[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

NEW YORK STATE LAWMAKERS SPENT THE LAST FEW DAYS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TRYING TO TIE UP LOOSE POLICY ENDS BEFORE HEADING HOME FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

ONE OF THOSE MEASURES IS REDISTRICTING.

DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS PASSED LEGISLATION THIS WEEK THAT REMOVES THE STATE'S ANTI-JERRYMANDERING PROHIBITIONS TO ALLOW FOR MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING.

THE PARTY SAYS THE MOVE IS IN RESPONSE TO THE APRIL U.S.

SUPREME COURT RULING THAT ESSENTIALLY CHALLENGED A KEY PROVISION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 AND WHAT LEGAL EXPERTS BELIEVE WILL LEAD TO JERRYMANDERED ELECTORAL MAPS THAT WILL HAVE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR CERTAIN VOTING GROUPS.

HERE'S ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE, DISCUSSING THE MOVE WITH REPORTERS THIS WEEK.

>> THE DECISIONS OF WHICH WE DECIDE TO GO IS BASED ON THE SUPREME COURT DECISION WHICH KIND OF MADE REDISTRICTING I'D SAY MORE OF A WIDE OPEN PROCESS, AND I THINK FOR US HERE IN NEW YORK, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY IN DRAWING DISTRICTS AS OTHER STATES WILL AROUND THE NATION.

>> ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE SAY DEMOCRATS IN NEW YORK STARTED ALL OF THIS WITH AN ATTEMPT AT REDISTRICTING IN 2021, WHICH VOTERS STRUCK DOWN.

CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALLER, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE PARTS OF THE HUDSON VALLEY, MADE AN APPEARANCE AT THE STATE CAPITOL TO SOUND THE ALARM ON THIS ISSUE.

>> THE FACT IS THEY WILL DO ANYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO SEIZE POWER.

>> AND IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD, THE AMENDMENT WILL NEED TO BE PASSED BY LAWMAKERS NEXT YEAR AND BY VOTERS BEFORE IT CAN OFFICIALLY TAKE EFFECT.

BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO BRING YOU UPDATES ON THE MATTER RIGHT HERE ON THIS SHOW.

NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOPIC.

HEALTH CARE HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY FOR LAWMAKERS THIS SESSION.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, DAVID LOMBARDO OF WCNY OF THE CAPITAL PRESS ROOM SAT DOWN WITH REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR JACOB ASHBY WHO REPRESENTS RENSSELAER COUNTY IN THE LEGISLATURE 0 DISCUSS THE REALITY OF NEW YORKERS LOSING HEALTH CARE COVERAGE DUE TO ONGOING INSURANCE NEGOTIATIONS.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME, SENATOR.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, DAVE.

GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> SO THE IDEA OF SOMEONE'S HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SUDDENLY BECOMING OUTSIDE OF THE NETWORK OF THEIR INSURANCE COVERAGE MIGHT SEEM LIKE A NICHE ISSUE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A PERSISTENT AND ONGOING PROBLEM HERE IN THE CAPITAL REGION.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, THIS HAS BECOME MORE COMMON THAN, I THINK, MANY PEOPLE WOULD LIKE.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, DURING THE SUMMER, WE WOULD SEE BECOME OUT OF NETWORK BECAUSE OF CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN INSURANCE COMPANIES AND HEALTH SYSTEMS AND, IN PARTICULAR, WE HAD A CONSTITUENT REACH OUT TO US BECAUSE HER MOTHER HAD A CARDIOLOGY APPOINTMENT COMING UP AND THEN SHE WAS OUT OF NETWORK AND WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THERE.

AND THERE WERE CARVE-OUTS IN PLACE FOR SOME PEOPLE'S CARE, WHETHER IT WAS ONCOLOGY OR MATERNITY CARE, THEY COULD CONTINUE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO NEED CRITICAL CARE.

