Capital Update June 5, 2026 Click to Enlarge Nearly two months after it was due and just one week prior to the end of the 2026 Legislative Session, the New York State Legislature and Governor completed passage of a $268.5 Billion State Budget for the 2026-27 Fiscal
Capital Update May 29, 2026 Click to Enlarge “The agreed-upon State Budget is a mixed bag for our patients and New York’s healthcare system. Importantly, it takes a number of positive steps, including greater transparency of excessive and burdensome health insurance prior authorization requirements that
Capital Update May 22, 2026 Click to Enlarge The State Legislature this week began passing some of the bills necessary to enact a State Budget, with the rest - including the Health/Mental Hygiene Budget bill - expected to be considered this Tuesday, May 26th. With several
Capital Update May 15, 2026 Click to Enlarge Despite widely publicized promises made last summer by more than 60 health insurers — including UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Elevance Health, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association plans — to voluntarily reform the prior authorization process by reducing barriers
Capital Update May 8, 2026 Click to Enlarge The State Legislature and the Governor are closing in on a final agreement on the State Budget, and Budget bills may begin to be considered next week. In this regard, it is imperative that physicians immediately communicate
Capital Update May 1, 2026 Click to Enlarge Negotiations on the top-line issues holding up consideration of the State Budget have accelerated over the past week, pointing towards announcement of a Budget deal soon. In this regard, physicians must continue to advocate to their legislators on the several pressing
Advocacy in Action Click to Enlarge From left to right are Dr. Natalka D. Stachiw, MSCE Vice President; Senator April N. M. Baskin; Dr. Stacey A. Watt, MSCE Past President and MSSNY Councilor, Ms. Audrey Watt, and Dr. Michael D. Merrill, MSCE President‑Elect. From left to right
New York Appellate Court Finds Lower Court Wrongly Permitted Expert Testimony Without Adequate Scientific Foundation; MSSNY & AMA Had Supported Case with Amicus Click to Enlarge The New York Appellate Division, 2d Department, ruled this week that a lower court erred in allowing a plaintiff’s
Capital Update April 24, 2026 Click to Enlarge Physicians must continue to advocate to their legislators on the several pressing State Budget health care policy issues under negotiation that will exacerbate the significant challenges facing physician care delivery across the State if they are adversely decided. The
Capital Update April 17, 2026 Click to Enlarge With the State Legislature having passed multiple State Budget extenders until April 20, negotiations are beginning to intensify towards the Senate, Assembly and Governor arriving at an agreement for a State Budget technically due on April 1.
