Authorizes the department of health to establish a program for familial dysautonomia, Canavan's and Tay-Sachs disease screening and counseling and to provide grants and to enter into contracts with public and non-profit private entities to assist in such program; provides that participation in such program shall be voluntary and all information shall be confidential.
Impact
The establishment of this program is expected to enhance the state's capacity in terms of disease screening, particularly for conditions that predominantly affect specific population groups. By prioritizing services for blood relatives and those in high-risk categories, the bill seeks to foster a proactive health strategy that can ultimately lead to reduced incidence rates of these devastating genetic disorders. The proposed program also underscores a commitment to confidentiality, ensuring that any personal health information obtained through the screenings remains protected.
Summary
Bill S07857 aims to establish a New York State public health program focused on the screening and counseling of familial dysautonomia, Canavan's disease, and Tay-Sachs disease. The bill designates the commissioner of health to create this program, which is intended to operate within available appropriations. Through this initiative, the bill envisions providing voluntary screening and counseling services primarily to blood relatives of affected individuals and to high-risk populations. The intent is to facilitate early detection and education regarding these hereditary conditions, thus contributing to better public health outcomes in vulnerable communities.
Contention
Notably, the bill has faced some debate regarding the voluntary nature of participation in the screening program. While proponents argue that making participation voluntary protects individual rights and autonomy, critics may express concerns about the potential underutilization of the program. Further, provisions regarding the confidentiality of medical records have also been a focal point of discussion, emphasizing the balance between public health objectives and individual privacy rights. Overall, S07857 is designed to create a supportive framework for screening that aligns with both health promotion and ethical standards.
Same As
Authorizes the department of health to establish a program for familial dysautonomia, Canavan's and Tay-Sachs disease screening and counseling and to provide grants and to enter into contracts with public and non-profit private entities to assist in such program; provides that participation in such program shall be voluntary and all information shall be confidential.
Authorizes the department of health to establish a program for familial dysautonomia, Canavan's and Tay-Sachs disease screening and counseling and to provide grants and to enter into contracts with public and non-profit private entities to assist in such program; provides that participation in such program shall be voluntary and all information shall be confidential.
Relates to providing education and outreach programs related to home visiting programs which provide support for pregnant and parenting families, and have been proven to improve outcomes for mothers, infants, and families; provides that such information shall include information on services available from such programs, eligibility, and relevant contact information.
Provides that every policy which provides coverage for hospital, surgical or medical care or provides reimbursement for laboratory tests or diagnostic X-rays shall provide coverage for testing of familial dysautonomia, Canavan's disease and Tay-Sachs; provides that in order to maintain the confidentiality of persons tested, receipt of acknowledgement from the testing facility shall be deemed sufficient evidence of testing.
Provides that every policy which provides coverage for hospital, surgical or medical care or provides reimbursement for laboratory tests or diagnostic X-rays shall provide coverage for testing of familial dysautonomia, Canavan's disease and Tay-Sachs; provides that in order to maintain the confidentiality of persons tested, receipt of acknowledgement from the testing facility shall be deemed sufficient evidence of testing.
Establishes the homeowner protection program; provides that the department of law shall establish the homeowner protection program to ensure the availability of free housing counseling and legal services to homeowners for the purposes of mitigating threats to homeownership; provides that the department of law shall provide grants to eligible not-for-profit housing counseling organizations and legal services organizations to provide services under the program.
Establishes the homeowner protection program; provides that the department of law shall establish the homeowner protection program to ensure the availability of free housing counseling and legal services to homeowners for the purposes of mitigating threats to homeownership; provides that the department of law shall provide grants to eligible not-for-profit housing counseling organizations and legal services organizations to provide services under the program.