SO THAT'S WHAT PROMPTED THIS LEGISLATION BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT IF SOMEONE BECOMES OUT OF NETWORK BECAUSE OF AN IMPASSE IN NEGOTIATIONS, THEY STILL DESERVE TO RECEIVE CARE.

I MEAN, THEY WERE STILL ACTIVELY PAYING INTO THIS, AND THE DISRUPTION AND LACK OF CONTINUITY THAT DOES, I MEAN, THAT'S GOING TO PROVIDE-- THAT'S GOING TO REALLY BE A NEGATIVE-- THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON CARE.

IT'S GOING TO END UP COSTING MORE MONEY LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE OF THAT DISRUPTION.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THIS BILL REALLY AIMS TO IMPROVE NOT ONLY THE QUALITY OF CARE, BUT ALSO IT-- THE CONTINUITY IN BOTH INDUSTRIES WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS.

>> AND THE RESPONSE IS TO ESSENTIALLY ALLOW SOMEONE TO GO BACK INTO THE MARKETPLACE IF THERE'S SOMEONE WHO PURCHASES HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE STATE MARKETPLACE OR MAYBE LOOK AT OTHER PLANS THAT THEIR EMPLOYER OFFERS IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THEIR EXISTING PLAN NO LONGER COVERS THAT NETWORK PROVIDER THAT THEY'RE USING, DO YOU HAVE EXPECTATIONS, THOUGH THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A MEANINGFUL OPTION?

IS THERE REASON TO THINK THAT THERE IS ENOUGH FLEXIBILITY OR VARIETY OF INSURANCE OPTIONS THAT SOMEONE WILL BE ABLE TO FIND SOMEONE WHO COVERS THE PROVIDE THEATRE THEY WANT?

>> I THINK THAT IF THIS BECOMES LAW, IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF AUTONOMY THAT IS CURRENTLY NOT THERE.

AGAIN, IT WILL BENEFIT BOTH INDUSTRIES.

IT WILL BENEFIT THE PROVIDERS.

IT WILL BENEFIT THE PAYERS.

IT WILL BENEFIT THE REGULATORS, TOO, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE-- YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE A MORE PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENT.

>> AND IN TERMS OF THIS ISSUE MORE BROADLY, IS THIS SOMETHING WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE AS A AN INDIVIDUAL DOCTORS BECOME PART OF LARGER SYSTEMS AND THEY GO TO BATTLE WITH THEIR INSURANCE CARRIERS OR THE INSURANCE CARRIERS GO TO BATTLE WITH LARGE MEDICAL SYSTEMS.

I MEAN, DO YOU SEE THIS BEING A MORE PERSISTENT PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE?

>> I CAN'T PROVIDE ANY QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS ON THAT OBJECTIVELY, BUT ANECDOTALLY, IT SEEMS LIKE IT.

YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT WE HEAR OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE NUMBER OF ARTICLES, THE NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS I HAVE WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE RISING.

>> AND COMING BACK TO THE IDEA OF SOMEONE'S PROVIDER GOING OUT OF NETWORK FOR THEM, WHAT CAN THAT LOOK LIKE?

WHY IS THAT POTENTIALLY A REASON TO EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE A BREAK IN THAT CONTINUUM OF CARE?

>> WELL, THIS CAN ARISE FROM DIFFERENT TYPES OF NEGOTIATIONS AND UNFORTUNATELY, AT THAT POINT, THE PERSON IS CUT OFF FROM RECEIVING THE LEVEL OF CARE THAT THEY'RE ACCUSTOM TO.

>> THEORETICALLY, THOUGH, THEY COULD DIG INTO THEIR POCKET AND PAY MAYBE A HIGHER COPAYS OR COST OF THAT CARE WITHOUT THE INSURANCE COVERAGE AND JUST STICK WITH THE PLAN THEY'VE GOT.

YOU'RE SMILING BECAUSE I THINK WE BOTH KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE THAT CAN BE.

>> CORRECT, AND I THINK THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING EVEN WITHOUT A DISRUPTION, RIGHT.

