New York City’s Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is facing huge deficits, which could hit $1.5 billion before 2020. Although the city council is certainly concerned, it is not clear what can be done. Most ideas aimed at cutting costs are unpopular, as is privatizing services. This week NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio nominated three
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and affects about 5 million people in the United States each year. Skin cancer is so common that there are more new cases each year than breast, prostate, colon, and lung cancer combined. The three different types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell
The State Department of Health (DOH) today extended the deadline for applications for potential medical marijuana dispensers and manufacturers. The deadline to apply is now June 5th. Assembly Member Gottfried, the Health Committee Chair, introduced a bill to expand the number of ailments treatable under the medical marijuana regulations. This week the DOH released its long awaited review on hydrofracking. The
Women’s health issues are complex and unique to men because their bodies endure different changes. These distinct health issues come with pregnancy, menopause, and other conditions of the female organs. The most important step that women can take to remain healthy is by getting preventative health screenings. Screenings help with early detection, which often make
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio released his $78.3 billion Fiscal Year 2016 Executive Budget. It includes $54 million in spending to improve the city’s mental health services. This has been a major campaign for First Lady Chirlane McCray. Capital New York details investment in a healthcare program called the State Health Information Network
New York’s Medicaid program provides health coverage to over six million state residents, including low-income individuals and families, the disabled, and the elderly. It is important that all Medicaid patients have access to great coverage. If Medicaid enrollees and/or their providers are having issues regarding their Medicaid Managed Care plans, they may file a complaint
About half of all mental health disorders are diagnosed by the time a person reaches the age of fourteen, and nearly twenty percent of children between the ages of thirteen and eighteen experience living with a mental health condition. Children, like adults, are susceptible to many different kinds of mental health conditions, including anxiety, ADHD,
This week Governor Cuomo’s Ending the Epidemic Task Force released their final Blueprint to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. At a press conference highlighting the final Blueprint and recommendations, Governor Cuomo gave a spirited speech, reiterating the goal of ending the epidemic by 2020. Read more here. The New York State Department of Health announced earlier this
Further signaling their interest in paid family leave, the Obama administration sent Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor to the president, to speak with advocates and labor leaders on paid family leave proposals in New York. The administration says they are interested in learning about different campaigns on the issue around the country. Governor Cuomo’s trip
Recently, there has been an ongoing discussion about spending on prescription medicines. These discussions often fail to acknowledge that retail prescription medicines have consistently accounted for just 10% of health care spending in the country, despite having more than 500 new medicines brought to patients in the past 15 years. In fact, government actuaries project