Statement of Jeff Seyler, American Lung Association of the Northeast President & CEO

(Long Island, NY) The American Lung Association of the Northeast applauds today’s announcement by CVS Caremark to discontinue the sale of tobacco products at all CVS / Pharmacy locations beginning October 1, 2014. We strongly agree that stopping the sale of tobacco products at a business that is meant to promote wellness is in keeping with their central mission and the right move for healthier lungs and healthier families across our country.

We are especially gratified to see Rhode Island-based CVS Caremark become the first national pharmacy chain to make the decision to promote tools to help smokers quit instead of selling tobacco. We call on all drugstores and pharmacy chains to follow suit and promptly stop selling tobacco products.

Our recent State of Tobacco Control 2014 report and the latest US Surgeon General’s report on smoking and health make clear that we must do more than the status quo if we are going to reverse the toll that tobacco takes on our country’s health. Collaborations with companies like CVS Caremark who choose public health over profit will undoubtedly help decrease smoking rates and help smokers quit their deadly addiction.

About the American Lung Association of the Northeast
The American Lung Association of the Northeast is part of the American Lung Association, the oldest voluntary health organization in the U.S. Established in 1904 to combat tuberculosis; our mission today is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. The focus is on air quality, asthma, tobacco control, and all lung disease. The American Lung Association in the Northeast serves CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI and VT. www.LungNE.org

(NEW YORK) In response to the statewide state of emergency declared by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today issued an open letter to vendors warning against price gouging, the inflation of the price of necessary goods and services. General Business Law prohibits such increases in costs of essential items like food, water, gas, generators, batteries and flashlights, and services like tree trimming/removal, emergency structure repairs, or snowplowing, during natural disasters or other events that disrupt the market.

“As another winter storm brings severe conditions to our entire state, my office is watching out for anyone who might use this weather to rip off New Yorkers. If a business is thinking about price gouging, it should know that we can and will enforce the law,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “And we ask anyone who sees unreasonable increases in the costs of needed goods and services to report it to my office immediately.”

New Yorkers may contact the Attorney General’s office to file complaints about potential price-gouging activity online here.

The open letter is addressed to New York State vendors, retailers and suppliers, including but not limited to supermarkets, bodegas, gas stations, hardware stores, tree trimming/removal services, snowplowing services, taxi and livery cab drivers.

A full copy of the letter is available below.

February 5, 2014

This open letter is addressed to anyone selling necessary consumer goods and providing essential services in New York State during today’s large winter storm, which continues to bring severe weather to both upstate and downstate communities.

New Yorkers will rely upon you for the items needed to prepare for, weather, and recover from these extreme conditions, as we all stock up on water, food – including staples such as bread and milk – batteries, de-icers, sand, generators, fuel and other essentials. Perhaps even more, we will rely on you to assist us in clearing our streets and recovering from the damage left to our trees and homes.  It can be a thankless responsibility, and we all owe you our gratitude.

While most understand that customers are also neighbors and would never think of taking advantage of others during such disruptive times, these circumstances always require an extra sense of vigilance and preparation.

This notification should serve as a reminder to vendors and their consumers that state law prohibits price gouging at times when nature demonstrates its disruptive fury. The New York General Business Law forbids those who sell essential consumer goods and services from charging excessive prices during what is clearly an abnormal disruption of the market. Those who do so will ultimately see a reduction in their profits and will be faced with penalties, fines and directives to set up reimbursement funds.

As Attorney General, it is my responsibility to enforce the price- gouging law, and while it is my hope that I will not need to do so, my office is certainly prepared. We will review pricing data and take such complaints filed with my office seriously, as we do with any matter.

New Yorkers have always been at their best when facing adversity, and I am confident that we will live up to that standard throughout this storm recovery.

