Dear New York State Resident,

As Chairman of the New York State Senate Health Committee, each year I provide an annual report detailing the Health Committee’s accomplishments.  Despite an inauspicious beginning, which was the result of a November 2007 revelation that a Long Island physician’s deficient infection control practices led to the transmission of the Hepatitis C virus, 2008 saw the enactment of a variety of new laws which will improve the health care of all New Yorkers.  Indeed, though tragic, the infection control incident offered the opportunity for the Legislature and the Department of Health to evaluate existing laws pertinent to the safe administration of injections, as well as laws regarding the physician disciplinary process.  Such evaluation resulted in the enactment of a new law that will greatly enhance patient safety and improve infection control (a comprehensive summary of the events leading to enactment of this law is available under the Public Hearing section below).  This law furthers my commitment to developing health public policy through legislation which is patient centered and ensures access to high quality care.

A second notable legislative achievement was enactment of a law requiring the Commissioner of the Department of Health to establish best protocols, for use by pediatric primary care providers, for the early screening of children for autism spectrum disorders.  Early diagnosis of developmental delays, especially between birth and age three, is an important component of well child care and can lead to appropriate referrals for interventions.  For that reason, screening for such disorders should be a routine practice for pediatric primary care providers.  The new law ensures that such providers utilize best practice screening protocols at regular intervals during critical childhood development stages, particularly from birth until age three, which will enhance their ability to identify developmental delays and refer parents to appropriate therapeutic resources.

In addition to the above referenced laws, the Committee passed bills relevant to patient safety and furthering patients’ rights, promoting children and family health, advancing medical research and protecting a health care safety net infrastructure.  Summaries of such bills, which were enacted into law in 2008, are available here.

Sincerely,

Kemp Hannon

6th Senatorial District