Expanding Birth Control Access, Housing, Health Priorities

Season 2024 Episode 7 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions

Expanding Abortion Access, Housing in the NYS Budget, Legislative Health Priorities

We speak with Jenna Bimbi, the Founder and Co-Executive Director of the New York Birth Access Project, about a campaign to make birth control accessible at state schools. Housing remains an top issue, after the governor and Legislature failed to come to an agreement on a plan last year. Assembly Health Committee Chair Amy Paulin joins us to discuss health legislative priorities.

02/16/2024

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New York NOW is a local public television program presented by WMHT

Expanding Birth Control Access, Housing, Health Priorities

Season 2024 Episode 7 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions

02/16/2024

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[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO "NEW YORK NOW.

" I'M DAVID LOMBARDO, HOST OF WCNY'S THE CAPITOL PRESS ROOM. IT WAS ANOTHER BUSY WEEK AT THE CAPITOL WITH STATE LAWMAKERS IN TOWN FOR A THREE-DAY SESSION, WHICH INCLUDED A SENATE HEARING ON THE STATE'S CONTROVERSIAL PRISON LABOR PRACTICES, INTERVIEWS FOR ASPIRING STATE OF REGENTS CANDIDATES AND JOINT LEGISLATIVE BUDGET HEARINGS ON MENTAL HEALTH, TACKS, AND HOUSING. ADVOCATES AND LAWMAKERS ALSO TRIED TO GRAB THE MEDIA SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK ADDRESSING A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES INCLUDING INTERROGATIONS BY THE POLICE AND NEW YORK'S STATUS AS A SO-CALLED SANCTUARY STATE. WE ALSO GOT LONG-AWAITED ACTION BY THE STATE'S BIPARTISAN REDISTRICTING COMMISSION WHICH WAS TASKED BY NEW YORK'S HIGHEST COURT WITHDRAWING A NEW SET OF CONGRESSIONAL BOUNDARIES AFTER THE COMMISSION WAS UNABLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON LINES IN 2022. WE'LL HAVE AN EXTENSIVE LOOK AT THE PROPOSED CONGRESSIONAL MAPS AND WHAT THEY MEAN FOR NOVEMBER'S ELECTIONS ON A FUTURE EPISODE OF THE SHOW. BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE ISSUE OF ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL AND SPECIFICALLY HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL FOR WOMEN LIKE THE PATCH, THE PILL, THE RING, AND EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION. WHILE THIS AREA OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS OFTEN TAKES A BACKSEAT TO ABORTION ACCESS, IT HAS BEEN AN EVOLVING ISSUE IN NEW YORK SINCE 2019 WITH A PASSAGE OF A LAW REQUIRING INSURERS TO COVER FDA-APPROVED CONTRACEPTION WITHOUT A COPAY. FOR THE LATEST NEWS, WE SPOKE EARLIER THIS WEEK WITH JENNA BIMBI, COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK BIRTH CONTROL ACCESS PROJECT. HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION. [ THEME MUSIC ] WELL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE TIME, JENNA. >> I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE AND ALWAYS HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL. >> IT'S OUR PLEASURE. FOR STATERS, IN 2023, STATE LAWMAKERS AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL SIGNED OFF ON LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO MAKE IT EASIER TO ACCESS HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL WHICH TRADITIONALLY REQUIRED A SCRIPT FROM A DOCTOR OR NURSE. CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE NEW LAW WHICH IS EXPECTED TO TAKE EFFECT THIS YEAR? >> YES.

