The actions of NHCC’s new leadership, appointed by Gov. Hochul, make clear that they’re more concerned with advancing their own political agenda and distracting from the illicit scheme we uncovered,” Ms. Ryan said in the release. “I am eager to have my day in court and fight not only to clear my name, but further expose the state’s corruption.”
Becker’s has reached out to Nassau Health Care Corp. and Ms. Hochul’s office and will update this story if more information becomes available.
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