NYC Health News

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Elmhurst Hospital Earns Lung Cancer Excellence Honor

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has received renewed recognition from GO2 for Lung Cancer for its efforts to improve lung cancer screening and patient care in Queens. The hospital's Lung Cancer Screening Program provides low-dose CT scans, patient navigation and follow-up services to help identify cancer at earlier stages. Staff also participate in community outreach events, educating residents about screening eligibility and helping them schedule appointments. According to the hospital, nearly 1,000 patients have participated in the program since its launch. Elmhurst joins a national network of more than 350 recognized centers that share resources and practices aimed at improving lung cancer care. The designation highlights the hospital's efforts to expand access to preventive services.

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NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Leads Ebola Training

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue hosted approximately 50 health care workers from Elmhurst, Harlem and Jacobi hospitals for specialized training focused on responding to Ebola and other high-risk infectious diseases. The full-day session included hands-on exercises involving protective equipment, infection prevention procedures, hospital operations and safe medical waste handling. The training supports the three hospitals' development as Level 2 Special Pathogen Treatment Centers following federal program awards announced in January 2026. Bellevue serves as the regional Level 1 treatment center for New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The initiative aims to improve coordination among public hospitals and strengthen their ability to manage serious infectious disease threats.

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Queens' Lost Battalion Hall Reopens After $25.9M

Lost Battalion Hall Recreation Center has reopened in Rego Park, Queens, following a $25.9 million reconstruction of the historic neighborhood facility. The improvements include renovated weightlifting, spin and fitness rooms, new exercise equipment, an updated basketball court and redesigned entrances and restrooms to improve accessibility. The project also upgraded fire protection, heating, cooling and other essential building systems. Built in 1939, Lost Battalion Hall originally served veterans before becoming an NYC Parks recreation center in 1960. The facility was once used by the New York Knicks for practices and helped develop local basketball talent, including former NBA player Kenny Smith. It also houses a historic Works Progress Administration mural commemorating its veterans' heritage.

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NYU Langone Eye Drops May Reduce Corneal Transplants

NYU Langone Health researchers are presenting advances in eye disease treatment and transplantation at major ophthalmology meetings in New Orleans from October 9 through 12. A central finding comes from a randomized clinical trial examining ripasudil eye drops after a corneal procedure for Fuchs dystrophy. Among patients receiving the medication in a reported treatment group, 81% experienced complete resolution of corneal swelling, compared with 9% in the placebo group. The research suggests the approach could help some patients avoid donor corneal transplants. Additional presentations address treatments for abnormal corneal blood vessels, severe eye damage associated with vitamin A deficiency, and emerging technologies supporting research into whole-eye transplantation.

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NYU Langone Tests AI to Detect Heart Transplant Rejection

NYU Langone Health researchers are studying whether artificial intelligence can help identify heart transplant rejection while reducing the need for invasive biopsies. Researchers trained AI models using thousands of EKG readings from adult heart transplant recipients and combined the heart rhythm data with results from two blood biomarkers used to assess rejection risk. In a separate test group of 38 transplant recipients, the combined model correctly identified 94% of patients who were not experiencing rejection, according to the study. Researchers said the approach could potentially spare some patients from unnecessary heart biopsies while helping physicians identify rejection earlier. The team plans to test the model in more patients across multiple transplant centers before determining its broader clinical usefulness.

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NY Secures $400M Sandoz Generic Drug Settlement

New York has joined a $400 million settlement with Sandoz Inc. and Fougera Pharmaceuticals stemming from multistate litigation over generic drug pricing. Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 47 other attorneys general alleged that pharmaceutical companies coordinated the supply and sale of generic drugs to inflate prices and reduce competition. Sandoz will pay approximately $320.6 million plus interest over seven years, bringing the total to $400 million, with funds designated for impacted consumers across participating states and territories. New Yorkers who purchased certain generic prescription drugs between May 2009 and December 2019 may qualify for compensation. The broader litigation against other generic drug manufacturers remains ongoing.

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NYU Launches NYC Center to Study Microplastics and Health

NYU has launched a new research center bringing engineers and medical researchers together to study the health and environmental effects of plastics and develop safer materials. The NYC Center for Healthier Plastic Solutions is a joint initiative of NYU Tandon School of Engineering and NYU Grossman School of Medicine and is described by NYU as the first U.S. research center dedicated to addressing the full range of health and environmental threats posed by plastics. Researchers will develop and test hundreds of new plastic formulations, including non-petroleum materials, while using artificial intelligence to analyze results and identify promising alternatives. The initiative is supported by more than a dozen active NYU Grossman research projects and nearly $20 million in funding underway in 2026.

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900,000 NYC Medicaid Enrollees Could Risk Coverage

The New York City Health Department is expanding outreach to help Medicaid recipients prepare for new federal requirements taking effect in 2027. Of nearly 3.6 million Medicaid enrollees in the city, the department estimates that up to 900,000 could be at risk of coverage termination under the new requirements. Certain adults ages 19 to 64 will be required to document at least 80 hours per month of work, school, job training or community service, meet an income threshold, or qualify for an exemption. The requirements begin January 1 for new applicants and apply to existing Medicaid recipients beginning with March 2027 renewals. NYC Health has launched resources to help New Yorkers understand the changes and maintain coverage.

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Bronx Recreation Center Reopens After $20.7M Upgrade

St. Mary’s Recreation Center in the Bronx has reopened following a $20.7 million renovation that upgraded the historic facility and expanded accessibility. Improvements include a reconstructed façade, entrance and lobby, a new elevator, widened doorways, updated mechanical and electrical systems and repairs to the center’s indoor swimming pool. The facility also received new fitness equipment, upgraded flooring and improved lighting. The city says 33 new staff positions have been funded to support programming, operations and maintenance at the center. St. Mary’s has served the South Bronx for generations and includes the only indoor public swimming pool operated by NYC Parks in the borough.