NEGOTIATIONS TAKING PLACE FOR DIFFERENT-- FOR DIFFERENT AGREEMENTS.

EVEN WITHOUT A BREAK IN COVERAGE, PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING AN INCREASE IN COST, RIGHT.

NOT NECESSARILY AN INCREASE IN QUALITY OF CARE, BUT AN INCREASE IN COST.

>> WELL, I IMAGINE, THOUGH, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE HEARING-- YOU TALK ABOUT THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AND THEY'RE SAYING, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, I GOT A SIMPLER SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS COVERED BY A CERTAIN INSURANCE PROVIDER, WERE DON'T WE JUST HAVE A STATE-RUN INSURANCE OPTION THAT EVERYONE CAN TURN TO OR JUST HAVE A STATE TAKEOVER OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION.

WHY ISN'T THAT WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THIS?

IS THAT POTENTIALLY SOMETHING YOU'RE INTERESTED IN AND THIS IS A PIECEMEAL OR INTERIM MEASURE TO THINK ABOUT.

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>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S-- I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE WOULD MAKE THAT LOGICAL LEAP.

BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S FEASIBLE WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT SINGLE PAYER HAS LOOKED LIKE AND INN OTHER AREAS, WHETHER IT'S OVERSEAS OR HERE, OTHER STATES THAT HAVE ATTEMPTED THAT SMALL, SMALLER STATES WITH A MORE MANAGEABLE POPULATION.

VERMONT HAS TRIED THAT A FEW TIMES, AND IT WOULD BANKRUPT THEIR STATE.

AND I THINK-- I THINK WE WOULD SEE A SIMILAR THING HAPPEN HERE.

I CAN APPRECIATE HOW PEOPLE WOULD WANT THAT, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IT TAKES A CERTAIN LEVEL OF COMPROMISE AMONG ALL OF THE INDUSTRIES, REGULATORY, PAYER AND CLINICIAN, RIGHT, TO MAKE THIS WORK, AND I THINK A LOT OF THE ISSUES WHERE WE SEE THESE ISSUES COME UP IS BECAUSE OF FRICTION AMONG THOSE.

THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT WE WANT TO ENTRUST THE ENTIRE PROCESS TO ONE ENTITY.

I THINK THAT WOULD RESULT-- I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC RESULTS.

>> IF WE'RE GOING TO STICK WITH THE STATUS QUO FRAMEWORK WE HAVE AND COMING BACK TO THAT IDEA OF AN INSURANCE COMPANY NEGOTIATING WITH A PROVIDER AND TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THEY STAY IN NETWORK, IS THERE A LARGER ROLE YOU THINK STATE FINANCIAL REGULATORS SHOULD PLAY?

SHOULD THEY BE AT TABLE, SO TO SPEAK, TO RYE TO HELP THESE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER?

BECAUSE IT SEEMS, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT THIS IS CONTAINED TO JUST THESE TWO PARTIES, AND THE STATE REGULATORS ARE NOT NECESSARILY PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> CERTAINLY, I THINK THEY SHOULD PLAY A LARGER ROLE, AND I THINK THAT THIS BILL WOULD ALLEVIATE THAT FROM HAVING TO HAPPEN, BUT YEAH.

THERE ARE A THE LOVE INSTANCES WHERE I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ARE LEFT OUT LITERALLY IN THE COLD WITH WITHOUT RECEIVING CARE AND THAT THERE COULD BE A ROLE FOR THE STATE TO STEP IN AND ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE ENTITIES ARE ACTING NOT ONLY IN THEIR BEST INTEREST BUT THE INTEREST OF THE PATIENT.

>> AND WHAT HAPPENS IF AFTER, SAY, A PROTRACTED NEGOTIATION, THE INSURER AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDER COME BACK AND MAKE GOOD TERMS, THEY KISS AND MAKE UP, SO TO SPEAK, CAN SOMEONE THEN REENROLL IN THEIR PREVIOUS INSURANCE PLAN, OR WOULD THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR, SAY, A TRADITIONAL QUALIFYING EVENT, LIKE START OF THE NEW YEAR FOR THEM TO GO BACK TO THAT PREVIOUS PLAN?

