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Experts said common mistakes people make in health care planning are completing an advanced directive, and not telling anyone or not adding a rider to their living will specifying the kind of care they want. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

NYers can benefit from early health care decision planning

Today is National Healthcare Decisions Day, and New Yorkers have reason to start early planning. A new report cites rates of Alzheimer's disease …

A KFF study found between 2004 and 2021, facility fees grew 531%, four times the rate of professional fees (132%) for emergency department evaluation and management services. (Adobe Stock)

US could learn from NY’s facility fees disclosure law

As federal agencies crack down on "junk fees." experts feel they can learn a thing or two from New York. The state is one of 13 to pass facility fee …

In the last 40 years, New York has endured at least 85 'billion-dollar disasters'. The most costly was Superstorm Sandy, with around $43 billion in damage. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY bill can help climate-burdened communities

A new report shows the costs different regions of New York face from climate change. It says taxpayers were on the hook for more than $2 billion - …

A University of Chicago- Harris/AP-NORC poll finds two-thirds of Americans believe they pay too much in taxes with little benefit. However, a new tool from the IRS can help them reap the benefits they might be missing. (Adobe Stock)

Report: IRS Direct File Tool maximizes NYers tax returns

A new report finds New Yorkers are getting the most out of their tax filings, thanks to a new resource. The Internal Revenue Service's free…

A New York University report recommended lawmakers establish a statewide rental registry system, which could create more transparency in the rental market by forcing landlords to report rents and annual increases. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY should evaluate pros, cons of 'good cause' eviction

As New York housing advocates demand state lawmakers pass a bill to keep landlords from evicting renters without "good cause," a new report cautioned …

Around 85% of textiles thrown away in the United States end up in landfills or are burned, including unsold clothes. (Adobe Stock)

NY bill holds fashion industry accountable for climate change effects

A New York bill aims to regulate the fashion industry's effects on climate change. The Fashion Act would hold clothing and footwear companies …

Along with making the operation of Long Island's power grid more efficient, a bill before the Legislature would enshrine the protection of wages, benefits and collective-bargaining agreements for around 1,500 Local 1049 union members. (Adobe Stock)

NYS bill makes Long Island power grid publicly controlled

New York's state lawmakers are considering a measure that would shake up the way Long Island's power grid operates. The Long Island Power Authority …

An AARP New York report finds almost 80% of New York City's 300 nursing homes, assisted-living and adult-care facilities didn't receive a single visit from the state's Long Term Care Ombudsman Program during three months in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

NYS budget missing key funding for seniors, older adults

Senior and older-adult groups are frustrated by cuts to services in New York's budget proposal. This includes cuts to home-care programs and the Long-…

As of December, more than 2.5 million Medicaid enrollees renewed their coverage, and more than 1.1 million enrollees were disenrolled. This includes almost 600,000 people who were deemed ineligible and more than 509,000 who were disenrolled for procedural reasons. (Adobe Stock)

Community health center leaders examine primary care crisis

Community health center leaders from New York and across the nation are meeting in Washington this week. They'll be strategizing about how to address …

A Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report finds, in households that frequently incurred overdraft fees, 81% had difficulty paying a bill in the last year. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed overdraft-fees rule would benefit NYers

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is proposing a rule on overdraft fees that would benefit New Yorkers. The rule closes a loophole exempting …

More than 20 million people live in manufactured homes in the United States, according to Census Data, which makes up about 6% of all housing stock in the nation. (Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services)

Manufactured homes could be key to rural NY’s housing issues

A solution to rural New York's housing problems could lie in manufactured homes. A 2023 report found manufactured homes comprise around 2.5% of New …

A report from the New York Attorney General's office found white New Yorkers are 50% more likely than Black or Latino households to own their own home. They're also 25% more likely than Asian households to own their own home. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Lenders don't serve NYC Black, Brown communities equitably

An analysis of big banks in New York City contended they are perpetuating lending disparities. The New Economy Project report showed banks are not …

A New York Health Foundation report finds 50% of severely low-income New Yorkers, meaning less than $25,000, reported anxiety or depression at twice the rate of households with incomes exceeding $100,000. (Adobe Stock)

