Enacts the "Lieutenant Joseph Banish mental health act" which establishes a law enforcement peer support program to provide confidentiality for communications arising out of law enforcement peer support counseling; defines terms; provides exceptions for when a peer support communication may be disclosed.
This bill ensures that cost-sharing requirements (like copays) for specific high-deductible health plans paired with health savings accounts (HSAs) do not make enrollees ineligible for HSAs. It requires that out-of-pocket costs only apply after a person meets the plan's deductible, except for preventive care services (e.g., vaccinations, screenings), which remain fully covered regardless of deductible status. The law directly affects individuals enrolled in HSA-qualified health plans and their insurers, clarifying when cost-sharing rules apply. It amends New York's insurance law to align with federal HSA eligibility rules under Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Provides for expanded non-medical in-home services, non-institutional respite services, case management services, and ancillary services without a prescription or physician's order; repeals certain cost sharing requirements for such services.
S 123 bans the sale of infant walkers by all sellers (manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and secondhand dealers) in New York State. It also restricts the use of infant walkers in child care facilities, requiring medical necessity approval from a professional for any exception. Child care facilities must receive plain-language notice about the ban and follow rules set by the Office of Children and Family Services. The law allows the attorney general to enforce the ban through injunctions and impose civil penalties for violations.
This bill modernizes podiatry practice by expanding podiatrists' scope to include specific ankle surgical procedures. It allows podiatrists with "standard" or "advanced" ankle surgery privileges to perform defined treatments like ankle fracture fixation, fusion, and arthroscopy, while clarifying anatomical boundaries (e.g., procedures limited to the ankle joint and below the tibial tuberosity). The bill creates a new "limited permit" for podiatrists to train under supervision for advanced surgery qualifications. It directly affects licensed podiatrists seeking expanded surgical authority and patients requiring ankle care, without altering broader medical practice rules. The changes require department-issued privileges and specify exact surgical capabilities within defined anatomical limits.
Requires general hospitals to provide language assistance services; requires general hospitals to develop a language assistance program to ensure meaningful access to the general hospital's services and reasonable accommodation for all patients who require language assistance.
This bill amends New York's public health law to explicitly include digital health care platforms (e.g., app-based services connecting workers with facilities) in the legal definition of "temporary health care services agency." It directly affects digital health staffing platforms and health care facilities that use them, requiring these platforms to verify workers' licenses and training before assignments. Key provisions mandate submitting contracts with health facilities to the state within five business days and documenting staff qualifications. The law ensures digital platforms face the same regulatory standards as traditional staffing agencies.
This bill (S 4926) gives injured workers in New York State the right to choose their own pharmacy for prescribed medications under specific circumstances, directly affecting workers receiving workers' compensation. It allows them to bypass the employer/carrier's contracted pharmacy if payment is denied within 72 hours or if reauthorization fails for reasons like missing medical reports, disputes over treatment guidelines, or case settlement delays. Pharmacies dispensing medication under this provision must follow the state’s pharmacy fee schedule, medical treatment guidelines, and formulary, and assume liability for costs if the medication isn’t later approved. The bill was passed by the state legislature in June 2025 but was vetoed by the Governor on December 5, 2025.
This bill allows criminal cases in counties outside cities with over one million residents to be transferred to specialized mental health courts in neighboring counties. It requires the defendant's motion, consent from both district attorneys, and excludes family violence cases where the accused and victim are family members. The transfer cannot take effect for five days unless the receiving court agrees to accept the case earlier. This creates a formal process for connecting defendants with treatment-focused courts in adjacent jurisdictions.
This bill authorizes New York City to transfer ownership of a specific parcel of city-owned land at 727 Greene Avenue in Brooklyn (Block 1614, Lots 1, 79, and 80) to the Bedford-Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps (BSVAC) at no cost. The transfer enables BSVAC to build a permanent facility to support its emergency medical services, community health programs, and EMS training for the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. The land must be used exclusively for ambulance services, emergency response, community health initiatives, and related programs, with ownership reverting to the city if these purposes are not maintained. The bill recognizes BSVAC’s longstanding service to the community and became law after being signed by the governor on December 5, 2025.