>> SO I BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE RIGHT NOW.

BUT MANY TIMES WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THESE PROTRACTED NEGOTIATIONS ARE LASTING MUCH LONGER THAN THE PATIENT NEEDS.

>> SURE.

>> SO INSTEAD OF HAVING TO WAIT, THIS WOULD ALLOW THEM THE OPTION OF GOING ON.

NOW, IF THEY WANTED TO GO BACK TO THEIR PREVIOUS INSURER, I'M SURE THAT THIS BILL WOULD ALLOW THAT.

>> WELL, SENATOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING TIME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, DAVE.

>> IN OTHER HEALTH CARE NEWS, CHANGES TO FEDERAL VACCINATION POLICIES HAS PROMPTED ACTION AT THE STATE LEVEL.

BACK IN MARCH, GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL SIGNED LEGISLATION TO EXTEND PROTECTIONS FOR VACCINE ACCESS AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

OUR ELISE KLINE HAS MORE ON THE LEGISLATION IN THIS NEXT STORY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AT A TIME WHEN THE NATION IS SEEING A SURGING OUTBREAK OF THE MEASLES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL DECADES, NEW YORK STATE LAWMAKERS AND ELECTED LEADERS HAVE LAUNCHED A PUSHBACK ON FEDERAL CHANGES TO VACCINATION RECOMMENDATIONS AND REGULATIONS.

STATE LAWMAKERS ARE DOING THIS BY PASSING BILLS TO EXTEND PROTECTS FOR VACCINE ACCESS AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

>> I AM REALLY FEARFUL THAT WE'RE GO BACK TO THAT KIND OF AGE WHERE WE HAVE CURES, WE HAVE PREVENTION, BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT PROTECTING US ANYMORE AND NOT USING THESE SOLUTIONS.

AND SO WE, AS A STATE, HAVE TO STEP UP AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE IN OUR STATE ARE PROTECTED.

>> IN JANUARY, THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RELEASED A DECISION MEMO CHANGING THE NUMBER OF RECOMMENDED VACCINES FOR CHILDREN FROM 17 TO 11.

LAST MONTH, GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL SIGNED TWO BILLS INTO LAW FROM A LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE IN ALBANY RELATE TO VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS AND REGULATIONS.

THE FIRST BILL WOULD ALLOW THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COMMISSIONER TO MAKE VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS AND REGULATIONS ALONGSIDE MEDICAL SOCIETIES, SUCH AS THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS, THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS, AND MORE.

THIS BILL CHAINS THE STATE'S PREVIOUS RELIANCE ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

SENATE SPONSOR JAMAAL BAILEY, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE BRONX, SAYS THESE VACCINE PROTECTS JUST MAKE SENSE.

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IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.

YOU KNOW, OUR MEDICAL PROVIDERS, THEY'VE TAKEN THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH, AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO IMPERIL THE HEALTH OF NEW YORKERS.

IN FACT, THEY'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE THEY CONTINUOUSLY PROTECT THE HEALTH OF NEW YORKERS.

>> ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR AND THE BILL'S SPONSOR, AMY PAULIN, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY, SAYS SHE INTRODUCED THE BILL TO CLOSE WHAT SHE CALLS A LOOPHOLE AND ALIGN NEW YORK WITH OTHER STATES THAT HAVE SIMILAR GUIDELINES FOR VACCINES.

>> SO WE FIXED IT.

AND NOW, NEW YORK FALLS IN LINE WITH RED AND BLUE STATES, ALLOWING HEALTH COMMISSIONERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO MAKE A DETERMINATION IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GOES AMOK.

>> THE SECOND BILL, THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGNED, WOULD REQUIRE THE ADMINISTRATION OF CERTAIN VACCINES FOR CHILDREN TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUED BY THE DOH COMMISSIONER.

