Your Weekly Dose of Health May 27, 2016

* Did you know your health insurance plan can change your prescription medication coverage mid-way through the coverage year? Click here to learn more about these negative mid-year formulary changes and find out how you can help stop them.*

 

National News:

  • CNBC reports this week that healthcare costs for the average family have topped $25,000 for the first time. This despite the fact that healthcare increases are at a record low.
  • Senators are hopeful that a bipartisan bill addressing mental health can be brought to the floor for a vote as soon as this June.

State News:

  • New York is set to become the eighth state to switch to managed care for developmentally disabled adults, and this has some people worried that the current method of care they have will be disrupted.
  • Both houses have passed a bill to exempt feminine hygiene products from state and local sales tax. The so called tampon tax bill now goes to the governor for signature or veto. It’s expected he will sign the bill.
  • Governor Cuomo’s newly created Heroin Task Force held a listening session this week on Staten Island, at which almost 200 elected officials, health experts and community members discussed the problem of heroin addiction and ways to address it.
  • Governor Cuomo this week launched a public awareness campaign with a PSA to educate New Yorkers about the Zika Virus.

New York City News:

  • Mayor Bill de Blasio this week unveiled a complete list of reforms that the public health system has adopted over the last nine months. The Mayor announced new initiatives to improve health services in the city’s prisons.

Upcoming Events:

  • The United Hospital Fund is holding its annual Medicaid Conference on July 14th in New York City. Read more here.