The New York State Department of Health sent a cease-and-desist letter to Samaritan Hospital, over plans to shut down the Burdett Birth Center, Rensselaer County’s only maternal care unit. WRGB reports Samaritan Hospital has not submitted the required closure plan, but has informed staff that they are no longer recruiting new staff for services at the birth center. They can’t close beds or end services without the approval of the DOH.