NYers' mental health declines despite increase in practitioners

New York bucked a national trend of increasing chronic conditions, but faced other health issues. UnitedHealthcare's America's Health Ranking …

Minority business owners were 42.4% more likely than white business owners to owe back rent. Additionally, they were 21.8% more likely to have faced some kind of landlord harassment. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Minority-owned businesses have slower post-pandemic recovery

A new report showed New York City small businesses in communities of color are recovering more slowly post-pandemic. The Association for …

Tras una devastadora tormenta invernal, los defensores de los derechos de los discapacitados en Texas descubrieron que entre el 75% y el 80% de las personas discapacitadas se hab�an quedado sin electricidad ni agua. Algunos otros desaf�os que enfrentaron fueron los medicamentos en mal estado que requer�an refrigeraci�n y la falta de acceso a asistencia m�dica a domicilio. (Adobe Stock)

Defensores de discapacitados en NY dan consejos sobre clima invernal

A medida que se acerca el invierno, los neoyorquinos con discapacidades se preparan para afrontar una época difícil del año. Uno de …

After a devastating winter storm, Texas disability-rights advocates found between 75% and 80% of disabled people lost power and water. Some other challenges they faced were spoiled medications requiring refrigeration, and lack of access to critical in-home health-care assistance. (Adobe Stock)

NY disability advocates provide winter weather tips

As winter approaches, New Yorkers with disabilities are preparing to tackle a tough time of the year. One of the biggest challenges is getting …

The 78th session of the U.N. General Assembly included a speech from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke of peace with Saudi Arabia. The annual meeting's focus was the global warming crisis. (RawBeautyPixels/Adobe Stock)

Why Israeli politics matter in NYC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the United Nations General Assembly sparked major demonstrations in New York City on Friday…

In 2022, New Yorkers were paying $8,596 for employer-sponsored health coverage. Now, those prices have gotten closer to $9,000. (Adobe Stock)

NY Health Experts Help People Find Health Care Plans

New York health experts are preparing people for the health-care coverage open-enrollment period. Between 2010 and 2021, the number of New Yorkers …

The 15 confirmed weather and climate disasters that affected the U.S. in 2023 created around $32.7 billion in damage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Is your household ready to survive one? (Adobe Stock)

Experts Guide NYers During National Preparedness Month

Experts are advising New Yorkers about how to stay safe during natural disasters as part of National Preparedness Month. New York has been preparing …

In a hearing about the American Broadband Deployment Act, which could preempt local governments zoning laws regarding cell towers, no local or state governments were asked to testify. Instead, members of broadband organizations testified. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. House Bill Would Minimize Local Input on Cell-Tower Location

A bill in Congress could almost eliminate local input on cell-tower location, in New York and across the U.S. The American Broadband Deployment Act …

In 2022, there were more than 32,000 reports of impostor scams by New Yorkers. The second-largest scam involved online shopping, with 18,000 reports in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

More NYers Taken In by Different Scams

New Yorkers and people across the nation are being victimized by a plethora of scams. The Federal Trade Commission reported impostor scams cost New …

Despite some studies illuminating the health impacts of non-ionizing radiation from cellphones and other wireless devices, the Food and Drug Administration maintains there is no association between exposure to radio frequency from cellphone use and health problems. (Ernst Moeksis/Wikimedia Commons)

Advocates Petition FDA to Abide by Law on Non-Ionizing Radiation

A New York nonprofit group is petitioning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to abide by a law passed in 1968, which addresses how the FDA is …

In New York, the Inflation Reduction Act has helped grow manufacturing and jobs for numerous forms of clean energy. But the White House predicts a default would raise interest rates and lead to higher prices for these projects. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. Debt Default Would Impact NY Clean-Energy Investments

The looming U.S. debt default could affect a host of programs across the country - and in New York, the list includes clean-energy investments…

A federal appeals court in April tossed out a ban by the City of Berkeley, California, on gas hookups in new buildings. It followed a lawsuit paid for by one of the nation's largest gas utilities. (Adobe Stock)

NY Bans Use of Natural Gas, Fossil Fuels in New Buildings

The state of New York has passed a first-in-the-nation law banning the use of natural gas and other fossil fuel-powered systems in new buildings…