>> LOOK, I THINK THAT BOTH THESE BILLS TRAVEL TOGETHER.

THEY WERE PASSED IN THE SENATE AT DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT ULTIMATELY HAMMER HOME THE SAME PREVAILING THOUGHT PROCESS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EXPANDING THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET VACCINES.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

>> ALL OF THESE BILLS ARE IMPORTANT, AND WE CLOSED A LOT OF LOOPHOLES BECAUSE THEY DO WORK TOGETHER.

THEY ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CURRENT VACCINE SCHEDULE IS A REALLY GOOD ONE.

>> SOME STATE LAWMAKERS WHO VOTED FOR BOTH OF THE BILLS SAY THE CHANGES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL ARE UNDERMINDING DECADES OF SCIENCE AND CONFUSING PARENTS.

SOME STATE LAWMAKERS SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH WITH THE SURGE OF DISEASES LIKE THE MEASLES, WHICH HAS HAD ELIMINATION STATUS SINCE 2000, ACCORDING TO THE CDC.

CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 1,983 CONFIRMED MEASLES CASES IN THE U.S.

IN 40 JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING NEW YORK CITY AND NEW YORK STATE, ACCORDING TO THE CDC.

IN 2025, THERE WERE MORE THAN 2,000 CONFIRMED CASES INCLUDING THREE A FAULTS AND TWO OF WHICH WERE CHILDREN.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC OF THE CONFIRMED CASES THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 90% WERE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE NOT VACCINATED OR DID NOT KNOW IF THEY WERE.

SENATOR BAILEY SAYS HE HOPES THESE NEW LAWS CAN HELP REDUCE CASES IN THE STATE BY IMPROVING NEW YORK'S VACCINATION RATES.

>> IN THE RECENT SPIKE IN SOME OF THESE DISEASES, MEASLES AND SUCH.

THEY'VE BEEN CAUSED FROM MY UNDERSTANDING FROM WHAT I'VE READ AND WHAT I'VE SEEN BY THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING VACCINATED, THAT HERD IMMUNITY IS NOT BEING ACHIEVED IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS.

SO IT'S CREATING OUTLIERS.

IF ONCE A YEAR, IF IT'S NOT AN OUTLIER TODAY, IT COULD BE SOMETHING LARGER TOMORROW.

>> MEDICAL EXPERTS SAY LOWER VACCINATION RATES HAVE A DIRECT CORRELATION TO THE CURRENT MEASLES OUTBREAK.

>> WE'RE SEEING OUTBREAKS THAT ARE WIDESPREAD.

WE'VE HAD MORE MEASLES CASES THIS YEAR THAN EVER IN THAT RANGE OF YEARS THAT MEASLES HAD BEEN ELIMINATED AND WE WILL CERTAINLY LOSE OUR MEASLES ELIMINATION STATUS, AND THIS DOES COME DIRECTLY AT THE END OF SOWING CONFUSION AND MISINFORMATION INTO WHAT PARENTS AND PATIENTS ARE HEARING.

>> CHILDREN ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO INFECTIOUS DISEASES LIKE THE MEASLES.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC IN 2025 AND 2026, MORE THAN 20% OF CONFIRMED MEASLES CASES WERE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE AND ABOUT 50% WERE CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 5 ABOUT 19.

DR.

DANYEL WALES, A CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT UALBANY, SAYS CHILDREN ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE BECAUSE THEIR BODIES AND BRAINS ARE STILL DEVELOPING.

>> ON AVERAGE, ABOUT 1 IN 5 KIDS HAS TO BE HOSPITALIZED FOR MEASLES, WHICH IS A VERY HIGH NUMBER, AND OUR HOSPITALS ARE BUSY ENOUGH AS IT IS.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT ABOUT 1 IN 10 KIDS WILL ACTUALLY GET AN EAR INFECTION OF WHAT HE CALL OTITIS MEDIA, AND THAT EAR INFECTION CAN ACTUALLY LEAD TO PERMANENT HEARING LOSS.

