Good morning and welcome to Monday’s New York Health Care newsletter, where we keep you updated on what’s happening this week in health care news and offer a look back at important news from the past week.
New York is the epicenter of the nation’s monkeypox outbreak, and its leaders are calling on the federal government to bring more doses to New Yorkers. As of Friday, New York City reported 461 cases of monkeypox, representing more than 30 percent of the CDC’s reported cases, according to the city’s health department.
Governor Kathy Hochul said Friday that the state and city had received more than 28,000 doses and that another 32,785 vaccines would arrive this week. However, New York City’s health department has decided to switch to a single-dose strategy to account for the rapid increase in cases. “In many cases, this means that individuals may not receive a second dose at the 28-day interval between doses as indicated on the FDA prescribing label,” according to the department. “Despite the delay, this should not affect the immune response to the second dose.” The strategy, replicated in other countries, allows more people to get some protection, especially as vaccine shortages plague the country’s efforts to contain the outbreak.
… Starting this week, Abortion providers in New York can apply for $15 million, which the state has set aside for second-phase awards from the Abortion Provider Support Fund, which Hochul created pending reversal by the U.S. Supreme Court. USA. Roe v. Wade. Hochul announced the opening of the second round of applications last week.
State health officialsrevealed the first-stage award recipients and award amounts at the end of June. The Department of Health has awarded $10 million in the first phase to organizations that are funded by the Comprehensive Family Planning Program and have provided medical or surgical abortions in the past 12 months.
Second phase funding will be made available to a wider group of organizations experienced in providing medical and/or surgical abortion services.
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ABORTION PROTECTIONS — POLITICO’s Julian Shen-Berro: The City Council approved new protections and strengthened resources for locals and out-of-state citizens seeking abortions in the city. The New York City Abortion Rights Act strengthens educational campaigns about local reproductive health resources, eliminates costs for those seeking abortion medication at some city clinics, and prohibits city agencies from using resources to ban abortion providers or to provide information about them overseas. entities, Council President Adrienne Adams said. It also allows defendants sued to seek reproductive health services in New York to countersued.
… Adams praised the Council for the defense of a “fundamental human right”, noting that, for the first time in history, the majority of its members are women.
NO CHANGE – POLITICO’s Shannon Young: Hochul said she has no plans to change her administration’s approach to Covid-19, despite the new Omicron subvariants driving a surge in cases in New York City and other parts of the state. The governor said that while the new more contagious variants, known as BA.4 and BA.5, “are very much around” and contributing to the increase in infections, this does not yet appear to be translating into increased Covid hospitalization rates.
Hochul encouraged all eligible New Yorkers to be vaccinated and strengthened against Covid and it is recommended to wear masks in certain environments. She, however, refrained from announcing any new mandate or suggesting that any new mandate is under consideration. “We are in charge of it. We are not changing our policies at this time — always reserving the right to do so,” Hochul, who is seeking a full term in November, told reporters at a briefing in Manhattan.
IN OTHER NEWS:
– MAKING ROUNDS: Prashant Sinha has been named chairman of surgery at Staten Island University Hospital.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU: This review is for you! Submit news tips, health tips, ideas, critiques and corrections [email protected] AND [email protected].
NOW WE KNOW – The Associated Press explains the role gestational age plays in abortion laws.
TODAY’S TIP – The FDA has released educational resources to help parents and caregivers use imported infant formula products.
BE SURE TO FOLLOW Amanda @Aisy17 and Shannon @ShannonYoung413 on Twitter. And for all New Jersey health news, check out Daniel Hahn, @danieljhan_.
STUDY THIS – from POLITICO’s Daniel Payne: Childhood vaccinations have continued to decline globally during the pandemic — resulting in the lowest coverage in 30 years, according to a new report from the WHO and UNICEF.
Kaiser Health News reports that “as Big Pharma loses interest in new antibiotics, infections are only getting stronger.”
From the Houston Chronicle: “The Texas Medical Association (TMA) is raising the alarm about what it believes are a growing number of cases in the state in which health care professionals are opposed to providing care to women with severe pregnancy complications for fear of violating state abortion ban. “
Insurance companies and courts are grappling “with how and when to pay for wilderness therapy,” STAT reports.
“Almost four years after a woman ended an unwanted pregnancy with abortion pills obtained at a Phoenix clinic, she finds herself embroiled in an ongoing lawsuit over that decision,” ProPublica reports.
New York MagazineBrooklyn Democratic Chief Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn profiles and why she’s “taking a step back — for the happiest of reasons.”
POLITICO’s Ruth Reader: Opponents of abortion rights are looking at the next phase of their campaign to stop people from ending their pregnancies — and they’re taking aim at advertising abortion services.
Republicans knew the momentRoe v. Wade it turned out they had a political problem, particularly with suburban moderates who should vote for GOP candidates in the midterms, POLITICO’s David Siders, Adam Wren and Megan Messerly report. The unfolding story of a 10-year-old rape victim who crossed state lines from Ohio for an abortion in Indiana is confirming just how damaging the issue can be.
POLITICO’s Joseph Spector reports that overtime in state government reached a record high last year, while the number of state employees continued to decline, a report Friday by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli found.
HAS A SUMMARY POSSIBLE? Get informed in the New York Health Care Bulletin.
