So far, state health officials said, eight hospitals in the city have volunteered to accept new patients under the emergency transfer plan.

For example, both centers accept patients around the clock, but neither has an emergency room.

Some do accept only patients who can afford high fees.

For the facilities, accepting such patients can be a lucrative business.

That means the hospital can accept fewer patients, especially in its intensive and critical care units.

And the hospital is only accepting patients in need of urgent care.

Health Network, a local group, says its referral list has only five physicians accepting private patients.

The program is to start accepting patients in a few weeks.

Fewer than a dozen of those accept patients over 50.

If it gets too busy, he said, he may have to stop accepting new patients.