DR.

WAYNE STROUSE, A FAMILY PHYSICIAN FOR 40 YEARS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS, SAYS MEASLES IS ONE OF THE MOST CONTAGIOUS DISEASES, AND HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH FROM MEASLES WILL CONTINUE.

>> MEASLES IS BY FAR THE MOST INFECTIOUS AND VIRUS BACTERIA THAT THERE IS.

SO IF SOMETHING'S GOING TO SHOW ITSELF, IT'S GOING TO BE THE MOST INFECTIOUS ONE AND OF COURSE, BECAUSE SOME AREAS HAVING LOW VACCINE RATES, IT'S GOING TO SPREAD THROUGH THE UNVACCINATED PEOPLE QUICKLY, AND IT'S FRIGHTENING.

>> IN NEW YORK, VACCINE RATES FOR MEASLES HAVE DECREASED FROM 93% PRE-COVID PANDEMIC PERIOD, 2018-2019, TO ABOUT 89% POST-PANDEMIC PERIOD, 2020-2021, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE.

VACCINATION RATES SEEM TO BE CONTINUING ON A TREND OF DECLINE.

THIS YEAR, VACCINATION RATES FOR MEASELS ARE ABOUT 80% OVERALL, ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

DR.

PERMAR STRESS VACCINES ONE OF THE MOST LIFE-SAVING TOOLS MEDICINE HAS EVER CREATED.

>> IN THE PEDIATRICS WORLD, IT HAS TAKEN US FROM ABOUT 20%, OR 1 IN 5, OF ALL CHILDREN DYING FROM WHAT IS NOW VACCINE-PREVENTIBLE DISEASE TO THAT NUMBER BEING WELL UNDER 1%.

AND FURTHER BEYOND DEATH, THOSE VACCINES PREVENT THINGS LIKE HOSPITALIZATIONS, LIFELONG DISABILITIES CAUSED BY INFECTIONS AND EVEN CANCER.

>> IN ADDITION TO SUPPORT FROM STATE LAWMAKERS WHO VOTED FOR THE BILL, THE LEGISLATION ALSO HAS SUPPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT THE COMMISSIONER SAID THE NEW LAWS REINFORCES THE STATE'S COMMITMENT TO FOLLOWING TRUSTED MEDICAL GUIDANCE AND KEEPING NEW YORKERS HEALTHY.

WHILE THE VACCINE ACCESS BILLS PASSED BOTH HOUSES, STATE LAWMAKERS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE BILLS REMAIN CONCERNED.

STATE SENATOR PATRICK GALLIVAN, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF ERIE COUNTY AND A MEMBER OF THE SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE, SAYS THE STATE SHOULD FOLLOW NATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND WORRIES ABOUT TOO MUCH AUTHORITY IN THE HANDS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

>> I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME NATIONAL STANDARDS, AND I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES IN NEW YORK STATE, AND ANY TIME THAT WE HAVE THIS TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF AUTHORITY IN ONE INDIVIDUAL, I THINK IT IS POTENTIALLY PROBLEMATIC.

>> SOME OTHER LAWMAKERS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE BILL SAY SIMILARLY, THEY FEEL THESE BILLS WERE REACTIONARY AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

STATE SENATOR JACK MARTINS, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF NASSAU COUNTY, SAYS HE'S COMFORTABLE WITH HOW THE STATE OPERATED WITH VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE THESE BILLS WERE SIGNED, FOLLOWING NATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT CHANGE BECAUSE PARTISAN POLITICS HAVE INJECTED THEMSELVES TO THE POINT WHERE ANYTHING THIS FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION DOES, MY COLLEAGUES HERE FEEL THAT IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO JUST THE OPPOSITE, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

>> SOME MEDICAL EXPERTS AND STATE LAWMAKERS, HOWEVER, ARGUE THE CHANGES COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON ARE WHAT IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND UNSUPPORTED BY SCIENCE.

