Rose Introduces New Bill Helping Female Veterans
U.S. Rep. Max Rose (D-South Brooklyn, Staten Island), an Army combat veteran, yesterday introduced legislation directing the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to take steps to ensure its healthcare facilities have the proper fixtures, materials, and staffing to provide proper care and support to an increasing population of female veterans.
Nationwide, women comprise approximately 10 percent of all veterans, 15 percent of all active duty military, and 18 percent of all National Guard and Reserve—yet women make up only 6 percent of VA health care users.
“Women are serving in the military in record numbers, so when they come home, the VA needs to be able to properly serve them and their needs,” said Rose, a member of the bipartisan Women Veterans Task Force. “Women veterans shouldn’t have their health put at risk because their local VA facility doesn’t have a mammogram machine or OB/GYN. This is about bringing the VA into the 21st century.”
Rose’s legislation, the Breaking Barriers for Women Veterans Act, would direct VA to retrofit existing medical facilities with the proper fixtures and materials to support the provision of care to women veterans.
In addition, this bill compels VA to ensure that each of their medical facilities has not fewer than one full-time or part-time women’s health primary care provider, while also appropriating $1,000,000 each fiscal year for the Women Veterans Health Care Mini-Residency Program, and ensuring that providers in the community network are equipped with training nodules specific to women veterans. To verify that these standards are being met, this bill also instructs VA to conduct a study to make sure that staffing levels specific to women veterans are appropriate.
Cumbo Hosts Healthy Savvy Senior Expo 2019
City Councilwoman and Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) this month will host a Healthy Savvy Senior Expo: Living & Loving in a Digital World.
The target audience for the event is 300 Baby Boomers, savvy seniors, caregivers tech innovators who are also elders, and senior-service providers or health professionals.
Adults over the age of 65 comprise of the biggest, most expensive user group of healthcare. They are also more economically and racially diverse than ever. Today, older adults are more likely to be single, to be living alone without the assistance of their children, to be working later, and to be more tech savvy than older people of a few generations ago, said Cumbo.
Cumbo said the methods of tailoring healthcare and technology to serve their needs will have to reflect the shift towards value-based care system. The focus will be on educating seniors in a digital age so that they can experience the efficiencies and conveniences technology offers with regard to communication in healthcare, she said.
The Healthy Savvy Senior Expo will offer Brooklyn residents the following:
Social Security Workshop, 3-4pm
Healthcare and Technology Talks (two workshops scheduled for 4:30-6 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m.)
Health Screenings at No Cost, Networking /Tech Sharing Opportunities, and healthy snacks and refreshments.
The Senior Expo is slated for between 4-9 p.m., Thursday, June 20 at theBerean Community & Family Life Center, 118 Rochester Avenue in Crown Heights. Limited tickets are available and you must register to attend.
To register call 718.778.2938 or email info@bereancommunity.org. You can also register on-line at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/healthy-savvy-senior-expo-living-loving-in-a-digital-world-tickets-62290939878
https://www.evensi.us/healthy-savvy-senior-expo-living-loving-digital-world-berean-community-family-life-center/311132315
Myrie And Senate Dems Expands Protections For New Yorkers With Disabilities
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Gowanus, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, South Slope, Sunset Park) and the Senate Democratic Majority recently passed legislation that will help protect New Yorkers with disabilities.
The measures passed include one that will create an advocacy office for New Yorkers living with disabilities and expand Medicaid coverage for applied behavior analysis services for people who have autism spectrum disorder.
Additionally, these bills will also provide housing protections for New Yorkers with disabilities living with therapy animals and allow tenants with disabilities to terminate their leases to move into housing that is more appropriate.
“New Yorkers living with disabilities are too often overlooked and under-supported,” Myrie said. “We have the resources to provide everyone adequate protections and care to everyone, regardless of disability, and that’s what these bills will provide.”
The package of legislation advanced by the Senate Majority includes:
Housing Provisions For Therapy Animals: This bill, S.2705, introduced by Senator Tim Kennedy, codifies outlying portions of the federal Fair Housing Act into New York State law to afford more complete, explicit protections on not only persons with disabilities, but particularly veterans suffering from PTSD.
