Health News

US Senator Charles Schumer says it's time for new medicine bottles. The senior senator says he wants safer packaging for medicine bottles used for children. He told reporters yesterday he wants the US Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to require flow restrictors on bottles of liquid children's medicine like cough syrup and pain killers...

Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown is restricting visitation at the birthing center and on the pediatric unit. This is in response to State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah's recent announcement that reported cases of influenza are increasing throughout New York and the 2013-2014 flu season is underway...

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A national coalition of anti-smoking advocates ranks New York 21st among states in funding of smoking cessation programs. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids includes New York among states it says broke promises to use all or most of the money from the historic tobacco company settlement 15 years ago to combat smoking...

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — With insurance through New York's health exchange starting next year, thousands of policyholders have to change coverage while even more uninsured are signing up for new policies. Facing a late influx of applications, the exchange has pushed back enrollment deadlines twice, most recently to midnight Tuesday for policies effective Jan...

Flu season has officially arrived in New York state. Health Commissioner Dr. Nirav Shah has declared hospitals and state-regulated healthcare providers to make sure employees have a flu shot or wear a mask when dealing with patients. Flu shots are still available...