Healthcare

I will alleviate the burden of healthcare costs, access to care, and stigma around mental healthcare so that New Yorkers can get the services they need and deserve. From reproductive care and decreasing the maternal mortality rate to increasing SNAP benefits and extending mental healthcare programs across NYS, I am committed to ensuring those who need help, get it, and can afford it.

MENTAL HEALTH

Bridging The Divide

I will work to bridge the mental health divide to remove the stigma and make mental healthcare affordable and accessible to everyone. We need increased services for our most vulnerable populations, including children and those experiencing homelessness.

Crisis Support

I will advocate for increased social worker support for those in-crisis or experiencing homelessness. Trained mental health practitioners should accompany all 911 calls to those experiencing a mental health emergency.

Affordability & Accessibility

I will tirelessly push for increased accessibility and in network affordability for mental health support and treatment for all New Yorkers, and fully support NYS Assembly Bill A9452 - establishing a statewide person-centered mental health services work group to improve statewide mental health planning and outcomes to achieve a person-centered, prevention-first integrated and tiered system of care for holistic health and wellness.

Overcoming Addiction

I will ensure that ongoing, compassionate and supportive treatment for those struggling with addiction is available to all. Recognizing that 70% of individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) have an underlying mental health disorder, and 50% of those with mental illness have an underlying SUD, we must facilitate and expand integrated care. It is also vital that we widen drug overdose prevention through education.

FAMILY HEALTH

NY Health Act

I will support the New York Health Act with provisions for collective bargaining agreements to ensure quality of care is continued.

Child Care

I will work to provide incentives for corporate support of employee child care needs and improve the cost-of-care model of payment in the Child Care Assistance Program on a statewide level.

Increasing SNAP Benefits

I strongly support increasing monthly SNAP benefits and Assembly Bill A6214A - which would establish a state SNAP minimum benefit program to provide a minimum amount of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits that is higher than the amount of federal SNAP benefits.

Capping Prescription Drug Costs

I support capping the price of prescription medication and improving state-wide bargaining on all drug pricing.

REPRODUCTIVE & MATERNAL HEALTH

Maternal & Infant Mortality

I will work to ensure that maternal and infant mortality is addressed accordingly and reduced, especially the high rates of mortality among Black women and infants.

Maternal Mental Health

I fully support Assembly Bill A2944 - which directs the commissioner of mental health to establish a maternal mental health workgroup to study and issue recommendations related to maternal mental health and perinatal and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders; identifies underrepresented and vulnerable populations and risk factors in the state for maternal mental health disorders that may occur during pregnancy and through the first postpartum year.

Protecting & Expanding Access to Abortion

I will ensure that access to reproductive health services, including abortion, is protected and expanded.

Standards for Maternal Depression Screenings

I will also support Assembly Bill A2870B - which would direct the commissioner of health, in consultation with the office of mental health and other relevant stakeholders, to develop guidance and standards for routine maternal depression screenings, referrals, diagnosis and treatment, and to provide training and materials on issues related to maternal depression.

Paid Prenatal Leave & Low-Income Support

I will advocate for paid pre-natal time off or leave for all women. Additionally, I will advocate for cash assistance for low income mothers during the first 12-18 months of their newborn's life.

Quality Maternal Healthcare

I will also support Assembly Bill A2807A, which would require the department of health to convene a maternal health care and birthing standards working group to study, evaluate and make recommendations related to the development of maternal health care and birthing standards to ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care.