Health care reporter for Newsday. https://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mqjtfxwiwk2vPlanned new NYU Langone hospital in Melville may spur competition that improves health care throughout Long Island, experts say, although its potential effect on costs is unclear. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/nyu-langone-melville-e3u0ecx513 Jul 2026 13:48 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqjtfxwiwk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mqaupepamk2wSt. Charles Hospital and its unionized nurses reach a tentative agreement on a new 3-year contract, averting a strike set to begin on Monday. https://www.newsday.com/long-island/st-charles-hospital-nurses-strike-yk9k85th10 Jul 2026 00:17 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqaupepamk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mqarx6v7j22mState health department fines former Amityville nurse practitioner Julie DeVuono $544,000 for falsifying children's vaccine records. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/fake-covid-vaccination-cards-state-penalty-nurse-practitioner-julie-devuono-h5ualg1o09 Jul 2026 23:28 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqarx6v7j22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mq622tgmtc23More than 200,000 Long Islanders with Fidelis health insurance face a loss of in-network Northwell care if there's no agreement on reimbursement rates by next Wednesday: https://www.newsday.com/news/health/fidelis-northwell-health-long-island-gc42e99d08 Jul 2026 21:15 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq622tgmtc23https://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mpk2u5b4u22vSt. Charles Hospital nurses will go on strike July 13 unless an agreement is reached on a new contract, the union announced. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/strike-catholic-nurses-july-vv6850xo30 Jun 2026 22:36 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpk2u5b4u22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mpgmswhbak2uMore than 63,000 Long Islanders on the state's Essential Plan will lose health care coverage on Wednesday. State officials blame federal budget cuts. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/essential-plan-health-cuts-lost-wpl1wklg?utm_medium=web_share_api&utm_campaign=web_share_api&fbclid=IwY2xjawSvVnhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEezs8DMX0BaFk-Ov7ECk11kNns4XFjuKHbW3FQhi_K4AzKdmHMOVNOtDEcW3I_aem_9sprAIcvtClCUI_sDpQWDA29 Jun 2026 13:47 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpgmswhbak2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3moncrqkh4s2rA story of hope and heartbreak: 5-year-old Anna's diagnosis of the rare and deadly disease MLD led doctors to test 2-year-old brother Joey for the genetic defect -- and start treatment that may save his life. But Anna's diagnosis came too late to save her. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/mld-rare-disease-siblings-v07ht01619 Jun 2026 12:10 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3moncrqkh4s2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mo4lo4ubak23St. Charles nurses authorize a strike while negotiations between the union & hospital continue. The union says unsafe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios are the main issue; the hospital says staffing levels are safe. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/strike-st-charles-nurses-gffcj99h12 Jun 2026 20:34 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo4lo4ubak23https://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mmenqvky322qHealthfirst policyholders no longer are in-network at Catholic Health. It's the result of a growing number of disputes over reimbursement rates between insurers and health systems that is forcing patients to scramble to find new doctors. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/catholic-health-healthfirst-p9s8w5h121 May 2026 14:42 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmenqvky322qhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mlbwu7yox227Millions turn to chatbots like ChatGPT & Grok for medical information and advice. Can you believe what they tell you? Studies show that you sometimes get accurate replies -- but often you don't. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/ai-medical-advice-chatbots-noy2v9z407 May 2026 19:22 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlbwu7yox227https://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mkutpojv3s22Sickle cell patients at Long Island hospitals were far more likely to be admitted with life-threatening symptoms than other NYers, a new study finds. Most people with sickle cell can now live relatively normal lives -- if they have access to treatment. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/sickle-cell-disease-rates-opwila1p02 May 2026 14:21 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkutpojv3s22https://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mjq23zn3rs2bFor Christie Wanderer of Babylon, allegations that LI parents have used falsified records to send unvaccinated kids to school are "unfathomable." Her 5-year-old daughter Ella had a bone marrow transplant & could die from a disease like measles. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/vaccine-skepticism-cancer-filjw5u817 Apr 2026 23:07 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjq23zn3rs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mjkwkhdaes2bDespite mounting evidence that Long Island nurse Julie DeVuono was falsifying kids' vaccine records, the state let her keep practicing. She has never been criminally prosecuted for it. via Jim baumbach & me. Video w/ @kenbuffa.bsky.social https://www.newsday.com/long-island/investigations/julie-devuono-wild-child-vaccine-fraud-eu1wiqu915 Apr 2026 22:20 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjkwkhdaes2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3milubg5ais2zRising health care costs have spurred more contentious disputes between insurers and health systems that in some cases have led to patients losing access to their doctors. We look at why the two sides are increasingly "after each other’s throats." https://www.newsday.com/news/health/health-insurance-dispute-qniq6rle03 Apr 2026 13:47 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3milubg5ais2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mhyfcyhvuc2hOpioid use has plummeted over the past 15 years, and it's a key reason why fatal overdoses are dropping sharply on Long Island and nationwide. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/opioid-addiction-use-drop-rmiud3nz26 Mar 2026 19:59 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhyfcyhvuc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mgx55azi3k2nState health department fines LI neurosurgeon for falsely claiming to vaccinate his son. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/doctor-vaccine-fraud-uie7xa8213 Mar 2026 14:35 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgx55azi3k2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mgg56qepnc2eStony Brook Blood Center employee with long COVID gets $954K jury award after work-from-home denial. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/long-covid-case-discrimination-fseb3j6906 Mar 2026 20:20 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgg56qepnc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3meecfhmymc2dWhat to know about TrumpRx. Even though it may save some consumers money, experts warn that it's often cheaper using your insurance or buying generics, or using other online discount sites. via @celiayoung.bsky.social & me https://www.newsday.com/news/health/trump-rx-prices-eqcijx2x08 Feb 2026 15:58 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3meecfhmymc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3me4jforbhs2dJosue & Jose Trejo Lopez came to the US at ages 10 & 11. They have no criminal record. ICE deported the Long Island brothers to El Salvador, where they have no family. "My brother and I are alone in this country." https://www.newsday.com/long-island/immigration-central-islip-trump-ice-el-salvador-suffolk-h17zo7ni05 Feb 2026 13:42 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3me4jforbhs2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mdq3yw2ttc2nBabies born to white, non-Hispanic moms are now a minority, new study by Hofstra/Northwell med school researchers finds. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/white-babies-minority-xl7z5wi231 Jan 2026 15:10 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdq3yw2ttc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mdnvwl22d22gCOVID deaths nationwide in 2025 were 23 times lower than in 2021. Long Island saw a similar decline. Experts say our bodies’ strengthened immune systems from previous infections & vaccines, a less virulent virus & better treatments are the key reasons. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/covid-deaths-2025-d8tbaoil30 Jan 2026 18:16 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdnvwl22d22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mdkutphzj222The number of teen pregnancies has fallen sharply on Long Island and nationwide. The birth rate for LI girls 15-17 is 4 times lower than in 1997. Experts say increased use and access to effective contraceptives is the biggest reason. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/teen-birth-rates-plummet-f3l6nc7y29 Jan 2026 13:19 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdkutphzj222https://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3mbmijha47s2sHow to avoid a $1,000-plus bill for Paxlovid if you get COVID. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/covid-paxlovid-costs-flu52v5n04 Jan 2026 17:53 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbmijha47s2shttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3m6p3g7vtes2sFor the 60th straight year, a group of New Hyde Park guys -- now joined by their families -- played football on Thanksgiving: "It’s definitely tough. Last year I hurt my shoulder. This year my knee’s killing me. But I’m still playing." https://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/new-hyde-park-thanksgiving-football-game-tcttiasn28 Nov 2025 14:21 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6p3g7vtes2shttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3m6hsyy6nyc2hLong Island pediatricians on how the CDC's new statement on autism and vaccines -- posted at the request of RFK Jr. & strongly criticized by the nation's top medical groups -- could cause confusion with parents and lead to fewer kids getting vaccinated. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/cdc-autism-vaccines-rwaz6m2625 Nov 2025 17:02 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6hsyy6nyc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3m6eznhzzts2fNew Northwell lab to study potential medical benefits and potential harms of marijuana, psychedelic drugs & alcohol. It is applying to be among the nation's first to get a federal OK to dispense cannabis to study subjects & observe them while they're high. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/cannabis-psychedelics-lab-aizhbquq24 Nov 2025 14:23 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6eznhzzts2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3m5hasg4ed22uLong Island obesity doctors say the Trump administration's deal with weight-loss drug manufacturers will allow some people to finally afford the medications -- but with some monthly charges still at $449 a month, "that is still a very high price to ask." https://www.newsday.com/news/health/glp-weight-trump-kv3xhx7y12 Nov 2025 18:11 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5hasg4ed22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3m5bwu4qyhc2hLong Islanders will see increases in their health insurance premiums during open enrollment — some in the double digits. Find out what types of increases to expect — and why health care costs keep rising. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/health-insurance-increase-why-hk3rv3x810 Nov 2025 15:29 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5bwu4qyhc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3m4sy7xxzh22oSome doctors, hospitals refusing to treat Medicare & Medicaid patients via telehealth because of concerns about reimbursement. https://www.newsday.com/news/health/telehealth-appointments-canceled-mprhwc1d04 Nov 2025 16:44 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4sy7xxzh22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/davidolson11.bsky.social/post/3m4l4yj37ic2lAs open enrollment begins today, Long Islanders signing up for Obamacare may suffer sticker shock, with no agreement on extending federal subsidies in sight: “The choice people will be making is between health insurance and groceries." https://www.newsday.com/news/health/obamacare-aca-enrollment-mc7o2zdy01 Nov 2025 13:48 +0000at://did:plc:lduan2gjuit245liofdbvmlp/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4l4yj37ic2l