BUT FIRST, I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT TO THE LAW WHICH IS, DESPITE THERE BEING SO MANY OPTIONS FOR BIRTH CONTROL, PEOPLE STILL FACE BARRIERS TO GETTING IT. 1.2 MILLION WOMEN IN NEW YORK LIVE IN A CONTRACEPTIVE DESERT, WHICH MEANS IT'S TOO DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO GET BIRTH CONTROL. SO BECAUSE OF THE BIRTH CONTROL ACCESS ACT, WHICH YOU JUST REFERENCED, PATIENTS CAN NOW WALK INTO THEIR PHARMACY, TALK TO THEIR PHARMACIST ABOUT THE BIRTH CONTROL THAT THEY WANT, AND THE PHARMACIST WILL WRITE THAT PRESCRIPTION FOR THEM AND THE PATIENT CAN WALK OUT THAT DAY WITH THEIR BIRTH CONTROL. WHAT HAPPENS NOW BEFORE THE BIRTH CONTROL ACCESS ACT TAKES EFFECT IS THAT A PATIENT GENERALLY GOES TO A PROVIDER, AN OB/GYN, NURSE PRACTITIONER, A MIDWIFE, THEY'LL NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEN GO INTO SEE THAT PROVIDER, BUT BY ALLOWING A PATIENT TO GO TO THE PHARMACY TO DO THIS, WE'RE CREATING A ONE-STOP SHOP, WHERE THEY WALK INTO THE PHARMACY, THEY CAN GET THEIR PRESCRIPTION THERE, THEY CAN GET THEIR BIRTH CONTROL FILLED AND WALK OUT WITH THEIR BIRTH CONTROL THAT DAY. ABOUT 25 OTHER STATES HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION SIMILAR TO THIS AND SO IT WAS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE NEW YORK DO THE SAME AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE STAYING A LEADER IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE. >> YOU MENTIONED THE HOOPS AND HURDLES THAT PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE TO GO THROUGH CURRENTLY TO ACCESS HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL. SO IS THE IDEA THAT THERE ARE JUST A WIDER AVAILABILITY OF PHARMACIES FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO AND THEORETICALLY ACCESS HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL THIS WAY, LIKE THE PATCH OR PILL? >> YEAH.

PHARMACISTS SEEM TO BE THE MOST ACCESSIBLE TYPE OF PROVIDER AND MOST AMERICANS LIVE CLOSER TO A PHARMACY THAN A TYPICAL PROVIDER OF BIRTH CONTROL. THIS IS GOING TO BE ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR FOLKS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS UPSTATE AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT SORT OF HOW YOU GET YOUR VACCINES NOW, RIGHT? WE CAN POP INTO A PHARMACY AND GET A FLU VACCINE OR COVID VACCINE FROM OUR PHARMACIST WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME THING BUT FOR BIRTH CONTROL, AND IT WILL BE FOR THE PILL, THE PATCH, OR THE RING, AND WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL AFTER THE END OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE WILL ALSO SEE THAT THE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT CAN BE PRESCRIBED AND ADMINISTERED BY A PHARMACIST. >> SO WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO ENSURE THAT THIS LAW WORKS EFFECTIVELY? IS IT JUST ABOUT PROMOTING THE FACT THAT THIS OPTION EXISTS BY GOING ON REALLY IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEDIA TELEVISION SHOWS, OR DO PHARMACISTS NEED SOME SORT OF TRAINING AS WELL? >> SO TO YOUR FIRST POINT, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE KNOW IT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM AND PHARMACISTS KNOW THAT THEY CAN DO THAT. LAWS AREN'T RIGHTS UNTIL PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEM, SO THE EDUCATION PIECE IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL. IN SOME STATES THAT HAVE ENACTED PHARMACIST-PRESCRIBED BIRTH CONTROL, IT'S AS EASY AS PUTTING A STICKER IN PHARMACY WINDOW THAT SAYS, THIS PHARMACIST CAN PRESCRIBE BIRTH CONTROL. YOU CAN SEE AN UPTAKE OF THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS COMING IN TO GET THEIR BIRTH CONTROL, GET THEIR BIRTH CONTROL PRESCRIPTION AT THE PHARMACY. THERE IS SOME TRAINING THAT PHARMACISTS ARE GOING TO NEED TO DO, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ARE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH THAT AND PUSHING THAT OUT, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WHAT WE ARE MOST-- WHAT WE'RE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT AS ADVOCATES IS MAKING SURE THAT PATIENTS KNOW THAT THEY CAN GO TO THEIR PHARMACY WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION FOR BIRTH CONTROL AND WALK OUT WITH THEIR BIRTH CONTROL THAT DAY. >> AFTER SOMEONE HAS GONE THROUGH THAT POTENTIAL OPTION IN THE FUTURE, JENNA, IS THAT THE WAY THEY CAN GET THEIR BIRTH CONTROL FOR THE REFILLS AND WHATNOT, OR AT SOME POINT, WOULD A PATIENT HAVE TO GO SEE A DOCTOR OR A NURSE TO GET THEIR BIRTH CONTROL REFILLED? >> NO.

