FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Groups pushing Hochul to expand New York’s wrongful death statute are accusing the governor of relying on poor data as she weighs whether or not to veto the measure for the third year in a row. In 2022 and 2023, both houses of the Legislature sent the Grieving Families Act — a measure that would expand eligibility to sue for damages in the event of a loved one’s wrongful death — to the governor’s desk for her signature. But Hochul vetoed the legislation each time, often citing the actuary firm Milliman, whose reports on similar measures are now being called into question by advocates for the bill. In a letter to Attorney General Letitia James, Justice for Grieving Families, a group advocating for the bill, alleges the firm misled lawmakers by saying medical malpractice filings would increase upon the passage of Laverne’s Law — a 2017 law similar to the Grieving Families Act which expanded the ability to sue for medical malpractice upon a missed cancer diagnoses. In fact, medical malpractice filings have dropped since then, decreasing 12 percent in New York City and 10 percent outside the city. The group also says Milliman predicted insurance premiums would rise by double digits when they’ve actually gone up less than 1 percent annually since 2017. But Milliman, which declined to speak on the record with Playbook, argued the group’s claims are bogus. The firm said the report cited by the Justice For Grieving Families coalition was based on an earlier version of Laverne’s Law which gave more people the ability to file claims. It also argued a whole host of factors contribute to insurance premiums and filing rates, not just a single law. “Flawed predictions can mislead legislators and stakeholders, potentially influencing decisions in ways that disadvantage grieving families,” reads the Justice For Grieving Families letter, obtained exclusively by Playbook. Milliman continues to prepare actuary reports on the Grieving Families Act. Meanwhile, Hochul has until the end of the year to decide if she’ll veto the bill or not. “We are reviewing the legislation,” her spokesperson Sam Spokony said. — Jason Beeferman AID IN DYING: A vote in the United Kingdom to advance assisted dying legislation could have reverberations in New York, POLITICO Pro reports. The House of Commons last month approved a bill that would allow for assisted dying in England and Wales. Under that bill, patients must be diagnosed with having six months or less to live according to two independent doctors. And the decision to die must be free of coercion. The vote to advance the bill across the Atlantic has generated buzz for the New York proposal, which has stalled for nearly a decade in Albany. In New York, advocates have pressed for legislation that would allow doctors to prescribe life-ending medication to terminally ill patients. “The UK Parliament has taken a significant step in addressing critical end-of-life issues that impact everyone,” said Corinne Carey, the campaign director of the advocacy group Compassion & Choices. “We commend their government for engaging in vigorous and thoughtful debate, culminating in this landmark vote.” Carey added that the advancement of the bill in the House of Commons could spur New York lawmakers to act. “I know lawmakers are talking about this now and that’s a good thing for our campaign,” she said. The Democratic-led Legislature is yet to hold a full floor vote on the bill, however. Opponents have contended that allowing patients to end their lives could be abused, especially if a person has a disability. “Seems like lawmakers know plenty about this issue, and they’ve decided for 10 straight years to reject state-sanctioned suicide and instead focus on suicide prevention, improving mental health supports and other critical issues New Yorkers really want addressed,” said Bob Bellafiore, a spokesperson for the New York State Catholic Conference. — Nick Reisman BUDGET ASKS: A coalition of more than 250 anti-poverty organizations and left-leaning groups is urging Hochul to expand food assistance benefits when she unveils her budget next month. The groups — including Feeding New York State and the Labor-Religion Coalition of NYS — in a recent letter to Hochul called for an increase in the monthly allotment to families under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. “With poverty and food insecurity on the rise, our state must step up to ensure all New Yorkers have consistent access to healthy, locally grown, and culturally appropriate foods in their communities,” the groups wrote. Support from the program increased during the Covid era for qualifying families to about $100 a month. But when emergency allotments ended, the benefit dropped to about $23. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — Hochul is kick-starting negotiations over climate superfund legislation. (POLITICO Pro) — A task force weighing recommendations about mental health and policing will meet next week. (Spectrum News) — New York preschool kids are not receiving special education services. (Times Union)
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