A bizarre scene played out at the February 8 Health and Human Services committee meeting, when chairperson (and District 5 legislator) Cat Scott tried to fulfill a campaign pledge to address and start correcting the deplorable conditions at the Sunset Lake Adult Care Center. 

After Sunset Lake officials declined for a second month to appear and answer questions before the committee, Ms. Scott tried to report on the dangerous and unacceptable conditions her own investigations had turned up. 

Since most of the other legislators on this committee campaigned on promises to restore the care center, you would think they would be interested in and supportive of Ms. Scott’s efforts. Instead, more than a few of them, along with other county officials in the room, repeatedly interrupted her, alleging her report was possibly in violation of HIPAA and other confidentially protected information. These bogus allegations effectively halted any further information from Ms. Scott. 

Fortunately, in the public comment period following this session, unfettered speakers made their own extensive reports on conditions at the Adult Care Center, reports that more than confirmed what Ms. Scott had been saying. 

The whole February 8 meeting can be viewed in its entirety on the county website.  Anyone interested in learning more about the reasons for the precipitous drop in the care center’s Medicare facility ranking should watch the video. 

Please note that at no time did Cat Scott discuss or disclose any HIPAA or other confidentially protected information. This false allegation appears to have been a ruse used to prevent Ms. Scott from continuing to speak about what her investigations revealed.

Watch the video here, then demand that Cat Scott be allowed to continue her efforts to bring the Care Center back to its former excellence, and that all legislators and county officials should encourage and support her in this endeavor. The residents of Sunset Lake Adult Care Center and the people of Sullivan County deserve nothing less. 

Star D. Hesse
Narrowsburg, NY