Healthcare

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 absent

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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 absent

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passed · New York · Senate May 28, 2026

S 1634: Provides for primary care investment

Requires health care plans and payors to have a minimum of twelve and one-half percent of their total expenditures on physical and mental health annually be for primary care services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates 12.5% annual spending on primary care, directly funding and strengthening primary healthcare services as required by the bill.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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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 No ✗ Opposes 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 absent

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passed · New York · Senate May 19, 2026

S 7007: Relates to requiring mental health first aid training for licensed cosmetologists and barbers

This bill requires licensed cosmetologists and barbers to complete an eight-hour mental health first aid training program. The training teaches participants to recognize symptoms of mental health crises (like anxiety or depression), safely de-escalate situations, and refer clients to appropriate community resources. All current licensees and new applicants must complete this certified training to maintain or obtain their licenses. The law aims to enhance community safety by equipping beauty professionals - who interact closely with the public - with skills to support individuals in mental health distress.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health first aid training for cosmetologists/barbers to recognize crises and refer to resources, directly supporting mental health service access and community safety.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates mental health first aid training for cosmetologists/barbers, directly improving workplace safety by teaching crisis recognition and de-escalation skills.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate May 19, 2026

S 2332: Relates to long term care options for medicaid recipients; repealer

Repeals managed long term care provisions for Medicaid recipients; establishes provisions for fully integrated plans for long term care including PACE and MAP plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRepeals managed long-term care for Medicaid recipients while establishing integrated PACE/MAP plans, expanding coordinated care access and improving program structure.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate May 19, 2026

S 4275: Relates to the closure of nursing homes

S 4275 establishes new requirements for nursing home operators intending to close a facility, directly affecting residents, their families, and local communities. Operators must notify the Department of Health at least 90 days in advance and submit a detailed closure plan for approval, outlining how residents will be notified, assessed, and transferred to new settings. The bill prohibits operators from closing until all residents are relocated, increasing fees, or accepting new residents without disclosure during the closure process. Local officials can hold meetings and make recommendations to the Commissioner regarding the closure plan, which must be publicly available. Non-compliance with these provisions can result in penalties.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires nursing home operators to submit relocation plans and prohibits closure until residents are transferred, protecting patient continuity of care during facility closures.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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