SLEEP APNEA: The City Council passed legislation on Wednesday to establish a pilot program offering free sleep apnea screenings. The bill, sponsored by Upper West Side Democrat Shaun Abreu, would prioritize screenings for people without insurance. The pilot would last for three years and would offer home sleep apnea tests in addition to the screenings. The program, run through the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, would be paid for through existing agency resources, said Council spokeswoman Julia Agos. The bill will next go to the mayor’s desk for consideration.
PLANT-BASED MEALS: New York City Health + Hospitals has served more than 2 million plant-based meals to patients since launching its fruit and vegetable-focused menu in 2022, the health system said Wednesday. In partnership with food provider Sodexo, H+H started offering plant-based meals such as jerk mushrooms with sweet plantains and jackfruit and lentil jambalaya to improve health outcomes for patients with chronic illnesses. The program has also helped the health system lower costs and reduce carbon emissions, H+H said.
