Today, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her third State of the State address from the Assembly chamber in the Capitol during a joint session of the Assembly and Senate. During the State of the State, the Governor focused on a goal of making New York a more affordable place to live. The State of the State contained numerous policy proposals, and the Governor also made clear that the economic outlook for 2024 is far less rosy than it was in 2023.  Nonetheless, the Governor announced that she will not be proposing or supporting an increase in personal income taxes.

Today was the first day of the 2024 legislative session. Normally, this day would be marked with the Governor’s State of the State address, but a few weeks ago, Governor Hochul announced that she would hold that address next Tuesday, January 9. Both the Senate and Assembly still held their opening day receptions, and the Capitol was bustling with Legislators and visitors.

Arlington, Va. — The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is joining more than 170 healthcare groups in support of a national study to collect data that will be used to accurately determine physician practice expenses. Information collected through the Physician Practice Information (PPI) Survey will help policymakers to better understand the costs associated with modern physician practices and to support physician payment advocacy.

On Wednesday, November 29, 2023 NGS Medicare released a statement that the calendar year (CY) 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) is now available. You can view the new fees using the Fee Schedule Lookup tool located on NGSMedicare.com.

The NYSCA Legislative Committee is pleased to share a legislative update regarding the passage of a bill (S2997/A6065) that will create a level playing field for all health care providers who are assisting a patient in a lawsuit. Chapter 585 of the Laws of 2023 amend New York’s Civil Practice Law and Rules to extend provisions that allow for the submission of health care statements under the penalty of perjury instead of requiring a notarized statement from the health care provider.

Join us for the next NYSCA lunchtime CE webinar on Wednesday, 12/06/2023 at 1pm! Earn continuing education credits from the comfort of your home or office.

Tuesday, November 7 was Election Day in New York. Since it is an odd-numbered year, most races on the ballot were for local elections. There were also two proposed amendments to the New York State Constitution that appeared on the ballot as statewide voter referendums.
Voters approved both Constitutional Amendments on Tuesday.

Join us for the next NYSCA lunchtime CE webinar on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 1pm! Earn continuing education credits from the comfort of your home or office.

On October 12, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2024 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs, and the 2024 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts.

We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for ACA Engage 2024, which will take place in Washington, D.C., Jan. 24 - Jan. 27, 2024. A luxurious landmark in one of D.C.'s premier neighborhoods, the Omni Shoreham Hotel is the optimal location to host Engage 2024. Join us in the heart of our Nation’s Capitol for an unforgettable chiropractic event.

With the Pay Transparency Act now in effect as of September 17, New York employers with four or more employees are required to disclose a pay range on all job postings. In the latest LEGALcurrents from Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, Anna McCarthy and Yomaris Sanchez-Orona break down everything you need to know to ensure your business is compliant.

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Enrollee benefits have changed for certain groups in The Empire Plan effective July 1, 2023.  We have included information relative to massage therapy and acupuncture, for those NYSCA members who provide these services in their office.  Please note: The New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) Empire Plan for NY state and local government employees is not Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The New York State Chiropractic Association (NYSCA) is pleased to announce that the Association has entered into an agreement  with CGI Digital (CGI) to coordinate and produce a series of educational videos to showcase the chiropractic profession in New York.

On Aug. 1, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a revised version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification (PDF, 899.28 KB). Form I-9 is used to “verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. All U.S. employers must properly complete Form I-9 for each individual they hire for employment in the United States. This includes citizens and noncitizens. Both employees and employers (or authorized representatives of the employer) must complete the form.” (USCIS)

A news source recently reported that “another summer COVID wave may have started in the U.S.” (NPR, 2023).  As a result, NYS employers may begin seeing an uptick in the number of employees who are absent from work due to illness.  You yourself may have wondered, “What are my obligations regarding employee sick leave due to COVID-19?”

Most organizations are aware of the privacy laws designed to protect consumer data. However, many organizations may not be aware that another constituency has the same rights—employees. Without the proper protocols in place for protecting and providing access to employee data, employers could find themselves in hot water. This LEGALcurrents provides insights on what organizations should be doing to establish the right data protection model for consumer and employee data.

Arlington, Va. – The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and doctors of chiropractic nationwide will celebrate National Chiropractic Health Month (NCHM) 2023 this October with the theme “Chiropractic: Relieve, Restore, Resume.” The campaign will bring attention to the prevalence and impact of chronic pain and the importance of non-drug approaches such as chiropractic services for safe and effective pain management.