Healthcare

passed both · New York · Assembly May 29, 2026

A 6484: Relates to copayment and coinsurance charged for physical and occupational therapy services

Provides that any copayment or coinsurance amount charged by an insurer to the insured for services rendered by a physical therapist or an occupational therapist shall not be more than twenty-five percent greater than the copayment or coinsurance amount imposed for an office visit to a licensed primary care physician or osteopath for the same or a similar diagnosed condition.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCaps copayments for PT/OT at 25% above primary care rates, reducing patient cost barriers for essential therapies and improving access to covered services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate May 28, 2026

S 5134: Establishes a uniform electronic medical records system for correctional facilities

Directs the commissioner of corrections and community supervision, in consultation with the commissioner of health and the commissioner of mental health, to develop a uniform electronic medical records system to be utilized by all correctional facilities in the state.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates uniform medical records in correctional facilities, improving healthcare access and oversight in prisons, supporting rehabilitation and inmate health within criminal justice system.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates uniform EMR system in correctional facilities, improving medical record access and coordination for inmates' healthcare, involving health/mental health officials.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate May 28, 2026

S 6225: Relates to inspections of child day care homes, programs and facilities, and opioid overdose prevention

Requires inspections of child day care homes, programs and facilities include the full premises; requires providers of a family day care home or group family day care home to disclose to the office of children and family services all persons who reside in the home where child day care is being provided; requires all providers of child day care to receive training for, provide and maintain onsite opioid antagonists for use during emergencies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires onsite opioid antagonists and training in child care facilities, directly supporting emergency overdose response under public health programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate May 28, 2026

S 6025: Authorizes licensed creative arts therapists to bill Medicaid directly for their services

This bill allows licensed creative arts therapists (as defined under New York's Education Law Article 163) to bill Medicaid directly for their services. It amends the social services law to explicitly include these therapists in the list of providers permitted to bill Medicaid directly for covered mental health services. The change affects creative arts therapists who currently provide services within their scope of practice but may have previously needed intermediaries to access Medicaid reimbursement. The bill does not alter their scope of practice or expand covered services - it only changes the billing mechanism. This would streamline payment for these therapists while maintaining existing Medicaid coverage rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables direct Medicaid billing for creative arts therapists, expanding mental health service access without intermediaries, aligning with support indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed both · New York · Senate May 20, 2026

S 8899: Relates to supervision by certain marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors

This bill amends New York's education law to clarify supervision requirements for marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors. It specifies that applicants must complete 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience (for mental health counselors) or 1,500 client contact hours (for marriage and family therapists), all under qualified supervisors. Supervisors must hold at least 3 years of licensure, have diagnostic privileges, and complete 36 hours of continuing education in supervision ethics. The bill also allows the department to accept supervised experience obtained in waiver-exempt settings or under good-faith belief of proper authorization. These changes directly affect therapists seeking licensure and those providing supervision in mental health practice.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies supervision standards for mental health counselors, ensuring qualified practitioners through defined experience hours and supervisor requirements, strengthening professional standards in mental health services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate May 19, 2026

S 9764: Prevents a judge from prohibiting a parent from undergoing a gender reassignment when making a determination in a child custody case

This bill amends New York's domestic relations law to guide judges in child custody cases. It requires courts to ignore the parents' sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression when deciding what is best for the child. Additionally, the law explicitly forbids judges from stopping a parent from undergoing gender reassignment as part of their custody determination. These changes apply immediately to ensure that custody decisions focus on the child's welfare without penalizing parents for their gender identity or medical transitions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects a parent's right to undergo gender reassignment, supporting access to necessary healthcare and mental health services without judicial restriction.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate May 19, 2026

S 3883: Relates to dispensing certain controlled substances for use by a person with a substance use disorder

Relates to dispensing certain controlled substances for use by a person with a substance use disorder during certain emergency medical treatment, or to relieve acute withdrawal symptoms.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables emergency dispensing of controlled substances for substance use disorder treatment, improving access to care for a critical healthcare need.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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died · New York · Senate May 19, 2026

S 5860: Relates to modernizing the chiropractic scope of practice; repealer

S 5860 modernizes New York's chiropractic practice laws by expanding what licensed chiropractors can legally do. The bill allows chiropractors to use diagnostic imaging (like X-rays), provide nutritional counseling, dispense approved supplements, and perform certain soft tissue treatments - previously restricted under older rules. It also authorizes chiropractic clinical assistants to support licensed practitioners under supervision. This directly affects chiropractors and their patients in New York, clarifying scope boundaries without permitting drug prescriptions or surgical procedures. The bill passed the Senate in June 2025 and is now pending in the Assembly's Higher Education committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands chiropractor services (diagnostic imaging, nutrition, supplements) improving patient access to non-traditional healthcare options within scope of practice.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate May 19, 2026

S 5382: Relates to the construction of facilities for chemical dependence services that promote the privacy of individuals

Relates to the construction of facilities for chemical dependence services that promote the privacy of individuals while bathing, sleeping, using restrooms and receiving individual counseling services, while also allowing for maximization of the use of such facility.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes privacy in chemical dependence treatment facilities, supporting patient rights and access to mental health services per healthcare topic indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate May 14, 2026

S 4969: Requires victims of firearm violence be offered and/or provided psychiatric care

Senate Bill S 4969 requires all general hospitals to establish policies and procedures for victims of firearm violence. Hospitals must develop plans for identifying, assessing, treating, and referring individuals with injuries from firearms, and provide training to their medical, clinical, and security personnel. Upon discharge, hospitals must inform victims about available psychiatric services related to firearm violence and coordinate these services if requested. The Commissioner of Health will provide a model policy for hospitals and identify psychiatric service organizations in their areas.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hospitals to provide psychiatric care referrals for firearm violence victims, expanding mental health access and aligning with healthcare service protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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