>> I THINK IT'S THE OPPOSITE.

I THINK WE'RE THE GROUP THAT'S REACTING TO SCIENCE AND THE POLITICAL DECISIONS AND BEING MADE BY THE OPPOSITE PARTY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE AGREED WITH THE FEDERAL POLITICAL DECISIONS.

>> DR.

PERMAR SAYS FEDERAL ACTIONS ARE CONSEQUENTIALLY SPREADING MISINFORMATION AND CAUSING STRESS AND CONFUSION FOR PARENTS.

DR.

PERMAR SAYS VACCINES HAVE ALSO BECOME A VICTIM OF THEIR OWN SUCCESS.

>> VACCINES HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL IN ELIMINATING SO OF THE MOST DEVASTATING DISEASES AND NOW THE PERCEPTION IS THAT IT IS POTENTIALLY LOWER RISK OF GETTING THE SAME INFECTION VERSUS GETTING THE VACCINE IN ITSELF, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY HAS BEEN OPEN TO THE VOICE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SPEAKING, EITHER FROM NOT HAVING THE RIGHT EXPERTISE OR KNOWLEDGE, OR EVEN INTENTIONAL MISINFORMATION AND UNFORTUNATELY, THIS HAS RISEN TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> BEFORE THE VACCINE RECOMMENDATION POLICY CHANGES ISSUED IN JANUARY EARLIER THIS YEAR, U.S.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR., FIRED 17 MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES, OR ACIP, WITHIN THE CDC IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR.

WHILE THE SECRETARY HAS BEEN BACK AND FORTH IN MEDIA INTERVIEWS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT HE IS PUSHING AN ANTI-VACCINE AGENDA, SOME POLITICAL EXPERTS THINK HIS ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN HIS WORDS.

>> I CAN THINK OF THE INTERVIEW THAT HE HAD ON CNN WHERE HE WAS, I THINK IT WAS WITH ERIN BURNETT, WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024, AND HE WAS DENYING A LOT OF ANTI-VACCINE VIEWS, AND LITERALLY, SHE JUST PUT A VIDEO OF HIM SAYING EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID THAT HE WASN'T SAYING.

SO I THINK THAT WE'VE DEFINITELY SEEN ANTI-VACCINE VIEWS NOT ONLY FROM THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE BY HIM BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

>> WMHT REACHED OUT TO THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND FOR COMMENT.

WHILE THIS ISSUE HAS BECOME A POPULAR TOPIC AMONG LAWMAKERS AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL, DR.

PERMAR STRESSES THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS A HUMAN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE SEPARATED FROM POLITICS.

>> EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LIFELONG HEALTH AND THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS VACCINES, AND SO I THINK THIS IS A POLITICAL ISSUE, BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS SOME DIVISIONS BEING MADE WITHOUT THE SCIENCE BEING THERE.

>> BOTH BILLS WILL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY, BUT STATE LAWMAKERS' WORK ISN'T DONE YET.

THERE IS ONE MORE VACCINE ACCESS BILL THEY ARE TRYING TO PASS THIS SESSION, FOCUSED ON EXTENDING LIABILITY PROTECTIONS FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WHO ADMINISTER VACCINES VIA STATE GUIDELINES.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER ROSENTHAL, THE ASSEMBLY BILL SPONSOR, SAYS THIS BILL WILL PROTECT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AT A TIME WHEN FEDERAL LEADERS SEEM TO BE DISINTERESTED IN DOING SO.

>> THROUGHOUT MOST OF OUR HISTORY IN THE UNITED STATES, THE FEDERAL COMMITTEE ACIP WOULD RECOMMEND WHICH VACCINES SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED AND WHEN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FOLLOWED THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY WOULD HAVE LIABILITY COVERAGE, AND WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, RFK JR., ALL OF THOSE NON-SCIENCE AND HEALTH EXPERTS ARE TRYING TO TEAR APART OUR SAFETY NET WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINES.

