Day: April 27, 2020💾

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New York Board of Elections Cancels Democratic Presidential Primary – The New York Times

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New York Board of Elections Cancels Democratic Presidential Primary – The New York Times

Mr. Kellner said the decision was in keeping with a New York law adopted on April 3 providing that candidates should be removed from ballots if they suspend or terminate their campaigns.

“Obviously the intent of the legislature was not to have a primary election where there is no real contest,” said Mr. Kellner, a Manhattan lawyer who voted in favor of scrapping the primary.

Elections officials had said it cost more than $300,000 for a medium-sized county to hold a primary — an amount that does not include sending pre-stamped absentee ballot applications to voters — estimating that the cost savings of not holding a primary will range in the millions of dollars.

Shots – Health News : NPR

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Teletherapy Is A Lifeline For Isolated Patients In Emotional Pain : Shots – Health News : NPR

Psychiatrist Philip Muskin is quarantined at home in New York City because he's been feeling a little under the weather and doesn't want to expose anyone to whatever he has. But he continues to see his patients the only way he can: over the phone.

"I've been a psychiatrist for more than 40 years; I have never FaceTimed a patient in my entire career," says Muskin, who works at Columbia University Medical Center, treating outpatients in his clinical practice, as well as people who have been hospitalized. Normally, he says he walks patients to the door, shakes their hand or touches their arm or shoulder to reassure them. "Now I'm not doing that, and that's weird to me. So it's a whole new, very unpleasant world."

Shots – Health News : NPR

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Why Are Doctors Now Billing Patients For Some Phone Chats That Used To Be Free? : Shots – Health News : NPR

Cigna, her health insurer, said it would waive out-of-pocket costs for telehealth patients seeking coronavirus screening through video conferences. So Taylor, a sales manager, talked with her physician on an Internet video call.

The doctor's office charged her $70. She protested. But "they said, 'No, it goes toward your deductible and you've got to pay the whole $70,' " she says.

Policymakers and insurers across the United States say they are eliminating copayments, deductibles and other barriers to telemedicine for patients confined at home who need to consult a doctor for any reason.

When will Moose River Plains open this year? ⛺

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When will Moose River Plains open this year? ⛺

It depends a lot on when the Division of Operations can field staff and equipment for road repairs. Many of the DEC laborers are probably not working now. Plus it how much repairs are needed and available. That takes money and the states finances aren’t great. Maybe they’ll have to do an agreement with the towns and county for road maintenance like in 2010.

And how long the snow lasts – the frost is out of the ground now but if there is snow on top of the ground – it insulates the mud meaning that the road won’t be passable without damage to the road for at least a week or so of dry weather after the snow is gone. Most of the roads are dirt or sand, they need to be relatively dry to be passable without severe rutting. The roads not only have to be hard enough to hold cars and trucks towing campers but also bulldozers, excavators and any other heavy equipment needed for repair. If the weather pattern continues and they get more snow over the thawed ground that could definitely extend the time before opening.

It would ultimately be a decision by the regional office on when they would reopen the road but usually its the week before Memorial Day Weekend. My bet with the current forecast is a partial reopening west of Lost Ponds, north of Moose River for Memorial Day. But with the forecast and everything else going on who knows.