Health Care
Policy
Lawmakers introduce latest version of single-payer health care bill
The bill’s sponsors have tweaked the 30-year-old legislation in a bid to attract support from public sector unions who currently oppose it.
Abortion
Policy
Hochul marks one-year anniversary of Dobbs by signing law for telehealth abortions across state lines
The governor signed a bill that will protect New York health care providers administering abortion medication to patients living in other states – insisting New York is on solid legal footing to do so.
Policy
Policy
Coverage for All hangs in the balance as Assembly returns to Albany
Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas said she worked with the governor to amend the bill but now Hochul is “moving the goalpost.”
Policy
Policy
NYC health commissioner: 'COVID-19 is here to stay'
New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan asked for help in informing New Yorkers about existing tools to fight COVID-19, as some free ones vanish.
Politics
Politics
Adams calls for stronger mental health interventions following Jordan Neely’s killing
Mayor Eric Adams did not directly criticize Daniel Penny, the former Marine who put Neely into a deadly chokehold on a subway car
Policy
Policy
In New York, Narcan is becoming a household name
Lawmakers have worked to increase access to the opioid overdose reversal drug as thousands continue to die every year from overdoses.
Policy
Policy
More mental health crisis respite centers, in NYC Council plan
Mayor Eric Adams has his own mental health plan, but the council plans to push its priorities in the budget.
Policy
Policy
NYC health chief warns of “shorter, less healthy lives” without action
A recent report found that average life expectancy declined 4.6 years between 2019 and 2020. But Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan said that COVID-19 wasn’t the only driver of those lost years.
Heard Around Town
Politics
Home care workers target Adrienne Adams
The council has not moved on a bill that would ban 24-hour work days, amid oppositions from New Yorkers with disabilities and 1199 SEIU.
Policy
Policy
‘Not in New York, not now – not ever.’ Hochul announces abortion pill stockpile after Texas ruling
After the Texas ruling to stop the use of mifepristone sent shockwaves across the nation, the governor joined Planned Parenthood to announce a stockpile of another abortion drug in the state.
Opinion
Opinion
Opinion: Mental health emergencies deserve compassion, not criminalization
This year’s state budget must include funding for a pilot program that sends trained counselors, not armed police officers, to respond to mental health crises.
Politics
Politics
Labor weighs in on bail, ‘good cause,’ health care in New York budget
From “good cause” to bail reform rollbacks, unions are making their voices heard.
Opinion
Opinion
Opinion: Why New York deserves a reproductive healthcare services training and education grant program
Including $6 to 8 million in the final state budget for such an effort will ensure that medical interns and residents are properly trained in medical and surgical abortion procedures.
Heard Around Town
Personality
Addiction-focused health commissioner still needs to talk to Hochul about overdoses
Acting Health Commissioner James McDonald is poised to take over permanently and has a history in overseeing controversial supervised injection sites.
Opinion
Opinion
Opinion: New York must invest in training nursing assistants
We need to scale an equity-focused model to address New York’s senior care staffing crisis
Politics
Politics
1199 fills 17K-seat arena for budget rally in Albany
Health care workers called for higher reimbursement rates and funding for safety net hospitals – while rapping with hip hop legends.
Opinion
Opinion
Opinion: NY can provide health care to undocumented immigrants and still save the state $500 million
Both can happen with passage of the Coverage for All bill.
Policy
Policy
Dozens of free mobile COVID-19 testing sites to close
New York City Health + Hospitals said they are “rightsizing” their mobile Test to Treat units amid low levels of COVID-19 transmission.
Health Care
Policy
NY Senate considers doula support to improve birth outcomes
The professional birth care providers testified about how they can be empowered to help more women in New York.
Health Care
Opinion