Lance's Corner

Governor Hochul Signs Bill Expanding the Service of Health Care Professionals, Including Dentists, at Sporting Events

Jun 30, 2025

Per the notice below, Governor Hochul has signed into law two bills that expand the use of out-of-state health care professionals, including dentists, at specified New York sporting events.

Governor Hochul Signs Bill Expanding the Service of Health Care Professionals at Sporting Events

Legislation A.8481A/S.8206A Extends Authorization for Certain Health Care Professionals Licensed in Other Jurisdictions To Practice in New York in Connection With Events Sanctioned by New York Road Runners

Legislation A.3267/S.20 Allows Health Care Professionals To Perform Services at the Ironman Lake Placid 2025

Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to expand the service of health care professionals at sporting events in New York State.  Legislation A.8481A/S.8206A extends authorization for certain health care professionals licensed to practice in other jurisdictions to practice in this state in connection with an event sanctioned by the New York Road Runners.  Legislation A.3267/S.20 allows licensed health care professionals in good standing to perform necessary services at the Ironman Lake Placid 2025.

“With world-class athletes traveling and competing across the state, New York wants to ensure they have the best care,” Governor Hochul said.  “This legislation not only provides more opportunities for health care professionals, but it also allows athletes to have top-of-the-line care during their events.”

New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority President & CEO Ashley Walden said, “This legislation enhances our ability to bring in top-tier medical professionals from across the country, reinforcing New York’s commitment to hosting premier sporting events with exceptional support.  It also allows our out-of-state and international athletes to bring their medical teams to New York State, assuring the continuity of care and furthering our support of these important events in Lake Placid and beyond.”

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Governor Hochul is committed to the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers and all those visiting New York, including the athletes competing at national and international events hosted in New York communities, like the Ironman Lake Placid 2025 event.  This legislation ensures event participants from out-of-state can continue to receive medical support from their physicians and trainers.”

Legislation A.8481A/S.8206A extends authorization to certain health care professionals who are licensed to practice in other jurisdictions to practice in New York State on athletes and team personnel at an event sanctioned by the New York Road Runners.

State Senator José Serrano said, “New York Road Runners events provide a great opportunity to bring runners from all over the world to New York City.  This important legislation ensures that certain licensed healthcare professionals from other jurisdictions may practice in New York State at major events sanctioned by New York Road Runners.  I appreciate the efforts of healthcare professionals at these events that help to ensure runners make it across the finish line safely.  Many thanks to Assemblymember Chandler-Waterman for sponsoring this legislation in the Assembly, and Governor Kathy Hochul for signing this important bill into law.”

Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman said, “The state of New York hosts some of this nation’s most renowned road races, and ensuring the health and safety of every participant is paramount.  I am proud to have prime-sponsored this bill as a former runner and Track and Field Coach, it is important that athletes have medical support and healthcare professionals that they are comfortable with and are known to athletes.  This bill allows athletes to have access to qualified medical care before, during, and after races by welcoming qualified healthcare professionals from beyond our borders to serve on the front lines.  We are excited to continue the upholding of strong public health standards with life-saving measures that reflect the collaborative spirit and resilience of our community with the New York Road Runners.”

Legislation A.3267/S.20 allows individuals who are licensed to practice as a physician, physician's assistant, massage therapist, physical therapist, chiropractor, dentist, optometrist, nurse practitioner, emergency medical technician or podiatrist in any state, is in good standing, and has been appointed by World Triathlon Corporation to provide professional services to competitors at the Ironman Lake Placid 2025 events.

State Senator Dan Stec said, “Ironman Lake Placid is one of the most important athletic events that occur in our region and state.  Ensuring our athletes have access to medical care is an important way to make it a successful competition.  I’m pleased to see that my legislation allowing for that has been signed into law.”

Assemblymember Billy Jones said, “Ensuring that healthcare providers are able to complete their duties, especially at major sporting events like the Ironman in Lake Placid, is critical for the safety and well-being of New Yorkers statewide.  I am proud to have this legislation be signed into law and look forward to another successful event in the North Country.”

USDOL Issues Comprehensive Employer Guidance on Long COVID

The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has issued a comprehensive set of resources that can be accessed below for employers on dealing with Long COVID.

Supporting Employees with Long COVID: A Guide for Employers

The “Supporting Employees with Long COVID” guide from the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) and Job Accommodation Network (JAN) addresses the basics of Long COVID, including its intersection with mental health, and common workplace supports for different symptoms.  It also explores employers’ responsibilities to provide reasonable accommodations and answers frequently asked questions about Long COVID and employment, including inquiries related to telework and leave.

