Primer of Immigration Data & Proposed Bills in Brief The links below can be used as a Primer on Immigration Reform.  They will connect you to a number of other links that will further elaborate the complicated issues.  Please use this as a basis for a knowledgeable decision on the path this country should move in regards to Immigration Reform.  We suggest that you learn, as much about this vital issue and contact your respective legislators to make them aware of your position.  http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/300  http://www.citizenjoe.org/node/317

 

Commission on the Public’s Health System

HELP PROTECT:

 CHILD HEALTH CLINICS
 INFANT MORTALITY PREVENTION PROGRAMS
 HHC OUTPATIENT MEDICATION WAIVERS
     COMMUNITY BASED COALITIONS TO IDENTIFY AND
 WORK TO ELIMINATE ASTHMA TRIGGERS.
 EXPANSION OF PRIMARY & PREVENTIVE CARE

Here's How!

Help Protect the Oral Health Program at the
Department of Health

The dentists who work in the Oral Health Program take care of the public school children that attend New York City’s schools in a program that is over 100 years old, beginning in 1903.  The oral health care that our public children receive is vital to many and for some is the only dental care they receive, ranging from to preventative procedures, cleanings and annual checkups to diagnosing and treating dental conditions.  The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is laying off over 34% of the dentists and furloughing (not working over the summer months) another over 10% of the dentists.  In addition, the DOHMH is laying off dental assistants as well as furloughing dental assistants.  The layoffs will occur between Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

The DOHMH actions will result in the closure of 9 dental clinics, reductions in hours at another 25 dental clinics, the loss of 194 hours of dental care per week to New York City children, and the further loss of up to 100 hours of dental care per week over the summer furlough months.  The impact of the DOHMH actions not only hurt the children in our public schools but also the parents, as if parents cannot get their children dental care as now in school, then parents will have to take off from work and travel distances for dental care for the children.   For many this may not be an option, having to choose between losing a job and/or income or have a child suffer bad or no dental care.  Further, there is not enough staffing of dentists and dental assistants now; with the layoffs and furloughs the proper oral health care needs of our public school children will suffer.  A healthier student learns better and medical literature associates a correlation between poor dental care and heart disease.

You can help protect the oral health care our public school children receive as well as help save our dentists’ jobs by:

• Completing and returning our Oral Health Petition  (and getting others to sign as well; please fax back to our fax # 1-212-481-4137) and
• Attending the New York City Council hearing  on this important issue on Monday, November 20th at 1:00 PM in the City Council Chambers (Health Care Committee Oversight Hearing) 

(From L to R) Drs. Leslie Joseph, Samina Ahmed, Ayelet Yoles, Allen Brown and Margaret Mahoney
after a meeting on Oral Health with the New York City Public Advocate’s (Betsy Gotbaum) office

New York Hospital Closing Commission:

Time is running out. In just 1 month, a powerful commission will decide which hospitals to close to cut one-third of NY State's health care budget.  As part of the state budget passed in April 2005, Governor Pataki and the New York State Legislature established the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century. The panel's objective is to make recommendations on how to reduce the state's Medicaid spending, mainly by closing hospitals and nursing homes. The governor and leading members of this Commission propose closing up to one-third of all hospital beds in New York -- nearly 20,000 of the 62,000 hospital beds statewide -- to save Medicaid dollars. This is why we refer to this panel as the "Hospital Closing Commission."

Please take a moment to visit the site below and learn how you can contact the Legislative leadership urging them to support quality patient care in New York.

• http://www.saveoursafetynet.org/

Bargaining soon to begin for
Columbia University doctors

For our Doctors Council members of Columbia University, our contract expires on December 31^st.  We are finalizing our preparation for bargaining.  Every member is invited to participate by:

PHYSICIAN ADVOCACY