Times Square Gossip

**** NEW YORK STATE NEWS **** Richard N. Gottfried Patients suffering from severe debilitating or life-threatening conditions could be treated with medical marijuana under medical supervision under a bill introduced by key legislators today. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have laws that allow medical use of marijuana. New York's bill A. 6357/ S. 4406, introduced by Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard N. Gottfried and Senator Diane J. Savino, is co-sponsored by 68 other legislators. The bill passed the Assembly by a vote of 91-52 last year. "If the patient and physician agree that the patient's severe debilitating or life-threatening condition should be treated with medical marijuana, the government should not stand in the way," said Gottfried. "It is cruel to deny treatment to patients who are suffering or to turn them into criminals." "Thousands of New Yorkers have serious medical conditions...

**** Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Reform "New York Can Do Even Better" through Single Payer Statement by Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard N. Gottfried **** Richard N. Gottfried The Affordable Care Act has made major improvements in how health care is delivered and paid for. The Supreme Court decision will protect the life and health of millions of Americans. However, the ACA still leaves insurance companies with too much control of our health and our wallets. Premiums skyrocket every year, while patients and their doctors try to figure out what is covered and then try to get reimbursed. New York can do better. Now that the federal law is settled, we can focus on building a better system here. We can get better coverage, get all of us covered, and save billions by having New York provide publicly-sponsored, single-payer health coverage, like Medicare or Child Health Plus for everyone. That's why I've introduced the ...