New York, NY, Tuesday, October 8, 2024 – The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (“WBASNY”) commends Governor Kathy Hochul for signing laws mandating insurance coverage for: (a) breast cancer screening and diagnostic imaging based on nationally recognized clinical guidelines; (b) prenatal vitamins when prescribed by a health care practitioner; and (c) human donor milk in outpatient settings. Additionally, Governor Hochul signed a law requiring health insurance plans to permit pregnant women to enroll in health insurance policies at any time without penalty.

We are proud that New York continues to ensure women have access to crucial healthcare coverage. Specific to breast cancer screenings, early detection is critical in successful diagnosis and treatment. Requiring insurance coverage for crucial screening tests places New York among the leaders in access to healthcare for women across the nation by allowing New York women to prioritize their health regardless of economic status.

Additionally, WBASNY applauds Governor Hochul for taking significant action to combat domestic violence, including allocating $35 million for public safety responses to domestic violence. The funds will be used to direct agencies to work with grantees to ensure coordinated and informed responses and interventions and to direct programming to be made available to provide tools and resources to prevent domestic violence. New York continues to lead the nation in protecting victims of domestic violence, the majority of whom are women.

WBASNY’s mission is to advance the status of women in society. Accordingly, WBASNY continues to support legislation that protects women in all aspects of life. Every woman has the right to quality healthcare and to be safe in their home. We urge Governor Hochul and all our elected leaders to continue demonstrating commitment to bettering the lives of all women across New York.

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The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) is the professional membership organization of choice for nearly 4,000 attorneys throughout New York State and the largest statewide women’s bar association in the country. For more than four decades, WBASNY has been a singularly important resource for women lawyers, providing professional networking, continuing legal education programming, leadership training, and advocacy for the rights of women, children, and families. Through involvement with WBASNY’s 20 regional chapters and its 40-plus substantive law committees, WBASNY’s members collaborate with one another on a variety of issues and perform public and community service, in furtherance of its mission to promote the advancement of the status of women in society and women in the legal profession; to promote the fair and equal administration of justice; and to act as a unified voice for its members with respect to issues of statewide, national and international significance to women generally and women attorneys in particular. WBASNY holds United Nations NGO status with the U.N.’s Department of Public Information, and Special Consultative status in association with the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). WBASNY is also a founding member of the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations.