Your Weekly Dose of Health December 23, 2016

** As you may be aware, step therapy, or “fail first” legislation, A.2834D (Titone) / S.3419C (Young), passed the NYS Senate and Assembly in the final week of the Legislative Session. Please take the time to call Governor Cuomo at 518-474-8390 and urge him to sign this legislation into law, as it’s in the best interest of New York patients and providers! Click here for more information on step therapy.

 

National News:

  • Congressman Tom Price, President-elect Trump’s choice to run the Health and Human Services department traded in substantial shares of health-related companies while at the same time advocating legislation that could affect those same companies.
  • Approximately 4 million people have signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, a jump of around 400,000 people over last year.

State News:

  • Senate Democrats, in response to Trump’s statements that Roe V Wade will be overturned during his Administration, plan to introduce a bill updating New York’s abortion laws.
  • Governor Cuomo this week announced a new regulation that prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage to businesses that hire formerly incarcerated New Yorkers.

City News:

  • The Department of Education will re-test nearly 1,500 city school buildings for lead, beginning this winter.
  • Mayor de Blasio this week launched the GetCoveredNYC initiative to help enroll more New Yorkers in health care under the Affordable Care Act.

Upcoming Events:

  • Click here for upcoming meetings, hearings and events from the state Department of Health.