Download the guide

Accommodation and Compliance: Long COVID

The Long COVID Accommodation and Compliance webpage from the USDOL-funded Job Accommodation Network (JAN) helps employers and employees understand strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID.  Topics include Long COVID in the context of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), specific accommodation ideas based on limitations or work-related functions, common situations and solutions, and questions to consider when identifying effective accommodations for employees with Long COVID.  Find this and other Long COVID resources from JAN, below:

Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities: Recommendations for Employers

The research-to-practice brief “Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities” synthesizes an extensive review of documents, literature and data sources, conducted by the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) on the impact of Long COVID on employment, with a focus on demographic differences.  It also outlines recommended actions organizations can take to create a supportive and inclusive workplace culture for people with Long COVID, especially those with disabilities who belong to other historically underserved groups.

Read the brief

Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace

The policy brief “Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace” explores Long COVID’s impact on the workforce and provides examples of policy actions different states are taking to help affected people remain at work or return when ready.  It was developed by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) as part of its involvement in USDOL’s State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED) initiative.

Download the policy brief

Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID

The report “Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID” summarizes key themes and takeaways from an ePolicyWorks national online dialogue through which members of the public were invited to share their experiences and insights regarding workplace challenges posed by Long COVID.  The dialogue took place during summer 2022 and was hosted by USDOL and its agencies in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General.

Download the report

Working with Long COVID

The USDOL-published “Working with Long COVID” fact sheet shares strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID, including accommodations for common symptoms and resources for further guidance and assistance with specific situations.

Download the fact sheet

COVID-19: Long-Term Symptoms

This USDOL motion graphic informs workers with Long COVID that they may be entitled to temporary or long-term supports to help them stay on the job or return to work when ready, and shares where they can find related assistance.

Watch the motion graphic

A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure

In the podcast “A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure,” Pam Bingham, senior program manager for Intuit’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Tech team, shares her personal experience of navigating Long COVID symptoms at work.  The segment was produced by the USDOL-funded Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT) as part of its ongoing “Future of Work” podcast series.

Listen to the podcast

HHS OIG Issues Annual Report on State MFCUs

Per the notice below, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued its annual report on the performance of state Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs).

Medicaid Fraud Control Units Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report (OEI-09-24-00200) 

Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) investigate and prosecute Medicaid provider fraud and patient abuse or neglect. OIG is the Federal agency that oversees and annually approves federal funding for MFCUs through a recertification process. This new report analyzed the statistical data on annual case outcomes—such as convictions, civil settlements and judgments, and recoveries—that the 53 MFCUs submitted for Fiscal Year 2023.  New York data is as follows:

Outcomes

  • Investigations1 - 556
  • Indicted/Charged - 9
  • Convictions - 8
  • Civil Settlements/Judgments - 28
  • Recoveries2 - $73,204,518

Resources

  • MFCU Expenditures3 - $55,964,293
  • Staff on Board4 - 257

1Investigations are defined as the total number of open investigations at the end of the fiscal year.

2Recoveries are defined as the amount of money that defendants are required to pay as a result of a settlement, judgment, or prefiling settlement in criminal and civil cases and may not reflect actual collections.  Recoveries may involve cases that include participation by other Federal and State agencies.

3MFCU and Medicaid Expenditures include both State and Federal expenditures.

4Staff on Board is defined as the total number of staff employed by the Unit at the end of the fiscal year.

Read the Full Report

View the Statistical Chart

Engage with the Interactive Map

GAO Issues Report on Medicaid Managed Care Service Denials and Appeal Outcomes

The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes.  GAO found that federal oversight is limited because it doesn't require states to report on Medicaid managed care service denials or appeal outcomes and there has not been much progress on plans to analyze and make the data publicly available.  To read the GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the first link below.  To read GAO highlights of the report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the second link below.
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627.pdf  (GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627_high.pdf  (GAO highlights on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)

CMS Issues Latest Medicare Regulatory Activities Update

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its latest update on its regulatory activities in the Medicare program.  While dentistry is only minimally connected to the Medicare program, Medicare drives the majority of health care policies and insurance reimbursement policies throughout the country.  Therefore, it always pays to keep a close eye on what CMS is doing in Medicare.  To read the latest CMS update on its regulatory activities in Medicare, use the link below.
https://www.cms.gov/training-education/medicare-learning-network/newsletter/2024-03-14-mlnc