New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, State Legislators Against Illegal Guns, Elected Officials and Advocates Remember Victims and Offer the NY SAFE Act as a Model for What Can Be Done

(NEW YORK, NY) New Yorkers Against Gun Violence (NYAGV) and State Legislators Against Illegal Guns (SLAIG) were joined by national, state, and local elected officials and gun safety advocates at a press conference today at New York City Hall to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the horrific shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

(Shown in photo: Leticia James, NYC Public Advocate-Elect, speaking at today’s press conference commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Newtown shootings.)

The elected officials and advocates gathered to honor the victims of the Sandy Hook shootings, which occurred on December 14, 2012, and the many thousand who have lost their lives to gun violence in the ensuing year, and to renew the call for Congress and state governments across the country to enact sensible gun laws. They pointed to the passage and implementation of the NY SAFE Act, which was enacted with bipartisan support and signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo less than five weeks after the Sandy Hook tragedy, as a model for what legislatures can do to help protect Americans from gun violence.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said, “New York’s families and neighborhoods are safer because our state passed the strongest gun laws in nation,” said Governor Cuomo. “Although it is difficult to think that one year has already passed since the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook, the best way to honor the memory of those we lost is to take action to prevent future senseless violence. By working together, we were the first state to enact sensible gun control laws, after Sandy Hook, which keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill, ban assault weapons, limit high capacity magazines and increase the penalty for killing a first responder.”

NYAGV Executive Director Leah Gunn Barrett said, “We remember not only the 26 innocent victims from Newtown, but the 31,000 Americans who die each year from gun violence – that’s 85 people a day. Thanks to Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York passed the SAFE Act, making it  the first state to take decisive action after Newtown.  We know that strong gun laws reduce gun death and injury which is why New York has the fourth lowest gun death rate in the nation. Now we need Congress to follow New York’s lead to protect all Americans.”

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy commented, “For gun violence prevention advocates, December is a particularly difficult month because of the anniversaries of two tragic mass shootings, the incident on the Long Island Railroad in 1993 and, most recently, the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. New York State has often been ahead of the curve on gun violence prevention and the most recent legislative accomplishment, the passage of the NY SAFE Act, is no exception.  Too often it takes great tragedy to address long overdue national reforms, especially when it comes to the issue of gun violence.  It is my hope that the United States Congress will follow New York’s lead and see the merits of tightening gun violence prevention laws nationwide now, rather than suffer through more senseless and preventable tragedy.”

Congressman Peter King stated, “This Saturday will mark one year since the senseless shooting at Sandy Hook. It is wrong that Congress has failed to act after so many lives have been lost. The overwhelming majority of Americans want to see action, and we owe it to the victims and their families to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.”

SLAIG Co-Chair and Assemblymember Michelle Schimel said, “Has a year lessened the horror of witnessing 20 innocent elementary school children and their teachers being violently murdered? Certainly not. This week marks not just the anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, but the 20-year mark of the LIRR massacre, a seminal event for all of the nation’s suburbs. That horrific event shook the nation two decades ago.” She added, “So what does our nation have to show in terms of a sensible legislative agenda to reduce our gun violence? Not much. There is lots of talk in Washington, but no action. By contrast the NY SAFE Act, passed with bipartisan support, helps to give NY the 4th lowest gun death rate in the nation.”

SLAIG Co-Chair and Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh said, “This somber anniversary is a reminder of the ongoing gun violence crisis in our country. Of course Congress ought to act and the failure of some of our leaders in Washington to recognize that is disheartening. While we renew our call for strong, sensible national laws, we also want to shift some of the focus to the states. We’re calling on our colleagues in the legislature in each state to take the lead and pass laws mandating background checks for all gun sales, tougher restrictions on assault weapons, and other laws we’ve successfully enacted here that will save lives.”

Assemblymember Amy Paulin stated, “I was an outspoken proponent of the NYSAFE Act when it passed and remain so today. Still, we need a tougher law that is aimed specifically at keeping guns out of the hands of children. My bill will do just that. A-8293, The Safe Weapon Storage Act, provides for criminal penalties for any person who leaves a weapon out of his or her immediate possession or control without securely locking it up or using a locking device on it. We need to continue our efforts to combat gun violence and prevent the future loss of innocent lives. My bill will expand our current law to protect those that are the most innocent – children.”