Eric T. Schneiderman
New York State Attorney General

• The number of weather-related outages is now 5,191 island-wide, with about 4,272 of them in Nassau and 919 in Suffolk, mostly due to ice build-up on tree limbs and power lines. The utility serves 1.1 million electric customers on Long Island and the Rockaways.
• Crews are working safely and quickly to restore customers as soon as possible.
• Customers should be prepared for possible outages by having on hand storm supplies, including a battery-powered radio, a corded phone, flashlight and extra batteries, a first aid kit, bottled water, sleeping bags and blankets and a list of emergency phone numbers.
• To report downed wires or power outages, customers should call PSEG Long Island’s Customer Service line at 1-800-490-0075. PSEG Long Island uses an automated system to handle customer calls as efficiently as possible. If you get an automated response when calling PSEG Long Island, we encourage you to use it, as it is designed to route your call to the right destination. If you have specific information regarding damage to wires, transformers or poles, PSEG Long Island asks that you stay on the line to speak with a representative to provide that information.

PSEG Long Island LLC was selected by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) in Dec. 2011 to manage LIPA’s electric system. The 12-year contract includes commitments to improve customer satisfaction and provide safe, reliable service for LIPA customers. PSEG Long Island is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (NYSE:PEG), a publicly traded diversified energy company with annual revenues of more than $10 billion.

Manhattan-Based Provider Charged Taxpayers For Children Who Were Absent From The Program; Settlement Brings Total Medicaid Costs Recouped In Child Foster Care Investigations By A.G.’s Office To $3.8 Million; Schneiderman: New York’s Neediest Children And Our Taxpayers Deserve To Have Critical Program Funds Protected

(NEW YORK) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a $250,000 settlement with New York Foundling Hospital, a Manhattan-based provider of child foster care services. The settlement resolves allegations that New York Foundling was billing Medicaid for the care of children while they were absent from the program. As part of an ongoing review of child foster care agency books, the Attorney General’s office has recouped $3.8 million in Medicaid funds from more than 65 child foster care facilities.

“Taxpayer money spent on New York’s most vulnerable kids must be safeguarded – not wasted,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “My office will remain vigilant to ensure that providers bill Medicaid for services that are actually rendered and that funds meant to help our neediest kids are spent to care for them.”

Medicaid regulations require that child foster care providers bill for the care of children only while they are physically present at the program. An investigation by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit revealed that New York Foundling, located at 590 Avenue of the Americas, overbilled Medicaid in a variety of ways between 2004 and 2010. The agency, which offers care for children and families in New York and Puerto Rico, billed for kids prior to their admission to New York Foundling, including while the children were enrolled in another program, after they were discharged from the program, while they were in legal detention and when they were absent from the program longer than the allowable 21 days within a one-year time frame.

New York Foundling has agreed to pay back $170,775, plus an additional $85,387 in penalties under the New York State False Claims Act, for a total of $256,162.

The top ten settlements resulting from Attorney General Schneiderman’s review of child foster care agency books are:

• Jewish Child Care Association, NY, NY: $403K
• NY Foundling Hospital, NY, NY: $366K
• Catholic Guardian Society and Home Bureau, NY, NY: $348K
• Family Support Services, Bronx, NY: $146K
• Abbott House Inc., Irvington, NY: $143K
• Children’s Aid Society, NY, NY: $118K
• Children’s Village, Dobbs Ferry, NY: $116K
• Hillside Children’s Center Laburnum, Rochester, NY: $109K
• Salvation Army Social Services for Children, NY, NY: $83K
• Cardinal McCloskey School & Home for Children, White Plains, NY: $73K

The Attorney General would like to thank New York Foundling Hospital for its cooperation during the investigation.

This matter was handled by Jay Speers, counsel to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; Associate Special Auditor Investigator Olga Yanulevich; Principal Special Auditor Investigator Granville A. Senior, and Michael LaCasse, Chief Auditor for Civil Enforcement. The matter was overseen by Acting MFCU Director Amy Held and Kelly Donovan, Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice. In addition, Gina Poletto, Special Auditor Investigator, assisted on the other child foster care recoveries.

