This bill clarifies rules for health care plans (like insurance companies and HMOs) when ending contracts with health care professionals (doctors, nurses, etc.). It requires plans to provide written reasons for termination and allow a 30-day review by a panel of three licensed peers before finalizing termination, except in cases of fraud or imminent patient harm. The bill also prohibits termination for protected actions, such as advocating for patients, filing complaints, or requesting a review. These changes apply to all health care professionals licensed in New York under current law, ensuring fairer processes for contract disputes.
Adopts the psychology interjurisdictional compact to increase public access to psychological services by allowing telepsychological practice and temporary in-person services across state lines.
This bill establishes a licensing system for two specific professions: orientation and mobility specialists (who help visually impaired people navigate safely) and vision rehabilitation therapists (who provide training for daily living skills). It defines these roles, sets education and training requirements for licenses, and creates a state board with representation from both professionals and the visually impaired community. Only licensed individuals may use these titles or provide these services, and the law explicitly states these specialists cannot prescribe optical devices. The bill directly affects visually impaired residents (including those legally blind or partially sighted) who seek these services and the professionals working in this field.
Requires medical assistance to include medical care, services or supplies to monitor blood pressure that have been validated for accuracy and are furnished without prior authorization to eligible pregnant women.
Bill S 5665 establishes a doula awareness and education program within the Department of Health. This program directs the department to inform the public and healthcare providers about doulas and their benefits throughout pregnancy, delivery, and birth. The Department of Health will produce and distribute educational materials, making them available to healthcare providers for patients. These materials and the department's website will include information on doulas' role in potentially reducing mortality rates for pregnant individuals, specifically highlighting increased risks for Black pregnant individuals. The department is also required to periodically review relevant data and report on the program's implementation every three years.
This bill lowers the age for mandatory annual mammogram coverage under large group health insurance plans from 35 to 30 years old. It directly affects women aged 30-39 enrolled in large employer-sponsored health plans. The key change modifies insurance law to require annual mammograms for this age group in large plans (previously only for ages 35-39), though coverage remains subject to physician recommendation and medical necessity determination. This policy update applies to all large group health insurance policies issued or renewed after the effective date.
Establishes maximum contaminant levels in drinking water for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); sets such levels at no higher than 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and no higher than 10 parts per trillion (ppt) for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA).
Adopts the psychology interjurisdictional compact to increase public access to psychological services by allowing telepsychological practice and temporary in-person services across state lines.
This bill requires all health insurance plans in New York to cover continuous blood glucose monitors (like Dexcom devices) and related diabetes management supplies for **all children** diagnosed with diabetes or other sugar disorders, as prescribed by a doctor. It mandates coverage for equipment including monitors, test strips, insulin pumps, and diabetes self-management education (such as dietary guidance and treatment training). The law applies to all insurance policies covering physician services or major medical care, regardless of the child's age. Coverage must include medically necessary items listed by the state health department and education provided by certified professionals, limited to specific medically necessary circumstances.
This bill creates a temporary task force within the Office of Mental Health to study how to help residents of community-based mental health housing programs age in place. The nine-member group will investigate barriers to care, propose policy changes to improve access to medical services, ensure housing compliance with disability laws, and develop training for staff. The task force must submit its findings and recommendations to the governor and legislature within twelve months, after which the bill and the group will automatically expire.