Majority State Senate Coalition Leader Jeff Klein said, “In the wake of the tragedy in Newtown, New Yorkers knew that enough was enough. We needed a comprehensive, no-nonsense approach to combating gun violence. That’s why on the first day of the legislative session, I led the charge to pass some of the toughest gun control laws in the nation. With the support of groups like New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, Million Mom March and the Brady Campaign, we have sent the message that New York will not tolerate gun violence. Nationwide, New York has the fourth lowest gun rate, due in no small part to our strong gun laws. But we know that reducing gun violence requires action on multiple fronts. That’s why this year, I also helped to secure $3 million dollars for proven gun violence prevention programs across New York State. Together, we will continue to fight to keep gun violence off our streets and out of our schools.”

State Senator Jose Serrano said, “The anniversary of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School is a chilling reminder of the all too common horror of senseless gun violence across our nation. While I am pleased that we in the New York State Legislature were able to pass common sense gun control with the NY SAFE Act, there is still much work to be done. Not only must we continue to enact far reaching gun control policies in New York, but we must also ensure that Congress and state governments across the country join the fight in sensible gun control reform.”

Assemblymember Shelley Mayer commented, “As we remember the tragic events at Sandy Hook one year ago, we also remember the many other people who lost their lives to gun violence throughout the year.  With the Governor’s leadership, New York State has taken bold steps to enact sensible gun laws, and I call on the federal government to do the same.”

Assemblymember David I. Weprin said, “I am proud to join my colleagues and the community on the one year anniversary of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School to honor the lives of the 20 children and six adults who died from this tragedy. When more than 30,000 people are killed by firearms each year in the United States and 1/3 of victims are under the age of 20, we must do all that we can to prevent as well combat gun violence. In response to the shooting, we passed the NY SAFE Act and I along with my colleagues will continue to champion for gun control legislation that will ensure all New Yorkers are protected from gun violence.”

Assemblyman Tom Abinanti said, “On this anniversary of the Newtown tragedy, let us honor the memory of those victims by doing everything possible to prevent future gun tragedies. Whether it is mandating safe and secure storage of guns or keeping plastic guns off our streets, there is is still much to be done to stop the gun violence that plagues our communities.”

Assemblymember David Buchwald said, “One year following the tragedy at Sandy Hook, we continue to reflect on the safety of our children and the importance of gun safety measures in New York State. I was pleased to join the legislature in passing the SAFE Act earlier this year, but there’s always more to be done to ensure that New York is a safe place to raise a family.”

The New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act (the NY SAFE Act), the historic legislation signed into law by Governor Cuomo in January of 2013, includes multiple common-sense provisions to prevent gun violence including requiring background checks for purchasers of ammunition and for private gun sales, restricting possession of high-capacity magazines, and requiring the registration of assault weapons.

New Yorkers Against Gun Violence (NYAGV) is a statewide advocacy group working to reduce gun violence through advocacy and education designed to encourage action, influence public opinion and lead to policy change. With a primary focus on New York State, the organization also advocates at the local and national levels for sensible laws, policies and practices that protect New York State residents from gun violence. www.nyagv.org

State Legislators Against Illegal Guns (SLAIG) was established in 2010 to support common-sense state legislation that keeps guns out of the hands of criminals, including background checks for purchasers, efforts to prevent straw sales, and better coordination and technology to trace and detect illegal gun sales.

(Long Island, NY) Today, Governor Andrew Cuomo was a guest on Capitol Pressroom to promote his election-year plan to implement $2 billion in tax cuts and giveaways that will come at the expense of public school students and communities.

Billy Easton, Executive Director of the Alliance for Quality Education, released the following statement:

“The Governor’s plan for $2 billion in election-year tax cuts and giveaways shows just how out of touch he is with the needs of New York State. Under his reign, New York’s schools have suffered some of the worst classroom cuts, leaving many schools on the verge of financial and educational insolvency. At the same time inequitable and inadequate education funding has widened the opportunity gap, leaving students in low wealth school districts struggling to even meet state and federal requirements for graduation much less being prepared for college and careers.

New York’s school children simply cannot afford to have their education sacrificed at the altar of election-year tax giveaways. It is wrong and misguided.

The Governor claims that money doesn’t matter, but his own education programs prove that it does. Last year, he lauded the addition of full-day pre-kindergarten programs – but only about one percent of New York’s four-year-olds were affected by this program and only in the communities that received money for it. Saying that money doesn’t matter in education is almost as nonsensical as saying poverty doesn’t affect a student’s opportunities,” said Billy Easton, Executive Director of the Alliance for Quality Education.

