Healthcare

in committee · New York · Senate Jun 10, 2025

S 3654: Requires health insurers to provide coverage for speech therapy for stuttering

This bill requires health insurance plans in New York to cover speech therapy for stuttering when recommended by a physician. It applies to all medical, major medical, and comprehensive insurance policies, mandating full coverage for both habilitative (learning new skills) and rehabilitative (regaining skills) speech therapy provided by licensed professionals. Insurers cannot limit coverage by visit count or duration for this service. The bill excludes coverage if therapy is already provided through school-based plans (like IEPs), but allows supplemental coverage outside schools with a physician referral.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for speech therapy, expanding access to necessary healthcare services for stuttering patients.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 9, 2025

S 8011: Amends chapter 668 of the laws of 1977, amending the volunteer firefighters' benefit law relating to disability due to disease or malfunction of the heart or coronary arteries, in relation to the effectiveness

This bill extends the expiration date for disability benefits under New York's volunteer firefighters' benefit law for heart-related conditions. It specifically updates the effective period of provisions covering firefighters disabled by heart disease or coronary artery issues, moving the end date from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2030. The change directly affects volunteer firefighters who qualify for these disability benefits due to qualifying heart conditions. The bill does not alter eligibility criteria or benefit amounts - it only prolongs the current law's validity.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends disability benefits for volunteer firefighters with heart conditions, maintaining healthcare support for qualifying medical conditions without reducing coverage.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends disability benefits for volunteer firefighters with heart conditions, ensuring continued financial support for service-related health issues under workers' compensation framework.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 9, 2025

S 8179: Extends current exemptions of income and resources for public assistance programs

This bill extends existing income and resource exemptions for public assistance programs under the 1997 welfare reform law. It changes the expiration date of these exemptions from August 22, 2025, to August 22, 2027. The extension ensures that individuals and families receiving benefits like SNAP or Medicaid will continue to qualify without losing eligibility due to income changes during this period. The bill also includes a retroactive provision to cover the period starting August 22, 2025, if enacted after that date. This change directly affects low-income households enrolled in state public assistance programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends income/resource exemptions for SNAP/Medicaid eligibility, preserving public assistance funding continuity without interruption or cost increases.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends Medicaid eligibility exemptions, preventing loss of healthcare coverage for low-income individuals by maintaining income/resource thresholds.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 9, 2025

S 7451: Prevents a judge from prohibiting a parent from undergoing a gender reassignment when making a determination in a child custody case

This bill (S 7451) prohibits judges from banning parents from undergoing gender-affirming care during child custody decisions. It directly affects parents involved in custody cases by requiring courts to disregard a parent's sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression when determining a child's best interests. The law adds a specific provision to domestic relations law stating courts "shall not prohibit a party from undergoing gender reassignment" and must not consider gender identity factors. If passed, it would prevent courts from restricting a parent's access to medical care related to their gender identity as part of custody rulings. The bill is currently in the Assembly Judiciary committee after passing the Senate.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents courts from restricting gender-affirming healthcare access in custody cases, protecting patient rights for gender-affirming care as a healthcare service.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jun 9, 2025

S 138: Relates to the medical aid in dying act

S 138 establishes a "Medical Aid in Dying Act" for New York, allowing terminally ill patients (with decision-making capacity and a confirmed terminal illness expected to cause death within six months) to request and self-administer medication to end their life. Key provisions require patients to make an oral and written request, receive confirmation from two physicians (an attending physician and a consulting physician), and sign a witnessed written request with two non-related, non-beneficiary adults. The bill mandates patients be fully informed of alternatives like palliative care, outlines physician responsibilities, and includes requirements for documentation, safe medication disposal, and protections for healthcare providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes legal framework for terminally ill patients to access medical aid in dying, expanding patient autonomy and rights within healthcare, aligning with patient-centered care protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 9, 2025

S 8251: Relates extending provisions of law relating to physical therapy assistant services in public and private primary and secondary schools

This bill extends the existing law authorizing physical therapy assistants to provide services in public and private primary and secondary schools, keeping the provision active until June 30, 2030 (previously set to expire in 2025). It directly affects physical therapy assistants working in school settings, ensuring they can continue delivering these services without interruption. The key change is updating the expiration date to 2030, maintaining current access to school-based physical therapy support.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends access to school-based physical therapy services (a student support service) by preventing expiration, maintaining educational access and continuity for students in K-12 settings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends school-based physical therapy services until 2030, maintaining access to healthcare for students. Directly supports healthcare access in educational settings.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 6, 2025

S 5922: Requires employers to include an opioid antagonist where first aid kits are required by federal law

This bill requires non-governmental employers who must provide first aid kits under federal law to include an opioid reversal medication (like naloxone) in those kits. It directly affects private businesses and workplaces subject to federal first aid kit requirements, such as construction sites or manufacturing facilities. The law mandates adding this medication to existing first aid supplies without creating new requirements for kit provision. It does not apply to government agencies or workplaces not federally mandated to have first aid kits. The bill focuses solely on updating existing federal first aid kit standards to include life-saving opioid reversal medication.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates naloxone in workplace first aid kits, directly enhancing emergency opioid overdose response and public health access without restrictions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 6, 2025

S 7622: Extends certain provisions authorizing certain mental health practitioners to engage in diagnosis and the development of assessment-based treatment plans

Extends certain provisions authorizing certain mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychoanalysts to engage in diagnosis and the development of assessment-based treatment plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends diagnostic and treatment authority to mental health practitioners, expanding access to mental health services per indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 4, 2025

S 6330: Defines therapeutic agriculture for the purposes of community gardens

Defines therapeutic agriculture for the purposes of community gardens as the use of agricultural activities as a means of promoting physical, mental and emotional well-being, rehabilitation and therapy for certain individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill promotes rehabilitation via therapeutic agriculture, directly aligning with criminal justice reform indicators like improved rehabilitation programs.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDefines therapeutic agriculture for mental/emotional well-being, directly supporting mental health services through community gardens.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate May 29, 2025

S 2000: Relates to mandatory health insurance coverage for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer

Requires that health insurance policies shall provide coverage for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer; provides that no patient cost sharing shall be imposed for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for lung cancer follow-up screening without cost sharing, expanding access and removing financial barriers for patients.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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