What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Provides information on the availability of the influenza vaccine in assisted living facilities
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Steven Cymbrowitz
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to providing information on the availability of the influenza vaccine in assisted living facilities
Purpose
This legislation would require the Department of Health to provide information on the influenza vaccine to assisted living facilities
Summary of provisions
This legislation would require the Department of Health to provide to assisted living facilities, at no cost, information on the role that the influenza vaccine plays in the prevention of influenza in older adults, the health risks associated with older adults suffering from influenza, the availability of the influenza vaccine, the benefits of receiving the vaccine, influenza vaccine programs and providers, and a recommendation for older adults to be vaccinated.
Section 2 of the bill requires the assisted living facilities to post information in a public place within the facility by August 1 of each year. In addition, each new resident would be provided with information on the influenza vaccine.
Justification
The Center for Disease Control recognized for many years that people 65 and older are at greater risk of serious complications from the flu compared with young, healthy adults. Influenza is responsible for an average of 226,000 hospitalizations and 3,000-4,000 deaths annually. It is estimated that 90% of seasonal flu-related deaths and more than 60% of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations in the US each year occur in people 65 years and older. Higher deaths and hospitalizations in this population are due to weaker immune defenses.
Studies show that the flu shot can be up to 70% effective in preventing hospitalizations for influenza in those persons over 65.
Currently, the flu vaccine is available at no additional out-of-pocket cost for Medicare patients, there is no coinsurance or copayment and they do not have to meet a deductible.
Legislative history
None
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
180 days after becoming a law, provided that the Department of Health promulgate rules or regulations for the timely implementation of this act.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.