BILL NUMBER: S5356

SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the public health law, in relation to
creating NYCHA-based health centers

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To establish health centers on campuses of NYCHA residential properties
and offer basic health services and evaluate the effectiveness of these
centers and submit a report by December 1, 2020 to the Governor, Tempo-
rary President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: is amended by adding a new section 411 411. NYCHA based
health centers. 1. The department shall establish health centers on
campuses for residents living on such campuses.

2. For the purposes of this section:

              

a) "campus" shall mean individual residential development owned by NYCHA

b) "health center" shall mean an area designated by NYCHA for the
purpose of providing basic health services

c) "basic health services" shall mean primary care, preventative health
services, including prenatal care; screening for vision, hearing, asth-
ma, TB and other medical conditions as determined by the commissioner;
medical care and treatment for illnesses, including the prescribing of
medication; and testing for lead poisoning and mold exposure.

3. The department shall provide the resources necessary to establish
such health centers. Such resources shall include, but are not limited
to, materials used to perform screenings and diagnostic blood tests,
materials used to maintain a safe and sanitary health center, and
personnel to provide primary health care services and assist in the
administration of such health centers.

4. The department shall establish at least one health center at a campus
within each borough in the city of New York. The location of such health
centers shall be based on the need and reported health disparities with-
in each borough.

5. The department shall allocate such resources in a manner determined
by the department for the purposed of this section.

6. The department shall evaluate the effectiveness of such health
centers and prepare a report on the performance of such health centers,
the manner in which each health center's resources were allocated, the
number of primary care visits, the number of persons tested for lead and
respiratory illnesses, the frequency of such testing and the number of
persons testing positively for lead poisoning and/or mold exposure, and
the health outcomes and improvements associated with such individuals.
Such performance report shall be delivered to the governor, the tempo-
rary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly by December
1, 2020, and every year thereafter.

 
JUSTIFICATION:
After over two decades of divestment, it has become apparent that the
failure to maintain NYCHA property has resulted in a myriad of physical
conditions which cause and promote illness. We recently learned that
many of our NYCHA campuses have unacceptable levels of lead poisoning
and that lead remediation was not performed as required. There are also
alarmingly high rates of asthma and other respiratory illnesses due to
dust, mold, rodent and other pest exposures.  Infant development and
maternal health lag behind other areas of the city.

It has been proven that greater access to healthcare improves outcomes
for infants and mothers. The health, education and economic status of
individuals that obtain regular healthcare is better than those who do
not have access. Regular health access addresses immediate concerns and
keeps disease at bay. Healthy children and families are the cornerstone
of healthy communities.

This legislation will establish health centers on campuses of NYCHA
residential properties and offer basic health services as well as
special attention to lead poisoning and respiratory diseases. This is an
easy step toward improving health outcomes.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2018:New A.10887 (Wright) Died in Committee

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

Unknown.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately; provided that such health centers, as added by section one
of this act, shall be established by the department of health no later
than one hundred eightieth day after it shall become law.