Exploring the Implications of Article 13-E of the New York State Public Health Law
The New York State Public Health Law recently underwent a significant change with the addition of Article 13-E, which pertains to medical exemptions for school immunizations. This article explores the implications of this new law on public health and the healthcare system.
What is Article 13-E?
Article 13-E of the New York State Public Health Law was signed into law on June 13, 2019. It requires physicians to complete a medical exemption form for school immunizations, which must be approved by the New York State Department of Health. This new law moves the decision-making power for medical exemptions from the school district to the state level, making the process more rigorous.
How Does Article 13-E Impact Public Health?
In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the rise of non-medical exemptions for school immunizations. Non-medical exemptions are typically based on personal or religious beliefs and have been linked to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles. Article 13-E aims to reduce the number of non-medical exemptions and protect public health by ensuring that medical exemptions are only granted when there is a genuine medical reason.
Challenges of Implementing Article 13-E
While Article 13-E is a positive step towards improving public health, implementing it has not been without challenges. Physicians have voiced concerns about the administrative burden of completing the medical exemption forms and the potential for patients to seek out unscrupulous healthcare providers who may be more willing to grant non-qualified medical exemptions.
Conclusion
Article 13-E of the New York State Public Health Law is an important measure for protecting public health and improving the healthcare system. It aims to reduce the number of non-medical exemptions for school immunizations by ensuring that medical exemptions are only granted for genuine medical reasons. Despite the implementation challenges, the law has the potential to make a significant impact on public health in New York State and beyond.