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS SO EXCITING IS THAT FROM HERE ON OUT, A PATIENT CAN SEE A PHARMACIST TO GET THEIR BIRTH CONTROL. NOW MAYBE A PHARMACIST WILL SUGGEST THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON, A PATIENT NEEDS TO GO SEE A PROVIDER BECAUSE THE PHARMACIST HAS REALIZED THAT A PROVIDER IS GOING TO BE THE BETTER PLACE FOR A PATIENT TO GO, TO GET ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OR TO MAKE A DIFFERENT DECISION ABOUT THE TYPE OF BIRTH CONTROL THEY'RE GOING TO GET. BUT A PATIENT DOESN'T NEED TO DO THAT. THEY'LL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE PRESCRIPTION AND THE BIRTH CONTROL FROM THEIR PHARMACIST NOW. >> IF THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT SOMEONE IS GETTING BIRTH CONTROL, WILL THE PHARMACIST BE PROVIDING THEM WITH ANY SORT OF INFORMATION ABOUT MAYBE THE DANGERS THAT THEY NEED TO BE AWARE OF OR MAYBE SIDE EFFECTS? IS THERE ANY SORT OF SCREENING THAT THEY MAY GO THROUGH TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THIS NEW PROCESS? >> YEAH.

SO A PHARMACIST WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH A PATIENT SCREENING TOOL WHICH WILL SCREEN OUT ANY CONTRA INDICATIONS OR LIKE I SAID BEFORE, IF THEY NEED TO SEND THEM TO A PROVIDER, AN OB/GYN, NURSE PRACTITIONER OR MIDWIFE, THAT SCREENING TOOL WILL HELP THE PHARMACIST KNOW THAT THEY NEED TO DO THAT. IF NOT, THEN THE PHARMACIST CAN PRESCRIBE THE BIRTH CONTROL RIGHT THEN AND THERE. >> LOOKING AHEAD AT THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU'RE ALSO TRYING TO MAKE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION MORE ACCESSIBLE TO YOUNG PEOPLE BY REQUIRING IT BE PLACED IN VENDING MACHINES AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. BEFORE WE GET INTO THE RATIONALE FOR THIS REQUIREMENT, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION ACTUALLY IS? I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF MISCONCEPTION ABOUT WHAT IT DOES. >> I WOULD LOVE TO EXPLAIN THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE MISCONCEPTIONS, AND WE NEED TO DISPEL THOSE ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL AT LARGE. BUT FOR EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION, FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS CONVERSATION, EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION IS JUST ANOTHER TYPE OF BIRTH CONTROL. MOST PEOPLE KNOW IT BY THE NAME PLAN B, OR THE MORNING AFTER PILL. IT IS NOT THE ABORTION PILL, WHICH IS SOMETIMES THE THING THAT PEOPLE CONFUSE IT WITH. EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION IS SIMPLY ANOTHER TYPE OF BIRTH CONTROL. >> WELL, TURNING TO YOUR LEGISLATIVE PUSH THEN, WHY SHOULD SUNY AND CUNY SCHOOLS BE REQUIRED TO HAVE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION IN AT LEAST ONE VENDING MACHINE ON THEIR CAMPUSES? >> WE'RE REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION. SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS YOU WILL BE-- COLLEGES WILL BE PUTTING EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION IN A VENDING MACHINE AND IN DOING SO, YOU ARE PUTTING EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION, THIS TYPE OF BIRTH CONTROL WHERE A PATIENT NEEDS IT, WHERE A STUDENT NEEDS, WHEN A STUDENT NEEDS IT. AND LOCATION IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION IS MOST EFFECTIVE WITHIN 72 HOURS SO SOME CAMPUSES HAVE HEALTH CENTERS BUT NOT ALL SUNY AND CUNY CAMPUSES HAVE HEALTH CENTERS, AND EVEN THE ONES THAT DO, YOU KNOW, THE HOURS MIGHT NOT BE AS OPEN AS LONG AS-- AS OFTEN AS YOU WOULD SEE A STUDENT BE ABLE TO GET IT FROM A VENDING MACHINE, AND THEN THERE'S THE PRICE. WE'RE WORKING TO GET THE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION INTO A VENDING MACHINE AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. WE'RE HOPING FOR AROUND $10. WE'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN AT JOHN JAY COLLEGE AT SUNY UPSTATE-- AT UPSTATE MEDICAL, AS WELL AS UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO THEY ALL PLACED IT FOR AROUND $10. AND FINALLY, STUDENTS TALKED TO US ABOUT THE ANONYMITY ASPECT. RIGHT?