DR.

PERMAR SAYS THIS IS A NEEDED STEP INNED ACING VACCINE ACCESS.

>> I THINK NOW MORE THAN EVER, PEDIATRICIANS, FAMILY DOCTORS, PHARMACISTS, THEY NEED TO KNOW WE HAVE THEIR BACK AND WE STAND WITH THEM IN PROVIDING BEST HEALTH FOR ALL THEIR PATIENTS.

>> SOME LAWMAKERS WHO SUPPORT THE BILL SAY THE BILL WILL REDUCE BARRIERS FOR VACCINE ACCESS BY ENSURING PROVIDERS ARE PROTECTED WHEN FOLLOWING STATE GUIDELINES.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE NOT FORCING ANYBODY TO GET ANYTHING, BUT WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS IF A PROVIDER IS GOING TO BE FULFILLING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO A PATIENT AT THE PATIENT'S REQUEST, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE INDEMNIFIED AND PROTECT.

>> THE BILL PASSED IN THE ASSEMBLY AND AWAITS APPROVAL FROM THE SENATE IN THE FINAL DAYS OF SESSION.

SENATE SPONSOR MICHELLE HINCHEY, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF ULSTER AND DUTCHESS COUNTIES, SAYS THIS BILL IS A PRIORITY FOR HER AND SHE HAS BEEN HAVING GOOD CONVERSATIONS AMONG HER COLLEAGUES.

>> WE KNOW THAT PUBLIC HEALTH IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE KNOW THAT VACCINES WORK.

IT'S BASED ON SCIENCE.

SO I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT JUST PUSH BACK AGAINST MISINFORMATION AND ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE TAKING THE RIGHT STEPS FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE AND THEMSELVES SAFE, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO PROTECT THE PROVIDERS AND THE PRACTITIONERS WHO ARE DOING THAT GOOD WORK.

>> HOWEVER, SOME LAWMAKERS ACROSS THE AISLE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE LEGISLATION.

>> I THINK THE ISSUE IS THAT MY CONCERN IS DOES IT GIVE LICENSE FOR THEM TO BE CARELESS OR AT LEAST NOT CARE AS MUCH THAT THE VACCINES THEY ARE PRODUCING COULD POTENTIALLY BE HARMFUL.

>> SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE ALSO BEEN OUTSPOKEN ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

WMHT REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE PUSHED BACK AGAINST IMMUNIZATION POLICIES, INCLUDING I CAN DECIDE, THE NEW YORK STATE ALLIANCE FOR VACCINE RIGHTS, CHILDREN'S HEALTH DEFENSE, AND MORE, BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND FOR COMMENT.

MEDICAL EXPERTS CONTINUE TO STRESS VACCINES ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOL TO FIGHT INFECTIOUS DISEASE, SUPPORTED BY A LONG HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE.

>> WE'VE ERADICATED DISEASES BECAUSE OF VACCINES.

SMALLPOX WAS ERADICATED FROM THIS PLANET BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS OF VACCINES, AND WE'RE SEEING COMMON ILLNESSES THAT USED TO RUN RAMPANT NOW BE REDUCED TO THINGS THAT THANKFULLY ONLY OCCUR IN SMALL OUTBREAKS.

>> LAWMAKERS HAVE A NUMBER OF PRIORITIES THIS WEEK TO WRAP UP THE LEGISLATIVE YEAR.

RIGHT NOW, THIS BILL IS ON THE SENATE CALENDAR AND IF IT PASSES, IT WILL THEN GO TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK FOR HER REVIEW.

WE WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE BILL AS LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMES TO A CLOSE.

ELISE KLINE, "NEW YORK NOW."

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE STATE'S APPROACH TO VACCINE ACCESS, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER BY GOING TO NEWSLETTER@NYNOW.ORG, OR BY SCANNING THE QR CODE ON YOUR SCREEN.

WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >>ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.