NYC Health News

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Kings County Performs First Sensation-Preserving Surgery

NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County has successfully performed its first sensation-preserving nipple-sparing mastectomy, expanding access to an advanced breast cancer surgery within New York City's public hospital system. The innovative procedure is designed to preserve or restore sensation while maintaining effective cancer treatment, helping improve patients' long-term quality of life. Hospital leaders say the milestone reflects Kings County's commitment to bringing advanced, patient-centered surgical care to the diverse communities it serves.

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NY AG James Sues Trump Admin Over Mental Health Cuts

New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined a coalition of 14 attorneys general in filing a new lawsuit to block the U.S. Department of Education from ending federal grants that support school-based mental health services. The coalition argues the administration is attempting to bypass a previous court ruling that prevented similar funding cuts by using a different legal approach. If the funding is eliminated, schools across New York could lose millions of dollars used to hire counselors, psychologists, and social workers, potentially reducing access to critical mental health services for thousands of students.

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Elmhurst Brings Bedside MRI to Critically Ill Patients

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has unveiled a new portable point-of-care MRI system that allows clinicians to perform advanced brain imaging at a patient's bedside, eliminating the need to transport critically ill patients to a traditional MRI suite. The $500,000 investment, funded by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, is expected to improve care for patients in intensive care, neurosurgery, trauma, and other critical settings by providing faster diagnoses, reducing patient risk, and enhancing the overall hospital experience. Hospital leaders say the technology strengthens Elmhurst's commitment to equitable, patient-centered care while positioning the hospital as a national leader in innovative neuroimaging and critical care.

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$255M River Commons to Deliver 328 Bronx Homes

A major redevelopment project is moving forward in the South Bronx that will combine affordable housing, expanded medical services and community amenities on the campus of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania. The development will create 328 affordable and supportive apartments, new health care facilities, public open space and neighborhood-serving community organizations, with completion expected in 2027.

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New Pilot Brings Home Health Aides to NYC's Homeless

For people leaving homelessness behind, the hardest part often isn't getting the keys to a new apartment — it's the weeks afterward, when Medicaid paperwork hasn't caught up and essential care can lapse. NYC Health + Hospitals' new Bridge to Care pilot, backed by the Helmsley Charitable Trust, is designed to close exactly that gap. The program has already placed 22 formerly homeless patients into Fischer Senior Apartments in the Bronx, pairing them with home health aides during the 45-to-90-day stretch before Medicaid coverage kicks in. Patient Edward Johnson, now receiving treatment for leukemia from the stability of his own apartment, describes the support as the difference between managing his recovery and facing it alone. The initiative is one piece of Project ASAP, the health system's broader push to speed up supportive housing placements citywide.

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NYC Health + Hospitals Launches 2026 Farmers Markets

NYC Health + Hospitals has announced the return of its seasonal farmers markets, bringing fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables directly to hospital campuses and community health centers throughout New York City. Operated in partnership with GrowNYC and Harvest Home, the markets are designed to improve access to healthy food while supporting local agriculture. Residents can shop using a variety of payment options, including EBT/SNAP, WIC benefits, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons. Market locations are available across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens, with most operating through November.

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Free Swim Program Promotes Youth Safety in Canarsie

Assemblymember Jaime Williams is encouraging Canarsie families to take advantage of a free swim instruction program available to local youth this summer. The program is designed to help children develop critical water safety skills before spending time at pools and beaches, while also promoting physical activity and healthy habits. Williams said ensuring that young people have access to opportunities that improve both safety and wellness remains an important priority for the community.

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Bridge to Home Program Expands Into Brooklyn

NYC Health + Hospitals is expanding its innovative Bridge to Home program to Crown Heights, Brooklyn, bringing transitional housing and intensive behavioral health services to unhoused New Yorkers living with serious mental illness. The expansion follows strong early success at the program’s Manhattan location, which has helped guests stabilize, access clinical care, and transition into permanent supportive housing. The Brooklyn site, expected to open in fall 2026, will provide up to 50 residents with 24/7 support, behavioral health treatment, housing navigation, and wraparound services designed to break the cycle between hospitals, shelters, and homelessness. Local leaders and health officials say the initiative represents a major investment in mental health care, housing stability, and long-term recovery for vulnerable New Yorkers.

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Zinerman Pushes Major $450Mil Aging Care Investment

Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman is calling for stronger protections and expanded investments for older adults across New York as part of Older Americans Month 2026. The Brooklyn legislator is backing a nearly $450 million aging investment package aimed at improving home care, transportation, housing stability, caregiver support, and other essential services that help seniors age safely within their communities. Zinerman is also advancing legislation to strengthen oversight of nursing homes and long-term care facilities through a new District Long-Term Care Ombudsperson Council Program. Drawing on decades of advocacy work in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights, Zinerman said New York must prioritize policies that support healthy aging, independence, and dignity for older residents.