OFTENTIMES WHEN YOU GO TO A PHARMACIST, NOT ONLY IS IT EXPENSIVE, THE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION, IT'S OFTEN AS MAYBE LOCKED BEHIND A CASE AND YOU'VE GOT TO ASK SOMEBODY AT THE PHARMACY TO COME UNLOCK IT FOR YOU AND THAT CAN BE REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR A YOUNG PERSON. SO WE'VE GOT HUNDREDS OF SUNY AND CUNY STUDENTS THAT WE TALK TO ALL OF THE TIME AND THEY SAY BECAUSE IT WILL BE EASIER TO ACCESS BECAUSE IT'S ON CAMPUS. IT'S AN AFFORDABLE PRICE, AND THERE'S THE ANONYMITY FACTOR THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM AS WELL. >> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THIS WEEK. WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH JENNA BIMBI, SHE'S THE COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BIRTH CONTROL ACCESS PROJECT. THANKS SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE TIME, JENNA. >> THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO ME ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL. [ THEME MUSIC ] >>> AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU BACK TO THE CAPITOL WHERE THIS WEEK MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE EXAMINE THE HOUSING PORTION OF GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S BUDGET. THE ISSUE OF HOUSING CREATION DOMINATED THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS THE GOVERNOR TRIED AND ULTIMATELY FAILED TO PUSH THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE THAT WOULD HAVE POTENTIALLY DOUBLED THE RATE OF NEW HOME GROWTH OVER THE NEXT DECADE. THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNOR'S PUSHING A MUCH MORE MODEST PROPOSAL WHICH IS JUST ONE OF THE ISSUES DISCUSSED AT THIS WEEK'S HOUSING HEARING THAT WAS COVERED BY "NEW YORK NOW" REPORTER SHANTEL DESTRA. >> AS OUTLINED IN THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET, COMMUNITIES WHO RECEIVE PRO-HOUSING CERTIFICATES WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS $650 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING. LAST WEEK, THE GOVERNOR HOSTED A ROUNDTABLE WITH LOCAL LEADERS FROM 20 COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE WHO'VE OPTED INTO THE PROGRAM. >> THIS IS WHAT THEY SAID THEY WANTED. THEY WANTED CARROTS AND WE HAVE $650 MILLION OF CARROTS TO PUT ON THE TABLE, LITERALLY, AND TO TELL THEM THAT THIS IS AVAILABLE TO COMMUNITIES WHO ARE WILLING TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY. EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE WAS SAYING THIS WAS GOING TO HELP SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS. THE EMPLOYERS WANT TO BRING MORE EMPLOYEES IN. THEY DON'T HAVE HOUSING. YOUNG PEOPLE WANT A PLACE TO LIVE AFTER SCHOOL. THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING. SENIORS QUANTITY TO DOWNSIZE AND THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING. SO FROM POUGHKEEPSIE FROM BINGHAMTON TO DUNKERQUE, ALL OVER THE STATE, LEADERS HAVE TOLD US THAT THIS IS THE PATH THEY WANT TO BE ON AND I WANT TO INSPIRE MORE COMMUNITIES TO STEP FORWARD AND BE PART OF THIS. >> AT THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET HEARING ON HOUSING, SOME LAWMAKERS OFFERED PUSHBACK ON THE PRO-HOUSING COMMUNITY PLAN. ASSEMBLY HOUSING COMMITTEE CHAIR LINDA ROSENTHAL SAID THE DEFINITION OF THE PLAN SEEMED VAGUE, PUSHING THE STATE'S COMMISSIONER OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL TO PROVIDE MORE SPECIFICS. >> SURE.

IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY YOU WANT ME TO COVER? >> NO.

THERE'S NOT MUCH INFO. SURE, THERE'S THREE WAYS TO APPLY. YOU SUBMIT US A LETTER OF INTENT. YOU SUBMIT YOUR ZONING CODE AND ZONING BUILDING PERMIT DATA AND YOU EITHER THROUGH THE BUILDING PERMITS SHOULD REFLECT THAT YOU HAVE EITHER GROWN, AND THAT'S THE WAY TO GET CERTIFIED. THAT'S THE THIRD PIECE. IF YOU HAVEN'T GROWN, WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU PASS A RESOLUTION LOCALLY THAT HAS A SERIES OF PRO-HOUSING STATEMENTS IN IT ABOUT REDUCING REGULATION TO HOUSING, WANTING TO GROW YOUR HOUSING STOCK, THAT TYPE OF THING. THOSE ARE THE SORT OF THREE STEPS A COMMUNITY HAS TO TAKE TO GET CERTIFIED. >> ASIDE FROM THE PRO-HOUSING COMMUNITY PLAN, LAWMAKERS PUSHED THE COMMISSIONER ON THE 421-A TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPERS, PUBLIC HOUSING AND SECTION 8, AND SOME LAWMAKERS ARGUED THERE CAN BE NO HOUSING PLAN WITHOUT CERTAIN TENANT PROTECTIONS, SUCH AS GOOD CAUSE AND THE HOUSING ACCESS VOUCHER PROGRAM. ADVOCATES AGREE, INCLUDING CEA WEAVER, A TENANT ORGANIZER, WITH HOUSING JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR GOOD CAUSE EVICTION, BOTH IN THE LEGISLATURE BUT ALSO WITHIN THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IT'S A REALLY POPULAR BILL ALL OVER THE STATE AND THE ONLY REASON THAT IT WOULDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE FINAL BUDGET IS IF THE GOVERNOR IS WORKING WITH THE REST OF THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY. WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING LIKE GOOD CAUSE EVICTION DONE THIS YEAR. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT VERSION OF THE BILL? AND WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S STATEWIDE AND NO TENANTS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE PROPOSAL. >> AS BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE, HOUSING IS LIKELY TO BE A STICKING POINT FOR THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE TO BE ABLE TO MEET THEIR APRIL 1ST BUDGET DEADLINE. [ THEME MUSIC ] >> WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE DEBATE OVER THE GOVERNOR'S HOUSING PROPOSAL IN THE FUTURE AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL COVERAGE OF BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS THIS SPRING. BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO CHECK IN WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER AMY PAULIN, A WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEMOCRAT, WHO IS IN HER SECOND YEAR AS HER CHAMBER'S HEALTH COMMITTEE. "NEW YORK NOW" REPORTER, SHANTEL DESTRA, SPOKE WITH PAULIN ABOUT MEDICAID SPENDING IN THE BUDGET, HER EFFORT TO CREATE A SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH INSURANCE MODEL IN THE EMPIRE STATE AND THE FUTURE OF CONTROVERSIAL LEGISLATION ALLOWING TERMINALLY ILL NEW YORKERS TO END THEIR LIVES WITH ASSISTANCE FROM A DOCTOR. HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION. [ THEME MUSIC ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, ASSEMBLY MEMBER. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> NOW HEALTH CARE TAKES UP A LARGE PORTION THE STATE'S BUDGET YEAR AFTER YEAR. A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH MEDICAID. WE KNOW THAT MEDICAID SPENDING HAS BALLOONED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, LARGELY IN PART DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THIS YEAR IN THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET, GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL HAS STATED THAT SHE WANTS TO SCALE BACK ON MEDICAID SPENDING AND FIND WAYS TO SAVE. WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL? >> RIGHT NOW, THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL ISN'T FULLY FORMED. THERE WERE ANTICIPATED, UNALLOCATED CUTS. SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE OF CLOSE TO $400 MILLION IN MEDICAID, WHICH TRANSLATES INTO AN $800 MILLION CUT BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL MATCH. SO THOSE ARE NOT FLUSHED OUT. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. 200 MILLION IN LONG-TERM CARE AND 200 MILLION IN MANAGED CARE. WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. SO WE DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE BUDGET. YOU KNOW, UNTIL SOME OF THAT IS LAID OUT PERHAPS IN THE 30-DAY AMENDMENTS. >> SO YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL AS IT IS, AS IT STANDS. SO IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU HOPING THAT THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TACKLE MEDICAID SPENDING IN THE FINAL STATE BUDGET? >> WELL, IT'S A LITTLE SCARY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR ENTIRE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS SUFFERING FROM A WORKFORCE SHORTAGE. THEY'RE SUFFERING, AS YOU SAID, POST-COVID FROM A DEPLETION OF FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND SO WE-- WE'RE OVERLOADED AND YET WE'RE DEFICIENT IN HOW WE'RE SERVING PEOPLE. AND WE NEED TO RETHINK A LOT OF THAT. WE NEED TO SHORE UP OUR HOSPITALS. WE HAVE 75 HOSPITALS IN DISTRESS. THAT'S 29% OF OUR HOSPITALS IN FINANCIAL DISTRESS. THAT'S AN ENORMOUS NUMBER. WE HAVE SO MANY ON THE BRINK OF DISTRESS THAT ARE PLEADING WITH US FOR MORE RESOURCES. OUR HOSPITALS ARE WHERE WE GO IF WE NEED TERTIARY CARE, IF WE NEED AMBULATORY CARE, WE HAVE TO SHORE THEM UP. SO THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM. NURSING HOMES, ANOTHER TREMENDOUS AREA THAT WE HAVE PROBLEMS FINANCIALLY WITH. THEY'RE GOING UNDER. NOT-FOR-PROFIT NURSING HOMES ARE SELLING TO FOR-PROFIT NURSING HOMES. WE AREN'T SEEING THE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS BEING MADE THAT ARE NEEDED. AGAIN, A WORKFORCE SHORTAGE AND NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES FOR THESE FACILITIES. SO IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD AND YOU KNOW, THEN WE HAVE A TIGHT BUDGET. IT'S A PROBLEM. >> AND WERE THERE ANY MEASURES THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC EMERGENCY MEASURES THAT YOU ARE HOPING TO BE EXPANDED TO BECOME PERMANENT MEASURES THAT THE STATE WILL IMPLEMENT? >> YES.

