New York State’s 2020-2021 Enacted Budget

This year has brought unprecedented changes to our lives and the New York State Budget process was no exception. However, thanks to everyone’s joint efforts we are excited to share that the final New York State Budget maintains funding for:

• lifesaving cancer screenings for uninsured residents;
• NYS tobacco control program; and
• obesity prevention efforts.

In addition to these important funding wins, here are some additional highlights of the New York State Budget.

• Flavored e-cigarettes: New York will prohibit the sale of all flavored e-cigarettes (unless the product is approved by the FDA through its premarket review process).
• Tobacco Pharmacy win:  Pharmacies in New York will no longer be allowed to sell any tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. This will apply to all free-standing pharmacies and to any store that has a pharmacy within it.
• Eliminate Tobacco coupons: Tobacco companies have a history of trying to undermine the state’s tax.  Retailers will no longer be allowed to accept tobacco coupons and or discount the price of tobacco.
• Online sales of e-cigarettes: New restrictions will prohibit the online sale and shipment of e-cigarette products to personal residences.
• Advertisements: New York will prohibit the outdoor display of tobacco and e-cigarette advertisements and paraphernalia in storefronts or windows within 1,500 feet of a school (and within 500 feet of a school in NYC).
• Selling to minors:  Fines for selling tobacco products to underage purchasers have been increased.
• Potentially dangerous ingredients:  E-cigarette manufacturers will be required to disclose all ingredients and by-products in their e-cigarettes and heavy metals within any heating elements they manufacture. Results will be reported to the New York State Department of Health and published on their own public websites.
• A vaping prevention awareness program aimed at students will be coordinated between the State Commissioners of Health and Education.
• Medicaid Prescriber Prevails maintained:  Attempts to remove protections that help Medicaid recipients access certain medications have been rejected.  Prescriber Prevails gives doctors and patients the final say when it comes to determining if certain medications are medically necessary.