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State Senator Neil Breslin (D-Albany) today announced that Whitney M. Young Community Health Center will receive a $64,098 grant from the State Department of Health in support of school-based health clinics, which provide on-site health care services free of charge to students at their local school."In order for preventive health care measures to work, we must find ways to reach our children as soon as possible, since they benefit most from early intervention," Breslin said in announcing the grant.

State Senator Neil D. Breslin (D-Albany) today applauded National Safety Month, observed each year during June. In recognition of the annual event, he asked New York parents and guardians to set aside a little time to make sure their homes are safe for little ones. "Most people regard their home as a safe haven in a stormy world, but home can be a dangerous place when it comes to accidental poisoning," Senator Breslin said.

State Senator Neil D. Breslin (D-Albany) praised legislation introduced by State Senator John Sampson (D-Brooklyn) that would improve health care in medically-underserved communities, stimulate local economies by helping start-up businesses obtain health insurance and reduce the soaring costs of health care premiums by returning regulation of HMO rates to the State Insurance Department. The Albany lawmaker noted that Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) profits nearly doubled between 2001 and 2005, from $672 million to $1.3 billion, while HMO payment reimbursements decreased.

In recognition of Children's Dental Health Month, observed each February, State Senator Neil D. Breslin (D-Albany) today said one of the best ways New York parents can educate their children about good oral health care is to familiarize themselves with the fundamentals of pediatric dentistry. "While it's important to develop good oral health habits in children, it's just as important to understand and break bad habits, such as thumb sucking or swallowing large amounts of toothpaste, which can lead to the ingestion of too much fluoride," Senator Breslin said.

At a public hearing held last week by the Senate Minority Conference, State Senator Neil D. Breslin (D-Albany) said New York must do more to promote widespread diversity on all levels of the State’s judicial system, including the Court of Appeals, the State’s highest court. "Our judiciary can only benefit from a diverse and varied viewpoint," said Senator Breslin, who convened the first of a series of public hearings on judicial reform along with Senate Democratic Leader-elect Malcolm A. Smith and State Senator John Sampson (D-Brooklyn).

          As fall begins its slow cascade of colors, we’re reminded that winter’s miseries can’t be far behind. High up on the list of the season’s maladies is influenza, which causes approximately 36,000 deaths nationwide each year.           The "flu" is a respiratory illness that spreads mainly from person to person through coughing and sneezing.

State Senator Neil D. Breslin (D- Albany) encouraged New Yorkers with questions about oral health to take advantage of a toll-free hotline manned by multi-lingual dentists on Tues. October 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. "Many people have questions about oral or dental health," said Senator Breslin. "If you ever wanted to ask a dentist about whitening your teeth, or wondered why your gums are bleeding, this is an ideal opportunity to get answers." Participating dentists from the New York State Dental Association will be on hand to take calls on a range of oral health topics.

State Senator Neil D. Breslin (D- Albany) praised a new law extending health insurance coverage to children diagnosed with autism, a neurobiological condition. Under existing law, many health insurance plans that routinely cover similar neurobiological disorders do not cover autism treatment. "Autism is a complex developmental disability that usually appears during the first three years of life, affecting a child’s ability to communicate and learn," said Senator Breslin.

           State Senator Neil Breslin (D-Albany) today announced the creation of an independent Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG), with broad new powers to hunt down and prosecute fraud and abuse in New York’s $45 billion-a-year Medical Assistance program for the frail, elderly and poor.