Comprehensive Fair Coming to Long Island Delivers One-Stop-Shop for Children with Special Needs

(Wantagh, NY) Interchange Business Organization (IBO) has teamed with The Mosaic Foundation for Autism to bring the first ever IBO/Mosaic Interactive Special Needs Resource Fair to Long Island on Saturday, February 1, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which will be held at The Mosaic School for Autism, located at 1309 Wantagh Avenue in Wantagh, NY.

Designed to alleviate the typically drawn out “trial and error” process that so many families who have children with autism and other developmental and/or learning disabilities often endure, this FREE comprehensive resource fair will feature over 50 special needs industry professionals and educators specializing in more than 45 areas that include: cognitive development, special education, guardianship law and social security benefits. Also readily available to provide free counsel and answer questions during the Fair will be speech, music and art therapists, sports,/activity coordinators, parent coaches, financial consultants, child and adult advocates, and social program providers.

In addition to bringing special needs industry experts under one roof, the Interactive Special Needs Resource Fair also provides families with a more genuine perspective on the various special needs programs available and how they might be of benefit to their children. Attendees are encouraged to bring their children to the Fair so they can participate in a series of interactive breakout sessions that will allow opportunity to personally experience each program to help families uncover those most suited for serving their child’s unique needs. The day will also offer children in attendance fun and engaging activities, including children zumba, yoga, arts and crafts, as well as games and prizes.

“A common complaint often heard from special needs parents is that finding qualified experts can be difficult and time-consuming,” explains IBO President Tom Gibson, who has a 14-year-old son who is deaf. “Our mission in hosting the Interactive Special Needs Resource Fair is to bring to the many families who have children with special needs a comprehensive, effective network of local, qualified professionals who are readily available to help them address and see through any issues, concerns or situations they might be facing.”

Founder of The Mosaic School for Autism and The Mosaic Foundation, Lauretta Murdock, who has two children of her own with autism, adds, “When raising children with special needs, time is always of the essence and can often mean the difference in helping children meet their potential. Realizing trial and error is not a luxury we can afford, our Fair is not only designed to be informative but also as interactive as possible, allowing families an authentic feel for the program options that are out there and a birds-eye view into which ones might be best for their child.”

The Interchange Business Organization (IBO) is a business development networking organization that helps local business professionals build strong relationships while helping members experience new ways to improve and enhance business practices through common interests and synergies. IBO members meet weekly to build on current and develop new trustworthy relationships, allowing opportunities to exchange reliable leads and referrals that can help them advance business. The Interactive Special Needs Resource Fair is a result of IBO’s Special Ops’ division. More information about IBO and this event is available at www.meetibo.com/special.

The Mosaic Foundation for Autism Inc., which is affiliated with The Mosaic School for Autism, actively seeks to generate awareness of autism and its challenges as it raises funds to increase opportunities for people with autism so they can participate in appropriate educational, social and recreational activities. For more information about The Mosaic Foundation for Autism Inc., please call 516-765-3696 or visit www.themosaicschool.org.

(Long Island, NY) Lee Zeldin, Conservative Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in New York’s First Congressional District, was endorsed today by the Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs.

The endorsement follows the Suffolk County Corrections Officer Association’s endorsement earlier this week and demonstrates the strong support for Zeldin’s campaign among local law enforcement.

The Suffolk County Deputy Sheriff’s PBA Executive Board had this to say about their decision to endorse Senator Zeldin:

“The Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs are always looking to support leaders who will help us protect area residents by promoting sound fiscal policies and by working cooperatively with law enforcement and community groups throughout the county to improve overall safety. We look to endorse candidates who understand these values and who will work to help us advance these initiatives. Senator Lee Zeldin is the partner we need at the federal level to make our voices heard and to improve safety across our county. His experience, not only as a State Senator, but also as a military officer, has distinguished him as a rising star to best represent the interests of First Congressional District residents.”

“I sincerely appreciate the support of the Deputy Sheriffs,” said Senator Zeldin. “The values of the organization are directly in line with my own and I admire all that they do to keep our communities safe here on Long Island.”

To learn more about Senator Zeldin and his campaign for Congress, please visit www.zeldinforcongress.com.

(West Islip, NY) The Guilds of Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center recently presented $90,000 to The Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation to support the hospital’s cardiology services.

This gift brought the Guilds’ 2013 donations to a total of $250,000 for various programs, including pediatrics, cancer, intensive care services and the Emergency Department. Made up of volunteers from surrounding communities, the Guilds have helped sustain the hospital for more than 50 years.