PBMC Health Joins American Cancer Society and the Cancer Services Program of Suffolk County To Paint the Town Blue

(RIVERHEAD, NY) Colon cancer affects both men and women and is the second leading cause of cancer related death in the United States. The shocking reality is that colon cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable when caught early through screening.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Together with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Cancer Services Program of Suffolk County (CSP), PBMC Health will be painting the town blue to raise awareness about the importance of colon cancer screening and early detection. Riverhead’s Main Street will be the first on Long Island to “Go Blue.”

Pictured from left to right are Councilman John Dunleavy, Maureen O’Connor (Director of Cancer Services at PBMC), Dr. Clare Bradley (Board Chair, American Cancer Society), Dr. Brett Ruffo, MD, FACS, FASCRS, Board Certified in Colon and Rectal Surgeon, Sherry Patteron (PBMC Board Chair), Joseph Abbate (Patient), Dennis McDermott (The Riverhead Project), Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, Janine Nebons (General Manager of Tanger), and Councilwoman Jodi Giglio

“Colon cancer is one of the only cancers that can be detected and prevented through screening before it even starts. With the support of local businesses, we can help spread this lifesaving message,” says Dr. Clare Bradley of the American Cancer Society. “We are also working together to provide resources and support for families, friends and loved ones dealing with a colon cancer diagnosis. We are not just providing information – we are providing help and hope.”

To introduce businesses to this life-saving campaign a “Main Streets Go Blue” Kick Off Breakfast was recently held to introduce the community to the program. From March 10-15, businesses will adopt a blue theme, decorating their street windows with blue colors and lighting the outside of their stores with blue lights. PBMC Health will be providing local businesses with posters, giveaways and educational materials to help inform the community of the importance of early detection through screening. Local businesses are creating unique ways to participate in this innovative program. For example, Tanger Outlets is encouraging stores to offer a special discount during the weeklong campaign; The Hyatt Place East End will change their outside lighting to blue, and The Riverhead Project will offer a special drink called “Bottoms Up.” In addition to saving lives and making the population aware of the importance of screening, businesses in the community benefit as well. Screening and early detection have proven effective in increased employee morale, reduction in workers’ compensation claims, reducing illness and absenteeism, and increased productivity.

Only about 50% of insured adults aged 50-75 are up-to-date with colon cancer screening and for those who are uninsured that number drops to 36%. “The risk of colon cancer increases with age, by encouraging everyone 50+ to get screened is a proactive step in the prevention of colon cancer,” said Andrew Mitchell, President & CEO of PBMC Health and Peconic Bay Medical Center. “Engaging businesses in championing preventive care is an essential collaboration towards decreasing late-stage diagnosis and increasing survivorship. PBMC Health will continue to position ourselves to be at the forefront for our community in fighting colon cancer through education, community awareness and access to expert physicians that deliver comprehensive treatment and care.”

Maureen O’Connor, Director of the Cancer Services Program of Suffolk County at Peconic Bay Medical Center, stated, “Working together with businesses provides the opportunity for the Cancer Services Program to assure that the uninsured population of the community is aware that if you can’t afford a test, there are resources available to help, and free colorectal cancer screening is available through the Cancer Services Program of Suffolk.”

25,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed annually with breast, cervical or colorectal cancer and approximately 6,000 men and women in NYS die each year from these cancers. Tanger Outlets has been a strong and essential advocate for Breast Cancer awareness and according to Janine Nebons, General Manager, Tanger Outlets, “Main Streets Go Blue affords Tanger Outlets the added opportunity to connect with other businesses in a collaborative goal of providing support and promoting public awareness about colon cancer with the end-result of empowering others with information that can save lives. Tanger Outlets is committed to championing the fight to increase cancer survivorship through events and campaigns that impact the community and bring about prevention awareness.”

