Weekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

 

SENATOR RIVERA IN ALBANY

30 BILLS PASSED THIS WEEK'S HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING

This week, Senator Rivera held the sixth Health Committee meeting of the year, where 30 bills including 11 of his were passed:

• S.427: Added Sugar Labeling in Chain Restaurants: This bill requires chain restaurants to label menu items that are high in added sugars. It empowers New Yorkers and their families to make more informed food choices and aims to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Additionally, it raises public awareness about the health impacts of excessive sugar consumption. Click here for more information about the bill.

• S.1857: The Hospital Medical Debt Relief Act: This bill establishes a three-year pilot hospital medical debt relief program to provide hospital medical debt relief to eligible residents of the state utilizing a not-for-profit organization to identify, acquire and cancel medical debt of such eligible residents directly from health care providers in the state. Click here for more information about the bill.

Check out here for more information about all the bills.

This week, Senator Rivera joined The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) and and other pro-immigration allies in calling to pass The New York For All Act (NY4All).

"Our state and local authorities should not act as federal immigration officers. We cannot allow ourselves to become part of the Trump administration’s deportation squad that is literally kidnapping New Yorkers off the streets like they did with Merwil Gutiérrez," said Senator Rivera.

Click here for more information about the NY4All Act.

SENATOR RIVERA MEETS THE NEW YORK MIDWIVES IN ALBANY

This week, Senator Rivera was grateful to have met with The New York Midwives to discuss critical legislation that protects reproductive freedom, expands access to care, and strengthens midwifery across New York. Thank you for coming to Senator Rivera's office!

SENATOR RIVERA HOSTS HOMEOWNERSHIP 101 VIRTUAL TRAINING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NYLAG

Yesterday, Senator Rivera hosted a Homeownership 101 Virtual Training in partnership with the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG).

During the virtual training, participants learned about a variety of topics including the differences between co-ops, condos, and homes; the processes involved in buying and selling these types of properties; the government resources available to those homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure or currently in foreclosure proceedings, and so much more. Thank you to NYLAG, especially Florida and Rose, for helping organize and present the webinar!

Watch a recording of this webinar here.

Last week, Senator Rivera attended the grand opening of Capital One's new cafe at their Fordham Road branch. This new cafe will offer an enhanced banking experience for all members of our community. Senator Rivera was also thankful of the $1 million investment that Capital One has made to community organizations that support local businesses in The Bronx.

SENATOR RIVERA VISITS NEW EXHIBIT "UPTOWN RUMBLE: HEAVY MUSIC IN THE BRONX"

Last weekend, Senator Rivera visited “Uptown Rumble: Heavy Music in The Bronx." This powerful new exhibit, that the Senator was proud to support, explores the borough’s deep roots in hardcore punk, metal, and rock, at the Museum of Bronx History. The exhibit will be open to the public until November and will feature various events and programs both at the Museum and at other sites.

                

Click here for more information about the exhibition and stay tuned!

SENIORS FROM RAIN BOSTON ROAD OLDER ADULT CENTER RECEIVE FREE ORCHIDS FROM THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN

This week, seniors from the RAIN Boston Road Older Adults Center received free orchids from the annual Orchid Show hosted by the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG)! Thank you to the NYBG for working with our office and providing these wonderful orchids to seniors in my district!

UPDATE FROM HRA: FIND YOUR MEDICAID RENEWAL STATUS ONLINE OR BY PHONE

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) instructed the State Department of Health, which oversees HRA, to temporarily suspend the closure of Medicaid cases for clients who failed to respond to renewal forms sent to their address of record.

This suspension will end in April 2025, marking the conclusion of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency unwind. Going forward, only clients who receive and respond to their renewal forms and are deemed eligible will continue to receive Medicaid benefits.

Clients who do not respond to their renewal will have their cases closed, starting with those whose authorization ends in April 2025. No further extensions will be granted, and these clients will begin receiving their renewal forms by mail as early as January.

A cover letter titled “Act Now! Medicaid Renewal Rules Have Changed” (MAP3185a) will be included with all Medicaid renewal notices. This letter will inform clients that they or someone in their household must complete a Medicaid renewal to maintain eligibility for services and will outline the necessary steps to successfully renew their Medicaid coverage. 

The City has also created a dedicated Palm Card with instructions to help clients find their current Medicaid renewal status online via ACCESS HRA or by phone at 888-692- 6116.