Advocates for organ donation have had a series of wins in previous legislative sessions, but the troubling statistics around organ donors in New York state means their fight is still very much ongoing. Just 48 percent of New Yorkers are signed up to donate their organs, according to Donate Life New York State, an organization working to boost the state’s organ donation rates through advocacy efforts in Albany. That's the lowest percentage of residents registered as organ donors of any state in the nation. One reason why: New York City makes up nearly half of the state's population, but about 57 percent of its residents have a state driver's license — and most U.S. citizens sign up to become organ donors when they get their license. Another reason is that the state’s organ donation sign-up system was significantly more complicated than that of other states — something that changed under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration. Through it all, about 8,000 New Yorkers are stuck on organ transplant waiting lists, and Donate Life New York State estimates that about 400 New Yorkers die every year from the shortage of donors. “I'm working for those 8,000 people every single day,” said Aisha Tator, the organization’s executive director. That’s why Tator says she and her team have adopted a “fierce sense of advocacy” as they scramble to do everything they can to boost the state’s flagging donation rate. And they’ve had some wins along the way. Two bills — one which ensures more individuals can be reimbursed for costs associated with the organ donation process and another which requires organ donation sign-ups to be included during private health insurance registration — were signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul. “We had to get creative,” Tator said. The group is still trying to promote other ways to boost donation numbers. That includes a bill that requires driver’s ed students to receive informational materials on organ donation and another which allows people to sign up for organ donation through online health record systems. Both of those bills passed the Legislature this year and now await the governor’s signature. “Those are people whose lives could and should be saved, and we need to save them,” Tator said, referencing the thousands in the state awaiting organ donations. “We just need to do a better job as a society and as a community in making sure that New Yorkers are aware that we need their help.” IN OTHER NEWS: — The state’s Department of Health issued a public health alert after it found a “dangerous mix of substances” in a drug sample it tested from the site of two non-fatal overdoses. The samples contained medetomidine, a “high-potency synthetic sedative used in veterinary medicine” that is more potent in the central nervous system than xylazine. “Medetomidine impacts the central nervous system and is extremely dangerous when combined with other substances, which is why we’re sharing this public health alert,” the state's health commissioner James McDonald said. — Mayor Eric Adams launched a suicide prevention program for at-risk youth in the Bronx and Queens on Friday. The program will be called "Caring Transitions," and is aimed for those aged 5 to 17. ON THE AGENDA: — Thursday at 3:00 p.m. NYC Health + Hospitals is holding a public board of directors meeting. MAKING ROUNDS: — Dr. Joxel Garcia has been appointed first deputy commissioner and chief program officer of the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. GOT TIPS? Send story ideas and feedback to Jason Beeferman at jbeeferman@politico.com and Maya Kaufman at mkaufman@politico.com. Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You’ll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day’s biggest stories.
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