Early detection of cancer improves treatment options, increases the chance for successful treatment and improves survival rates. Brett Ruffo, MD, FACS, FASCRS, Board Certified in Colon and Rectal Surgeon, having lost his father to colorectal cancer, has a passion for the fight against this disease. “The only known cure for colorectal cancer is early detection. Education is a team effort and has to go beyond just the physicians and clinical staff; it has to reach the community. With community outreach we increase awareness resulting in prompt diagnosis and more effective treatment. With appropriate screening and treatment, colon cancer is not only preventable in some cases, but is very treatable and often curable. The goal is early detection.

Businesses who are interested in participating with the program should contact Peconic Bay Medical Center at 631-548-6080 or download the form by going to www.pbmchealth.org or clicking here.

About PBMC Health
PBMC Health is a comprehensive continuum of care focused on serving the full range of health and wellness needs of the people of Suffolk County. The continuum includes Peconic Bay Medical Center, located in Riverhead; Peconic Bay Home Health Services, serving all of Suffolk County; Peconic Bay Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation, located in Riverhead; Peconic Bay Outpatient Physical Therapy, located in Riverhead; Peconic Bay Primary & Family Care Practices, with offices in Mattituck, Hampton Bays, Center Moriches, Riverhead and Westhampton Beach; and The Gertrude and Louis Feil Campus for Ambulatory Care in Manorville. For more information, visit PBMCHealth.org

About Peconic Bay Medical Center
Peconic Bay Medical Center is a non-profit medical facility committed to providing exceptional care and improving the health of the communities it serves. Peconic Bay Medical Center offers wide ranging, full-scope services and programs along with state-of-the-art technology. The award-winning Kanas Center for Advanced Surgery is home to the da Vinci Surgical Robotics Program. PBMC is a Bariatric Center of Excellence, a designated Stroke Center, and recipient of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Bronze Quality Achievement Award. In addition to being the recipient of the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for Total Joint Replacement for Hip and Knee, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Plus Center for Hip and Knee Replacement, and the Aetna
Institute of Quality® for Total Joint Replacement, PBMC has also earned a 5-Star Rating from U.S. News & World Report for Skilled Nursing Facility, which was named one of the nation’s highest quality nursing homes. As a major clinical campus for the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, PBMC hosts graduate medical education programs in Family Medicine and Traditional Internship. Peconic Bay Medical Center is a member of the East End Health Alliance and affiliated with Stony Brook University Hospital. For more information, visit PBMCHealth.org

Board of Regents currently has four positions up for election

(Huntington, NY) As Ranking Minority Member of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,WF,I- Huntington Station) was part of a select group of lawmakers chosen to interview the prospective candidates for the state Board of Regents yesterday. Lupinacci, a former South Huntington School Board member, addressed several of the hot-button issues facing education with the candidates: Common Core, teacher evaluations, student data-usage by third parties, and high-stakes standardized testing.

Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci speaks with colleagues during the interview of candidates for the Board of Regents.

“The Board of Regents plays a vital role in charting the course of education in our state,” said Lupinacci. “During the hearings my colleagues and I held over the past few months, we repeatedly heard parents, educators, administrators and students share their concerns about the Common Core Standards and the current state of New York’s education system. During the interview, I felt it was absolutely critical that we begin to address a few of the controversial mandates implemented by the board. Any new appointee must be prepared to deal with the ongoing crisis surrounding Common Core and be open to discussing all possibilities to make our education system better. While today’s hearing provided some insight, I look forward to further dialogue with the candidates to learn their views on the future of our education system.”

Currently, the Board of Regents is elected via a full roster vote of the Assembly and Senate members. Lupinacci is sponsoring legislation which would shift the system to have Regents elected by the public, providing greater openness and transparency in the board’s elections.

Assemblyman Lupinacci and his colleagues in the Assembly Minority Conference recently released a report on New York’s education system and their proposed changes, the APPLE Plan. To learn more about the report or the Assemblyman’s proposed changes, please visit bit.ly/educationalcrossroads and bit.ly/APPLEplan.

(Bellevue, WA) The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) has launched an improved, redesigned website at www.SAF.org — the organization’s electronic hub for providing news, legal updates and educational materials to members, supporters, media and the general public.

