A dozen nurses at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx say they were told this spring that their utilization review positions are on the chopping block as the health system leans into automated tools. The notices, dated May 28 according to the nurses, gave staff a 45‑day window to land other roles inside the hospital, a countdown the New York State Nurses Association says runs out on July 12. The union has filed a grievance and is pressing Montefiore to hit pause while both sides try to hash out alternatives.
NYSNA says the letters were sent to utilization review nurses and that it filed a class‑action grievance on June 1 accusing Montefiore of failing to meet with the union before issuing the notices, according to Gothamist. In its own public statements, NYSNA has blasted the move as a bid to “replace real nurses with AI” and said members held a virtual town hall to raise the alarm. The union shared a copy of a May 28 letter that tells nurses, “I deeply regret to inform you that your position will be eliminated 45 days from the date of this letter.” (NYSNA).
Hospital response
Montefiore is not having it with that framing. The hospital system told reporters that the union’s account is “inaccurate and misleading” and said it is investing in new technology to improve care and outcomes, a spokesperson said, according to Gothamist. The health system also points to its ongoing digital health research and pilot projects as part of a broader modernization push (Montefiore Einstein).
Vendor and automation concerns
Union leaders and affected nurses say the shakeup in utilization review hinges on heavier use of automation, and they have named Datavant as the vendor involved. Datavant describes its Clinical Insights Platform as offering “AI‑powered workflows, advanced analytics, and health data management capabilities” designed to help payers and providers move reviews faster and flag care needs more efficiently.
Union demands a halt
NYSNA is urging Montefiore to stop the 45‑day displacement clock, sit down with the union to look at other options, and keep licensed nurses in place for final reviews (NYSNA). Local elected officials joined nurses at a virtual town hall to support that call, arguing that technology should back up, not override, clinical judgment. With the 45‑day window set to close on July 12, the union says it will push for immediate talks to keep nurses in their posts while any automation tools are evaluated.
The fight in the Bronx puts a spotlight on a larger question hanging over hospitals everywhere: how to roll out AI while honoring labor contracts and protecting clinical judgment. Montefiore and NYSNA say conversations will continue; patients and staff will be watching to see whether the system pauses the displacement clock and meets with the union before July 12.