Pictured (L-R): The Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation board members Henry Schreiber, Jr. and Vice Chairperson Aileen Eppig, Central Council of the Guilds President Vera Meinhold, Director of The

St. Francis Open Heart Surgery Program at Good Samaritan Hospital Christopher La Mendola, MD, The Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation board member Terese Weber and Good Samaritan’s Assistant Vice President of Development and Public Affairs Theresa Jacobellis.

Good Samaritan Hospital’s cardiovascular services include superior, comprehensive care. Good Samaritan was one of the first community hospitals in Suffolk County to perform primary angioplasty to swiftly open blocked arteries during a heart attack and was the first in the county to offer the combination of primary elective angioplasty and a cardiac rehabilitation program. Patients across Long Island turn to Good Samaritan for a variety of cardiology services such as angioplasty, temporary pacemaker insertion, electrophysiology studies, stress testing, EKG testing and more. In addition, Good Samaritan has been recognized with the Get With The Guidelines® – Heart Failure Gold Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association for the third consecutive year.

For more information on cardiology services at Good Samaritan, call (631) 376-4444.

Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center is a 537-bed (including 100 nursing home beds), voluntary, not-for-profit hospital located in West Islip. The medical center, which has more than 3,775 employees and 900 physicians on staff, had nearly 28,000 patient admissions and nearly 100,000 emergency department visits in 2012. Good Samaritan is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island. Visit the website at www.good-samaritan-hospital.org.

The medical center supplies residents with the tools necessary to maintain good health. This includes community lectures, screenings, health fairs and other community programs and services.

(Long Island, NY) On December 11, 2013, Senator Lee Zeldin (R,C,I—Shirley) visited a unique giving event to benefit St. John’s Nepomucene Church and the Long Island Council of Churches. The Eastern Suffolk BOCES Cosmetology program hosted “An Afternoon of Beauty” where students provided services including haircuts, thermal styling, blow dries and manicures for $5 donations and non perishable food items.

“With the holiday season in full swing, it’s always encouraging to see young people in the community utilizing their talents to give back,” said Senator Zeldin. “Today’s event was a great example of that and I hope it encourages even more of us to engage our abilities to make a difference here on Long Island.”

Senator Zeldin is pictured above (left to right) with students Tara Lydon, Jessica Alix, Ashley Kelly, Amanda D’Auria, and cosmetology instructor, Deborah Esposito.

(Rockville Centre, NY) In November, system leadership learned that all five CHS hospitals live on CHS eHealth, with the Epic electronic medical record (EMR), achieved Stage 6 (out of seven possible stages) on the HIMSS Analytics EMR Maturity Model, placing them in the top 12% of EMR hospitals in the nation.

HIMSS Analytics, an independent, not-for-profit subsidiary of Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), ranks hospitals from Stage 0 to Stage 7, the highest category. Only 2% of all U.S. hospitals have achieved Stage 7, with none so far in New York.

The team that worked on CHS eHealth patient safety initiatives: (seated, L-R) Amanda Ryan, Kathleen Lock, Patrick M. O’Shaughnessy, DO, Sinead Suszczynski and Kirsten Conger; (standing, L-R) Phil Sicoli, Rob Berger, Mary Trembinski, Jason Tagliarino, Susan Comeau, Marcy Dunn, Alan S. Katz, MD, Corrinne Tramontana and Jennifer Romito.

“This is tremendous recognition of an enormous body of work by so many in our hospitals, CHS IT, CHS Services and our vendors,” commented Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer Marcy Dunn, who has spearheaded the CHS eHealth initiative. “The EMR implementation clearly fostered ‘systemness’ at CHS and has shown us the value of our combined strength. Thousands of CHS physicians and staff from all six hospitals collaborated clinically and operationally to achieve the best possible system. Congratulations to all!”

As part of the evaluation of CHS’s EMR implementation, HIMSS paid special attention to the use of technology for medication safety, development of clinical decision support, overall EMR adoption and use, deployment of radiology and cardiology imaging systems, and document imaging. According to HIMSS Analytics, reaching Stage 6 is a result of good direction and focus, along with a steadfast commitment from leadership. Stage 6 hospitals have established clear goals for improving safety, minimizing errors and prioritizing IT implementations. Stage 6 is a precursor to Stage 7, and CHS’s hospitals can now advance toward Stage 7.

The five CHS hospitals that have earned Stage 6 ranking—St. Catherine, St. Francis, Good Samaritan, Mercy and St. Charles—will soon be listed on the HIMSS Analytics website and featured with other Stage 6 hospitals in a special presentation at the organization’s annual conference. St. Joseph will go live on CHS eHealth in 2014, joining its peers in this historic transition to better coordinate patient care.