The new site features improved navigation, better search functionality and quick access to news and information about the activities of the Second Amendment Foundation.

Enhancements to the site include:

• All of the latest SAF news front and center on the homepage
• Up-to-date information on all Second Amendment Cases including links to case filings
• Over 175 legal and scholarly articles on Second Amendment issues
• Back issues of Second Amendment Reporter and Gottlieb-Tartaro Report
• Books, stickers and SAF branded items for sale
• Audios of 2013 and 2012 Gun Rights Policy Conferences (GRPC) and information about GRPC 2014!
• Mobile-friendly responsive design
• And much more.

The new site is now live. SAF invites you to check it out at www.SAF.org

New store will be located on Union Boulevard in space formerly occupied by King Kullen.

(Bethpage, NY) Wild by Nature, a full-size, full-service natural food marketplace, has made it official — the company plans to open a new 22,000-square-foot store at 478 Union Boulevard in West Islip, New York.  With an anticipated opening of late summer/early fall 2014, the new Wild by Nature will occupy a portion of space previously leased by King Kullen. Wild by Nature is an independent subsidiary of King Kullen Grocery Co.

“We are very excited to be opening our first south shore location in mid-Suffolk County,” observed Wild by Nature Co-President Joseph Brown.  “We’ve had many requests for a store in the area and we feel this location will be ideal.  West Islip residents and their neighbors in the surrounding communities will be able to enjoy the same fresh, healthy foods and environmentally sound products as shoppers at our other four locations.”  According to Brown, the first Wild by Nature opened in East Setauket nearly 20 years ago, followed by stores in Huntington, Hampton Bays, and Oceanside.

Founded on the belief that the production of food should support life, promote well being, and protect the world’s natural resources, Wild by Nature meets the needs of health-conscious consumers and those seeking quality goods and services.  The proposed West Islip location will include a produce center featuring organic fruits and vegetables; a complete selection of meats and poultry; a deli and appetizers department; a wok station; fresh-caught seafood; sushi; a full-service bakery with fresh baked breads; a wide array of groceries; a café with a juice and Smoothies bar; an extensive all-natural nutrition and supplement department; health and beauty care products; and one of Long Island’s largest selections of gluten-free foods.

“Wild by Nature is a place where people will find the freshest foods imaginable and learn about living a healthy lifestyle through good food and nutrition,” concluded Brown.  “We’re thrilled to be bringing the Wild by Nature experience to West Islip.”

More information on Wild by Nature is available at www.wildbynature.com.  Updates on the West Islip store can also be found by following Wild by Nature on Facebook and Twitter.

(Long Island, NY) Senator Ken LaValle reports that the NY State Senate today passed the “Public Assistance Integrity Act”, which would prohibit the use of welfare funds for the purchase of alcohol, tobacco, or lottery tickets. A sponsor of the bill, Senator LaValle said, “Now, we need the Assembly to pass the legislation, so the Governor can sign it into law. Taxpayer funds should not be used for these types of activities.”

“In addition, New York State also stands to lose $120 million in federal funds if this doesn’t become law. The legislation will ensure monies are available for those truly in need.” Senator LaValle continued. Currently, disreputable people are utilizing the Electronic Benefits Transfer cards (EBT cards) to pay for items that were never intended to be covered by the welfare system.

The penalties under the measure would result in the individuals being removed from the welfare programs after a 3-strikes-you’re-out penalty phase. The Senate passed the legislation during last year’s session, but the Assembly did not act.

(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Edward Hennessey (D-Medford) is joining the call to delay using Common Core test based assessments.

“The rush to implement the Common Core curriculum and the tests and evaluations associated with it have caused an overwhelming amount of concern, pressure and anxiety for our children, parents, teachers, and schools,” Assemblyman Hennessey said. “I too am extremely concerned.”

If true educational progress is to be made whereby children, educators and schools will become empowered and invigorated with the skills, knowledge and tools necessary to tackle the challenges of today, it must be made with the understanding that we are dealing with people, Hennessey noted.