Healthcare should never mean being left to manage serious illness alone. New proposals could expand “Hospital at Home” programs that replace expert, around-the-clock care with virtual check-ins. Patients deserve better. bit.ly/dontleavepatientshomealone
Protect yourself & your family by wearing light-colored clothing, staying on clear, well-traveled trails, using insect repellent, showering after being outdoors and doing a full-body tick check. For more information on how to stay safe this season, visit www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/lyme/
As we welcome warmer days and more people head outdoors, it’s important to know the signs of Lyme disease and take steps to prevent it.
As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, I often times see individuals struggling with addiction are also dealing with co-occurring mental health disorders. Too many of these individuals also lack stable housing, which makes recovery and long-term stability more difficult.
I’m proud to support Governor Kathy Hochul's investment in Mohawk Heights, a critical new housing development right here in Schenectady that will serve individuals living with mental illness who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
www.governor.ny.gov/news/governo...
📞 To find a program near you, call 1‑866‑442‑CANCER (2262). The call is free, available 24/7, and language assistance is available.
The New York State Cancer Services Program offers free breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening for eligible New Yorkers age 40-64 who are uninsured or underinsured. Services are available through local clinics, health centers, doctors’ offices, and hospitals in every county in NYS.
These reforms would not only lower costs but also improve access to quality health care for families across New York.
You can watch the full video below to learn more about the solutions I am advocating for to make health care more affordable.
assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Phil-Ste...
I also discuss other reforms that could help reduce costs, including legislation to stop pharmacy benefit managers from owning pharmacies, eliminating abusive telehealth facility fees & addressing burdensome prior authorization requirements that delay care.
An independent analysis by the RAND Corporation estimates that roughly 90 percent of New York households would save money under this model.
Under this proposal, residents would no longer face the administrative fees, premiums, deductibles, and co-pays required by private insurance companies. Instead, coverage would be provided through a single payer system that spreads costs across all NYers, similar to how Social Security works.
For years, I have supported the New York Health Act because it would ensure that every New Yorker has access to health coverage while reducing costs for families and small businesses.
In the second installment of my Affordability in Action video series, I focus on another major issue that many constituents raise with my office: the rising cost of health care.
Our veterans earned these benefits through their service and sacrifice. We should be strengthening access to care for them, not taking it away. I will continue working with my colleagues to push the VA to reconsider this decision. cbs6albany.com/news/local/c...
One cannot claim to support the troops while closing the very offices that provide them with care. Making war is not the same as supporting the troops.
As I said in response to this proposal, the Veterans Administration has had a storied history in American life. In 1945, President Truman appointed World War II General Omar Bradley to lead the VA, and he was known as a fierce advocate for our troops.
I am very concerned about the proposed closure of the Schenectady VA Clinic, which serves more than 1,500 veterans each year and provides critical care to the men and women who served our country.
I also want to thank Ranking Member Assemblyman Keith Brown for his partnership in reducing the stigma surrounding substance use disorder and the committee members on both sides of the aisle for supporting this effort.
While this change may seem symbolic, stigma remains the number one barrier to treatment and recovery for people diagnosed with substance use disorder. As a committee dedicated to helping NYers, this change is an important step in showing that we are truly committed to supporting those who need help.
Based on the feedback I have received, I am leading a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers to change the name of our committee from “Alcoholism and Drug Abuse” to “Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders,” mirroring the action the New York State Senate took in 2023.
When I meet with individuals in recovery, they almost always tell me that the name of our committee reinforces the stigma that addiction is a moral failing and ask that it be changed.
As a committee tasked with helping New Yorkers who are struggling with substance use, it sends the wrong message to the very people we are trying to support when we refer to substance use disorder as “drug abuse.”
Since becoming Chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, our committee has focused on increasing funding for treatment programs for New Yorkers diagnosed with substance use disorder and providing them with the resources they need to live productive lives in recovery.
Need help with a state issue or community resource?
Join my office on Thursday, April 9 for Mobile Office Hours from 10AM to 1PM at Hibernian Hall in Schenectady. We can assist with unemployment, HEAP, housing, and other state-related concerns.
One person who registers as a donor can help many others and give families hope during incredibly difficult times.
I encourage everyone to take a moment to learn more and consider registering as a donor. It is a simple step that can make an extraordinary difference.
Sign up at donatelife.ny.gov
April is National Donate Life Month, a time to raise awareness about the life saving impact of organ, eye, and tissue donation.
Across New York and the country, thousands of people are waiting for a transplant that could save or dramatically improve their lives.
My office is hosting Mobile Office Hours in Schenectady.
If you have questions about state services, need assistance with a government agency, or want to share a concern, our Constituent Relations Manager Sam will be there to meet with residents and help connect you with the resources you need.
Don’t miss your chance to make a real difference! The Empire State Service Corps empowers SUNY students to serve their communities and drive meaningful change. The April 17 priority deadline is approaching fast.
Step up and apply today: www.suny.edu/student-life/engagement/essc/.
As I said in the story, “This power grid is so old and in such poor condition that it would need investment anyway, so for people to point the finger at environmental regulation, it's just wrong.”