In 2022, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $500 million investment in offshore wind to provide cleaner energy, part of a goal to have 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind developed by 2035. (Adobe Stock)

NY/NJ Elected Officials Celebrate Offshore Wind During Earth Month

Throughout Earth Month, elected officials across the U.S. are celebrating renewable energy projects. In New York, several wind, solar and …

Along with a goal to achieve 70% renewable energy by 2030, New York State is also aiming to have 100% zero emission electricity by 2040, a 40% reduction in statewide greenhouse-gas emissions from 1990 by 2030 which will be upped to 85% in 2040, and net-zero emissions by 2050. (Adobe Stock)

NY Renewable-Energy Projects Coming to Fruition

During Earth Week, several projects in New York to boost energy efficiency have been completed. These projects, which consist of wind, solar and …

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, transportation contributes 27% of greenhouse-gas emissions across the nation. (e.v Energy)

New NY Program Provides Incentives for EV Charging

Orange and Rockland counties in New York are instituting a cash-incentive program for electric-vehicle owners. The SmartCharge New York program …

A report from Ernst & Young finds cost savings and efficiency are the top motivators for 61% of companies embarking on supply-chain sustainability. (Adobe Stock)

NY Legislature Considers Supply-Chain Transparency Bills

New York State's Legislature is considering several bills to get the state to utilize ethical and sustainable supply chains. One piece of …

Data from the New Economy Project finds during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, banks across New York State exacted more than $1.6 billion in a myriad of fees from New Yorkers. (Adobe Stock)

NYS Legislation Considers Bill to Create Public Banks

The New York State Legislature is considering a bill to allow the creation of public banks. The New York Public Banking Act would authorize municipal …

Some products to come under the purview of a new bill to create transparency with companies contracting with New York State include timber, pulp, paper, palm oil, soy and livestock. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed NYS Legislation Creates Supply-Chain Transparency

New York's State Legislature is considering a bill to ensure that companies contracting with the state don't contribute to tropical deforestation…

A new report from AARP New York finds the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program doesn't meet the program's own definition of regular ombudsman presence, since only 9% of all nursing homes received a weekly visit from an ombudsman. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY Nursing Homes Not Getting Enough Oversight

A recent report finds nursing homes across New York are going without proper oversight. AARP New York's report finds about 80% of New York City's …

According to a study by the Leapfrog Group, New York hospitals ranked 39th in the U.S. for patient safety in the fall of 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY Nonprofit Hospitals Putting Profits Before Patients

A review of nonprofit hospitals in New York found they are more concerned with making money than patient care. According to a patientsrightsadvocate.…

According to the Federal Trade Commission, pay-for-delay deals cost consumers and taxpayers $3.5 billion ever year in higher drug costs.(Adobe Stock)

NY Budget Seeks to Reform Prescription Drug Prices, Transparency

New York's executive budget is calling for reforms to prescription drug prices. For starters, Governor Kathy Hochul is calling for public disclosure …

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, New York has a shortage of 615,025 rental homes that are affordable and available to extremely low-income renters. (Gov. Kathy Hochul)

Critics: NY State of State Address Misses Needed Solutions

While Gov. Kathy Hochul's State of the State speech addressed key issues affecting New Yorkers, some feel the solutions fell short. In her speech…

According to a report from AARP New York, one solution to lack of accessible rural homes for seniors would be to create a tax credit of up to $2,750. It would be available to homeowners who retrofit their homes to make them more accessible to those who use walkers or wheelchairs or have trouble with steps. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Senior Rural NYers Face Housing, Transportation Disparities

A recent report from AARP New York finds older rural New Yorkers are struggling to age in place due to a wealth of disparities. The two biggest …

New York is the sixth state to approve legislation for natural composting. It joins California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont and Washington in doing so. (Adobe Stock)

NY Law Allows for End-of-Life Natural Composting

New York is the sixth state to approve legislation for what's known as natural composting. Natural composting is when, after death, a body is put …

Seg�n un informe del Centro para Ni�os y Familias de la Universidad de Georgetown, el estado con el mayor aumento en su tasa de ni�os sin seguro fue Idaho, con un 46%. (Adobe Stock)

