Improving Health Care

As a member of the Assembly's Committee on Health, Amy Paulin is a leader in providing better health care for the men, women and children of our state.

Amy believes no child should be denied adequate health care due to the economic circumstances of his or her family, and in 2008 she fought to expand Child Health Plus to cover children in families making up to 400 % of the poverty level. This expansion will enable nearly all of New York's 400,000 uninsured children to receive healthcare.

Amy fought for the new drug discount card which enables the uninsured between 50 and 64, as well as those with serious disabilities, to purchase medications at discount prices. This development comes in addition to Amy's work to expand the EPIC program, which provides low cost prescriptions to more than 288,000 moderate and low-income seniors in New York.

Amy also authored the law which will allow licensed pharmacists who have received proper training to administer flu and pneumonia shots to adults. Flu and pneumonia vaccination rates are low in New York, and particularly low among seniors and racial and ethnic minorities. This new law will ensure that all New Yorkers, especially seniors and disadvantaged populations, have access to vaccines necessary for a long and healthy life.

Amy's bill to prohibit smoking in college dormitories and university run student residential facilities was signed into law as well. In addition to reducing the number of college students who become regular smokers, this important law will eliminate the adverse health effects of second-hand smoke on non-smokers and mitigate the possibility of fire in dormitories.

Assemblywoman Paulin understands that dental disease is the most common chronic health care problem of childhood. To help prevent dental disease, Amy authored the law which requests that students enrolling in a public school present a dental health certificate. In addition, this law targets low income families by requiring the department of education to compile a list of dentists who will provide dental exams at reduced or no cost.

Amy's work in the Assembly has also targeted those with mental health issues. Amy sponsored Timothy's Law, which mandates that insurance companies provide coverage for mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, attention-deficit disorder, and eating disorders. Amy will continue to fight to expand Timothy's Law to include post-traumatic stress disorder and drug and alcohol dependencies.

Amy's support of these and other initiatives are the basis of her pledge to provide top notch, available and affordable health care for all residents of New York.