WBFO Health & Wellness Desk

New York’s top elected Democrats rallied against the Republican Congress’ proposals to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, saying they will take legal action, if necessary, to stop it.

Both Republicans and Democrats are saying the Senate health care bill will not pass, even if an actual vote is delayed longer. WBFO talked with Congressman Brian Higgins, who said it is time to look beyond the plan for something new.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says people need to "fight back" against the proposed Republican health care bill. Gillibrand calls it "disastrous."

The cuts proposed under the Republican health care bill could end up hurting thousands of local residents who rely on Medicaid to live in the community.

Thousands of older homes in the city of Buffalo are considered to be at-risk for lead paint hazards. It's a problem that health officials consider to be a crisis. But according to Dan Telvock of Investigative Post, city efforts to combat the problem are not making much progress. He outlines the issue on WBFO's Press Pass.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is being urged to sign a bill that would expand eligibility for the state's medical marijuana program to include patients undergoing treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

A new summer STEM program is giving high school students from across Western New York the opportunity to help kids in need through 3D printing and design.

Game over, record set, mission accomplished. The 11 Day Power Play wrapped up early Monday in HarborCenter, successfully achieving its lofty goals in a cause launched months ago to support cancer research.

The State of Play report released in Western New York last week identified a lack of youth participation in sports, despite a wide majority of parental appreciation of the benefits of physical activity by their kids. That report, as we previous reported, encourages a renewed interest in free play. It also encourages letting kids try a wide variety of sports, avoiding early specialization. Experts and even one former pro athlete share the opinion that intensive concentration on one sport at a young age is a mistake.

A newly-released report about youth sports participation in Western New York shows a lack of physical activity by many young people. But it also offers ideas on how to get kids more interested and involved with sports. It begins with a question for the children: "What do YOU want?"

Thursday night, the hockey puck will drop at HarborCenter as an ambitious attempt to set a new record gets underway. Two teams of volunteers will spend the next 11 days playing a continuous game of hockey. While participants in the 11 Day Power Play seek to become the longest-ever hockey game played, the larger goal is to raise one million dollars for cancer research.

Erie County lawmakers voted Thursday to approve plans for how to spend one million dollars to curb an ongoing opioid addiction crisis. More will be discussed. Meanwhile, the legislator who first introduced the idea of the million-dollar boost is frustrated by what he considers stalling by his peers.

Perceptions are often the biggest barrier to people with mental health conditions finding the help they need to live healthy and productive lives. Through the efforts of the newly-formed Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition, those barriers may fall.

There is a serious problem around the world - and it is growing. A University at Buffalo research team is taking a new approach to combat the problem with old antibiotics.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is going to allow Tonawanda Coke to burn hazardous waste. That's raising concerns among neighbors who have been dealing with the convicted polluter for years.

Faith leaders from around New York came to the Capitol to gain support in the state Senate to adopt a statewide single-payer health care system. It would be an alternative to the national Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which Republicans in Congress and President Donald Trump have been trying to dismantle.

Members of the Erie County Legislature continue to discuss a proposal to provide $1 million for efforts against an ongoing opioid addiction crisis. But at Thursday's Health and Human Services Committee meeting, it was clear that lawmakers are divided on how the money should be spent, and how soon it may be spent.

Bleeding disorders in women and young girls can affect every-day life – from missed days at work to missed time in the classroom. But, often, the disorders go undiagnosed. A new clinic in Buffalo’s Delaware District is working to change that.

Senior citizens are vulnerable to abuse, not only of their physical selves but also of their life's savings. This morning in Amherst, partners in a newly formed task force announced their mission to provide elderly individuals with assistance in cases of financial abuse and exploitation.

For many people, the term “population health” may be a new and undefined concept. What do you know about it, and does it involve you? Find out.

One day after House Republicans led passage of the American Health Care Act, advocates for the developmentally disabled in Western New York are raising concerns about a key element of the plan.

Erie County legislators are lining up in support of a proposed law intended to protect senior citizens living in assisted care homes. The Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee discussed the proposal, known as "Ruthie's Law."

Buffalo’s Lafayette Square was host, on Wednesday afternoon, to the latest stop in a campaign to educate New Yorkers on a potential new tool in the fight against drug use - a tool that is drawing mixed opinions.