Catholic Health Services (CHS) is an integrated system encompassing some of the region’s finest health and human services agencies. With six acute care hospitals, three nursing homes, a home health agency, hospice, a community-based agency for persons with special needs and a regional lab, CHS’s high standards have resulted in a nearly 23% market share.

Brooklyn Pharmacy Denied Medicaid Enrollment; On-Site Inspection Reveals Fraudulent Billing

(Long Island, NY) Thanks to an undercover site visit by the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG), a Brooklyn pharmacy won’t be allowed to enroll in the state’s Medicaid program.

During the site visit to New Life Pharmacy in Brooklyn, the provider filled a prescription that was later billed to Medicaid by another provider.  New Life Pharmacy was denied enrollment under 18 NYCRR §504.5(a)(13).

“Site visits are crucial to determining the viability of health care providers,” said Medicaid Inspector General James C. Cox.  “We detected a problem in one instance where a pharmacy that wasn’t enrolled in Medicaid was using a pharmacy that was a ‘front’ for its billing. That simply constitutes fraud.”

In order to become a participating provider in the Medicaid program, a health care provider must go through a lengthy process that begins with filling out an on-line application followed by the submission of documentation to the New York State Department of Health.  Once that process is complete, OMIG investigators conduct site visits similar to the one performed at New Life Pharmacy to ensure the organization’s viability.  On-site observations are critical to making a final determination on the need, effectiveness, and availability of services for Medicaid consumers.

New Yorkers can assist the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General in fighting fraud, waste, and abuse by reporting potentially suspicious behavior or incidents.  OMIG encourages anyone who observes instances of potential Medicaid fraud, waste, or abuse to contact OMIG’s fraud hotline at 1-877-87-FRAUD or visit the Web site at www.omig.ny.gov. Tips can be completely anonymous, and OMIG investigates information from all calls.

Our mission is to enhance the integrity of the New York State Medicaid program by preventing and detecting fraudulent, abusive, and wasteful practices in the Medicaid program and recovering improperly expended Medicaid funds while promoting high-quality patient care.

(Bethpage, NY) St. Joseph Hospital in Bethpage kicked off its celebration of Christmas with a toy drive and Christmas tree lighting. Each year, St. Joseph’s staff creates a free, magical wonderland at the hospital where the public are eager spectators.

St. Joseph Hospital, Bethpage, got a helping hand from Hunter EMS along with Mr. Claus, the Grinch and paramedic Sal Cinquemani, as they stuffed an ambulance with toys for needy children.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus visit the hospital, along with their team of elves, to the delight of young children. But that’s not all, there’s a Snow Queen, a Christmas bear and the Grinch! Children are invited to tell Santa what they want for Christmas and Mrs. Claus has a special Christmas book in which she records the gifts. Amazement ensues when it seems that Santa knows if they’ve been bad or good and gifts are distributed. Reindeer girls deliver hot chocolate and candy canes to all.

This year, Hunter EMS assisted as St. Joseph staff, Mr. Claus and the Grinch, along with Hunter paramedic Sal Cinquemani stuffed the ambulance with toys for needy children.

St. Joseph is a 203-bed, community hospital and a member of Catholic Health Services. It provides comprehensive inpatient medical, critical care and surgical services.

Lisa Farmer will be running the Disney World Half Marathon in honor of her uncle, the late-Assemblyman James D. Conte

(Huntington, NY) Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,WF,I-Huntington Station) today is offering encouragement to Lisa Farmer of Huntington Station, who will be taking part in the Disney World Half-Marathon to raise awareness about leukemia and lymphoma.

Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci is pictured with Lisa Farmer, who will be running the Disney World Half-Marathon in honor of her uncle, the late-Assemblyman James D. Conte.

Lisa will be running in honor of her uncle, the late-Assemblyman James D. Conte. Conte, who represented Huntington in the State Assembly for 24 years and died in 2012 as a result of complications from T-Cell Lymphoma.

“Assemblyman Conte served as a tireless advocate, working every day to raise awareness about important health issues and improve the lives of those around him,” said Lupinacci.

“Jim’s efforts helped pave the way for important programs such as the Donate Life Registry and Lauren’s Law. I am sure he would be tremendously proud to see his niece Lisa continue this legacy by raising awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). I want to applaud Lisa for her efforts and wish her the best of luck in the Half-Marathon. It will serve as a fitting tribute to the memory of such a great man,” said Lupinacci.

LLS works to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.

More information about Lisa’s efforts is available at: http://pages.teamintraining.org/li/wdw14/LisaFarmer.