New York awards $76 million for rural health care networks
New York awarded $76.2 million to 56 organizations for 90 projects intended to connect rural hospitals, health centers, behavioral health providers and community groups into stronger regional care networks. The Rural Community Health Integration Initiative ... more
Seven NY-23 counties targeted in $76.2 million rural health initiative
Seven counties in New York's 23rd Congressional District are expected to benefit from a $76.2 million state initiative aimed at strengthening health care services and expanding access in rural communities, U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy announced ... more
New York cuts 2027 health insurance rate requests, projects $1.6 billion in savings
New York regulators approved average 2027 health insurance rate increases of 6% for individual plans and 8% for small-group plans, sharply below the increases insurers sought. The Department of Financial Services said the decisions will ... more
Back-to-school physicals check vision, vaccines and mental health
Annual back-to-school physicals give families and pediatric providers a chance to identify health concerns that could affect a child's learning, sports participation or daily activities, Rochester Regional Health says. The exams track growth and development ... more
Steuben County measles cases rise to eight after two more infections confirmed
Steuben County has confirmed two additional measles cases, raising the countywide total to eight as public health officials continue tracing contacts connected to the growing cluster. The two newly confirmed cases involve unvaccinated residents who ... more
New York joins lawsuit challenging federal restrictions on gender-affirming care funding
New York has joined a multistate lawsuit challenging a federal rule that blocks Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program reimbursement for gender-affirming care provided to transgender adolescents. Attorney General Letitia James and the coalition argue ... more
URMC doctors recommend vaccination, cleaning and ventilation to limit flu
Annual vaccination, regular handwashing, surface cleaning and better indoor ventilation can help families reduce flu infections and serious complications, University of Rochester Medical Center physicians say. The health system described the flu shot as the ... more
RRH acquires Victor dermatology practice, expands Mohs surgery services
Rochester Regional Health has acquired Rochester Dermatologic Surgery in Victor, expanding the health system's general dermatology and Mohs surgery services in the Finger Lakes. The practice became Rochester Regional Health Dermatology & Mohs Surgery — ... more
URMC experts explain what flu shots can and cannot do
Flu vaccination cannot cause influenza and can still reduce severe illness even when circulating strains make the shot less effective at preventing infection, according to guidance from University of Rochester Medical Center specialists. Mild soreness, ... more
URMC research links T-cell exhaustion to severe bone infections
University of Rochester Medical Center researchers have identified a protein associated with the most severe bone infections, a finding that could help physicians predict which patients face poor outcomes and guide work on immune-based treatments ... more
Ontario County joins Seneca and Steuben reporting measles as cases rise across Finger Lakes
Ontario County is the latest county to report measles cases, adding two related infections involving unvaccinated residents as public health officials across the region respond to a growing number of confirmed and suspected cases ... more
Rochester Regional explains mild asthma risks and treatment
Mild asthma is the most common form of the chronic lung disease, but Rochester Regional Health says it can still involve persistent airway inflammation and should not be dismissed because symptoms are infrequent. People with ... more
Cornell biomedical engineering alumni return for Industry Day
Members of Cornell University's 2016 biomedical engineering master's class returned to campus for a 10-year reunion tied to Industry Day, sharing career lessons with current students and reconnecting with the program. The alumni described paths ... more
Ontario County investigates two measles cases in unvaccinated residents
Ontario County Public Health is investigating two related measles cases involving unvaccinated residents, though officials said the overall risk to the public remains low, particularly for people who are fully vaccinated. The department learned of ... more
New GLP-1 research has implications for New Yorkers using weight-loss drugs
As GLP-1 weight-loss drugs become increasingly common, new Gallup research suggests the medication itself may be only part of the equation — a finding with particular relevance in New York, where roughly two-thirds of adults ... more
New York awards $20 million for youth programs in 10 cities
New York is directing $20 million to community organizations serving young people in 10 cities, including Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Utica, through a violence-prevention program that lets local committees decide how money is distributed. Each ... more
URMC researchers uncover lung immune cells that could point to better flu vaccines
University of Rochester Medical Center researchers have identified a previously overlooked group of immune cells in the lungs that may help explain how the body builds lasting protection against influenza — and could eventually lead ... more
Steuben County measles cases rise to six as health officials investigate two more infections
Steuben County’s measles case count has risen to six after health officials confirmed two more infections among unvaccinated residents, extending an outbreak investigation that has grown steadily over the past several days. Steuben County Public ... more
CONNECTIONS: Discussing New York’s Medical Aid in Dying (podcast)
On a recent episode of WXXI's Connections with Evan Dawson, guests discussed New York’s new Medical Aid in Dying Act and the complex personal, medical and ethical questions surrounding end-of-life decisions. The law, which took ... more