Accessible Electronic Information Act: This bill, S.3599, introduced by Senator Kevin Parker, enacts the accessible electronic information act for blind and disabled persons by creating a new fund in the state finance law and authorizes a not-for-profit entity to administer the program.
Safeguarding Cash Accounts: This bill, S.1672A, sponsored by Senator John Brooks, establishes a uniform set of procedures and guidelines for the management of cash accounts for residents who live in individualized residential alternatives. Under this legislation, OPWDD will be required to implement the recommendations made in the Inspector General Report in order to better safeguard OPWDD residents’ personal allowance accounts.
Study on Potential Debit Card Usage in Residential Facilities: This bill, S.5538, sponsored by Senator John Brooks, will direct the commissioner of the Office for People with Development Disabilities (OPWDD) to conduct a study on the viability of providing debit cards to individuals in licensed residential facilities.
Closed Captioning on Public Televisions: This bill, S.1650, sponsored by Senator James Skoufis, will require, upon request, places of public accommodations to enable closed captioning on televisions in public areas.
Accessibility to Public Services with OPWDD: This bill, S.5347, sponsored by Senator David Carlucci, will make information on services offered by the Office for People with Development Disabilities (OPWDD) and the process of receiving these services available on the office website.
Advocacy Office for People with Disabilities: This bill, S.1674, introduced by Senator James Skoufis, creates an office that will function as an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities to help receive services and support that enable them to make informed choices and decisions.
Ability to Terminate Lease: This bill, S.3891, introduced by Senator Luis Sepulveda, amends the real property law to allow those with disabilities to terminate their lease to move into housing that better suits their needs.
Expands Medicaid Coverage to Behavioral Analysis: This bill, S.1821, introduced by Senator Gustavo Rivera, creates health care coverage for New Yorkers who rely on Medicaid to receive coverage for behavior analysis for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder.
Persaud’s School Bus Street Parking, Unlawful Gas Meter Installation Legislation Passes Senate
State Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud (D-Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown, Ocean Hill, Starrett City) yesterday saw two of her measures – one prohibiting school bus parking on the street on weekdays and weekends during certain hours, and the other penalizes unlawful installation of gas meters – pass the Senate yesterday.
Specifically, Bill S1084A prohibits school buses (operated by or under contract with the Board of Education) parking on New York City streets on weekdays between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. and on weekends at 5 p.m. on Friday until 5 a.m. on Monday.
“It is becoming exceedingly difficult for homeowners and tenants to find street parking, partly because too often spots are being occupied by school buses. By prohibiting school bus parking outside of school hours, which leaves the responsibility of housing these vehicles to the Board of Education, we alleviate this widespread concern. Thank you to my colleagues in the Senate for helping me pass this necessary, fair piece of legislation,” said Persaud.
The Senate also passed Bill S1054A, which makes unlawfully installing a gas meter a class B misdemeanor. A gas meter is unlawfully installed when any person installs it other than a person acting on behalf of a utility corporation subject to the jurisdiction of the public service commission, unless they have a permit from the appropriate permitting authority to do so. When installed lawfully, the meters and gas lines are subject to regulations to prevent accident or injury; whereas unlawfully installed systems often use non-standard materials such as plastic flex piping which is less expensive but also unsafe. A person would also be guilty if they are the owner of the premises where the meter is unlawfully installed and knows or reasonably should know such is happening.
“Without proper inspections, gas meters installed unlawfully not only allow theft of services from gas companies but also place citizens at risk of accident or injury. This legislation keeps New Yorkers safer by rightfully holding accountable any person involved in this illegal action, and I commend my colleagues in the Senate for helping me get it passed,” Persaud said.
Maimonides To Hold Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon & Ceremony
Maimonides Medical Center volunteers will be honored today at an annual Recognition Luncheon and Ceremony.
Remarks will be given by Maimonides President & CEO Kenneth D. Gibbs. Highlights will include special guest speaker, City Councilmember Justin Brannan, as well as a video presentation recognizing the contributions of the volunteers at Maimonides.
The event is slated for 12 noon, today, June 4 at Paradise Manor, 5802 New Utrecht Avenue in Sunset Park.