Informe: Nueva York mantiene bien asegurados a los niños

En comparación con la mayoría de los estados, Nueva York está haciendo un buen trabajo para garantizar que los niños tengan …

According to a report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, the state with the largest increase in its rate of uninsured children was Idaho, at 46%. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY's Doing Well at Keeping Kids Insured

Compared to most states, New York is doing a good job of making sure children have health coverage, according to a new report. The Georgetown …

East Side Access began in 1998 and is finally coming to fruition in 2022. Part of the project was slated to include a new station in Sunnyside, Queens. However, construction has been moved to accommodate Metro North's Penn Station Access. (Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul)

Long Island Railroad’s East Side Access Finally Opens

After two decades of waiting, Long Island commuters will finally have access to Grand Central Terminal. East Side Access, the Metropolitan …

Numerous utility companies in New York such as Con-Edison, NYSEG and RG&E are expecting to see higher bill prices, as energy costs have increased. Specifically, Con Edison is expecting a 32% increase from the previous year in bills for natural-gas users, and NYSEG's natural gas customers might see a 47% increase in their bills. (Adobe Stock)

NYS Legislation Gives Ratepayers Voice in Utility Increases

A bill passed by the New York State Legislature would provide ratepayers with a voice in utility rate increases. The utility intervenor bill would …

According to a study done by CoStar Group, a real estate research company, most counties in Central New York have seen rental prices increase by at least 3% since 2019. (Adobe Stock)

New Affordable Housing to Aid CNY Renters, Eventually

Two new affordable housing developments in Central New York should help alleviate the region's affordability problem. The Wheat Street Apartments …

New Jersey's Star Jet Roller Coaster, pictured, was dumped into the ocean by Superstorm Sandy. At its peak, Sandy reach wind speeds of 115 mph. Hurricanes Fiona and Ian, exceeded that with wind speeds of 130 and 155 mph, respectively. (Adobe Stock)

Superstorm Sandy 10 Years Later: NY Bracing for Future

Ten years ago this week New York City was ravaged by Superstorm Sandy, what was then considered a once-in-a-lifetime disaster. But storms of the same …

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Biden Administration's goal of 30,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy could create more than 77,000 jobs nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

Elected Officials Seeking More Offshore Wind Farms

Offshore wind is becoming an increasingly popular way for coastal communities to hit their carbon-neutral goals. According to a report from the U.S…

While there are some misconceptions about where to charge electric vehicles, there are at least 3,000 charging stations across the state, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. (Adobe Stock)

New NY Bill Opens Market for Electric Vehicles

A new piece of legislation would provide New Yorkers with further access to electric vehicles. The Direct EV Sales bill, still under consideration …

According to the Empire Center, the average family health-care plan premium in New York is $23,450. That's 14% above the national average, and the third-highest cost, behind Connecticut and New Hampshire. (Valeri Luzina/Adobe Stock)

What NYers Should Consider When Buying Healthcare Plans

Many New Yorkers will be shopping for new health insurance plans this month, when open enrollment begins. If you are among them, experts advise it is …

Seg�n una encuesta de Compassion & Choices en 2018, el 56 % de los m�dicos de Nueva York apoyan la ayuda m�dica para morir. (Andy Decano/Adobe Stock)

Demanda enfocada en ampliar alcance de ley de asistencia médica para morir

Un grupo sin fines de lucro está demandando al estado de Vermont en nombre de un médico de Nueva York y Vermont y una mujer con una enfermed…

En 2017 y 2018, una cuarta parte de los hospitales de Nueva York colocaron m�s de 4800 grav�menes en los hogares de los pacientes, seg�n un informe de la Sociedad de Servicios Comunitarios de Nueva York. (Adobe Stock)

Legislatura prohíbe tipos de cobro de deudas médicas en Nueva York

La Legislatura del Estado de Nueva York aprobó dos proyectos de ley destinados a aliviar la deuda médica en mayo, y un nuevo informe indica …

In 2017 and 2018, a quarter of New York Hospitals placed over 4,800 liens on patient's homes, according to a report from the Community Service Society of New York. (Adobe Stock)

NY Legislature Bans Some Types of Medical Debt Collection

The New York State Legislature passed two bills aimed at easing medical debt back in May, and a new report indicates they're much needed. The first …

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