SHORT ANSWER, THE-- SOME OF THE MEASURES THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE, YOU KNOW, ALLOWING SOME PRACTITIONERS TO HAVE A SMALL EXPANDED SCOPE, ALLOWING NURSES TO DO MORE THAN THEY-- TO WORK AT THE TOP OF THEIR LICENSE, EMS WORKERS TO WORK AT THE TOP OF THEIR LICENSE AND SO FORTH DOWN THE LINE. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AT THE TOP OF THEIR LICENSE. THOSE ARE THINGS WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO. IT WAS EXECUTIVE ORDER, AS YOU POINT OUT, FOR THREE YEARS THEY WORKED AND THE HOSPITALS ARE RELYING ON THEM. NURSING HOMES ARE RELYING ON THEM FOR US TO GO FORWARD AND TO MAINTAIN THEM. >> AND YOUR PREDECESSOR, FORMER ASSEMBLY MEMBER RICHARD GODFREY, HE WAS, OF COURSE, THE LEAD SPONSOR AND LONGTIME CHAMPION OF THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT. I KNOW LAST YEAR YOU TOOK OVER AS ASSEMBLY SPONSOR FOR THE BILL, AND THIS IS A BILL THAT HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, IN THE LEGISLATURE BUT HASN'T MOVED FORWARD FOR SEVERAL, SEVERAL YEARS. SO WHAT IS THE PATH FORWARD FOR THIS BILL? >> SO FIRST, FOR OUR VIEWERS, RIGHT, YOUR VIEWERS, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS. YOU KNOW, IT BASICALLY SIMULATES A MODEL. THERE'S LOTS OF MODELS OUT THERE IN LOS OF COUNTRIES THAT REALLY MAKE HEALTH CARE A RIGHT. THIS BILL MAKES HEALTH CARE A RIGHT. AND IT MAKES IT A RIGHT SO THAT IF SOMEONE PRESENTS THEMSELVES AT A HOSPITAL, THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE THAT THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE HEALTH CARE THAT THEY WANT AND DESERVE. DOESN'T RELY ON HIGH PREMIUM PAYMENTS AND WE HOPE THAT THIS BILL WILL BE ABLE TO BECOME LAW AT SOME POINT. WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH A LOT OF THE BUGS, YOU KNOW, AND WE STILL HAVE TO WIN OVER SOME OF THE UNIONS, BUT LONG TERM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD DO. >> AND ANOTHER BILL THAT YOU'VE BEEN CHAMPIONING FOR IS THE MEDICAID IN DYING BILL WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE TERMINALLY ILL TO REQUEST MEDICATION TO SELF-ADMINISTER TO END THEIR OWN LIFE. THAT BILL, I HAVE BEEN WATCHING IT CLOSELY. YOU HAVE BEEN GARNERING A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THE BILL. A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE COMPLETELY AGAINST IT FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS HAVE CHANGED THEIR MIND AND SHOW SUPPORT. HOW DO YOU CONTINUE TO GARNER SUPPORT FOR THE BILL THIS YEAR? >> I THINK WE HAVE THE SUPPORT WE NEED. I DO THINK THAT THIS MIGHT BE OUR YEAR. I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE HAVE WON OVER SO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES. CERTAINLY, WE'VE WON OVER THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK STATE, THE RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK STATE. POLLS SHOW OVERWHELMINGLY PEOPLE SUPPORT BRINGING DEATH WITH DIGNITY TO NEW YORK. LIKE WE DID NEW JERSEY, LIKE THEY DID IN CALIFORNIA, LIKE THEY DID IN OREGON AND IN TEN OTHER STATES. SO ITS TIME HAS COME. AS YOU SAID, A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO WERE ONCE AGAINST IT, ARE RECOGNIZING EITHER THROUGH THEIR OWN PERSONAL UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS OR CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE COME TO THEM THAT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR NEW YORKERS. I HAVE HIGH EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL SEE THIS BILL MOVE FORWARD. >> TURNING TO REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND ABORTION ACCESS, NEW YORK HAS CODIFIED ABORTION ACCESS IN THE DAYS AFTER THE OVERTURNING OF ROE VERSUS WADE AND DEMOCRATS HAVE MADE THIS A TOP PRIORITY YEAR AFTER YEAR SINCE 2022. SO HOW WILL THE ASSEMBLY CONTINUE TO EXPAND ON ABORTION ACCESS? I KNOW IN THE SENATE EARLIER THIS MONTH, THEY PASSED A SLEW OF BILLS AIMED AT DOULA CARE, PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR NEW MOTHERS AND CONTINUING TO EXPAND ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE. WHERE DO THOSE PARTICULAR BILLS STAND IN THE ASSEMBLY? >> I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF LAWS MADE, YOU KNOW, IN THIS AREA. THE GOVERNOR MADE HER-- IN HER EXECUTIVE BUDGET OR, WELL, IN HER STATE OF THE STATE, SHE INDICATED THAT SHE WAS GOING TO MAKE MATERNAL CARE, MATERNAL MORTALITY, INFANT MORTALITY TOP ISSUES, YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS SHE'S ALWAYS SHOWN LEADERSHIP ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND WE, TOGETHER, WE, THE LEGISLATURE, AND THE GOVERNOR, TOGETHER WILL BE LOOKING AT A LOT OF -- A LOT OF INITIATIVES. A COUPLE OF MY PERSONAL INITIATIVES AND THAT ONE THAT PASSED AND BECAME LAW JUST RECENTLY WAS TO ALLOW BIRTH CONTROL PILLS TO-- TO BE SOLD OVER THE COUNTER IN A WAY THAT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN SOLD BEFORE AT PHARMACIES AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE-- WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT MAKING THAT MUCH MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE. I ALSO HAVE A BILL FOR-- TO MAKE MEDICATION ABORTION OVER THE COUNTER, TO SIMULATE OVER THE COUNTER WITH NON-PATIENT SPECIFIC SCRIPT. SO THAT BILL, I'M PUSHING VERY HARD. THERE ARE COUNTRIES LIKE INDIA, WHICH DO IT, WITH NO ADVERSE IMPACT ON WOMEN. JUST MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE. SO WE HAVE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION ACCESSIBLE. WE HAVE BIRTH CONTROL PILLS ACCESSIBLE. HOPEFULLY SOON, WE'LL HAVE MEDICATION ABORTION ACCESSIBLE. AND MAKE IT SO MUCH EASIER FOR WOMEN TO GET THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED AT A TIME THAT THEY NEED IT. >> UH-HUH. YEAR AFTER YEAR, YOU DO TOP THE LIST OF LAWMAKERS WHO HAVE BEEN SPONSORING BILLS THAT PASS AND A LOT OF THEM ARE SIGNED INTO LAW, A LOT OF YOUR BILLS. SO WHAT IS YOUR SECRET TO BEING A LAWMAKER THAT CONTINUOUSLY IS THE SPONSOR OF GETTING THIS OVER THE FINISH LINE? WHAT IS THE SECRET SAUCE? >> EVERY BILL HAS ITS INDIVIDUAL PATH AND YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS, I THINK, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. I COME BACK TO THAT, BUT IT'S-- IT'S REALLY FOLLOWING EACH BILL'S PATH AND I HAVE A VERY TERRIFIC STAFF THAT ALSO WORKS CLOSELY ON ALL OF THE BILLS, BUT YOU KNOW, NO BILL-- EVERY BILL HAS A SECRET SAUCE AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S RELATIONSHIP BUILDING. IT'S BEING NICE TO PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATURE. >> RIGHT. >> AND HOPING THAT YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, CONVINCE THEM OF YOUR BILLING, YOU KNOW, SO IF YOU ARE NICE AND KIND AND YOU LOOK AT EACH BILL'S SECRET SAUCE-- >> RIGHT. >> YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF SUCCESS. >> AND YOUR PREDECESSOR, WE KNOW, WAS HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND YOU CAME ON TO BE THE CHAIR OF THE HEALTH COMMITTEE LAST YEAR. SO WHAT WAS THAT TRANSITION LIKE? >> IT'S STILL TOUGH. [LAUGHTER] I WILL NEVER BE DICK GODFREY. HE WAS-- HE WAS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL AND KNEW THIS AREA SO MUCH BETTER THAN I'M EVER GOING TO KNOW IT. BUT I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN AND I HAVE THE GREAT FORTUNE OF BEING ABLE TO RELY ON HIM BECAUSE HE'S STILL THERE. HE'S STILL IN MY LIFE. HE'S STILL A PHONE CALL AWAY FOR ANY TIME I HAVE A QUESTION. SO WE'RE WORKING HARD TO BE HALF OF WHAT DICK WAS AND I'LL TAKE THAT. >> WHAT KIND OF LEGACY ARE YOU HOPING TO HAVE AS HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR? >> SO I THINK IF I PASS AID IN DIEING THIS YEAR, I WILL BE VERY CONTENT TO HAVE THAT AS A LEGACY ELEMENT AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN. WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE. WE NEED TO REFORM OUR EMS SYSTEM. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'M HOPING TO TACKLE. >> WELL, THERE'S A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO, BUT WE'LL LEAVE IT HERE FOR NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR AMY PAULIN. >> WE'LL HAVE MORE ON ALL THE ISSUES DISCUSSED IN THAT CONVERSATION AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE CAPITOL. THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS WEEK HERE AT "NEW YORK NOW.

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