Healthcare

in committee · New York · Senate Feb 11, 2025

S 2676: Relates to step therapy protocol

This bill (S 2676) sets new rules for health insurance step therapy protocols, which require patients to try lower-cost medications first before covering more expensive options. It directly affects health insurance plans and patients needing specialty medications by limiting step therapy to no more than two drugs in the same category, capping the required trial period at 30 days (or evidence-based guidelines), and requiring insurers to accept doctors' written documentation of treatment failure as proof. The bill also prevents insurers from reapplying step therapy for patients who completed it under prior coverage or for drugs previously approved by the plan. These changes take effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareLimits step therapy to 2 drugs & 30 days, requires insurer acceptance of physician documentation, improving patient access to specialty meds.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 11, 2025

S 788: Relates to guardians and health care agents

Includes guardians of the principal as a person who may commence certain special proceedings; provides that if a hospital can with reasonable efforts ascertain the identity of the parents or guardian of an emancipated minor patient and obtain such parent's or guardian's contact information, the hospital shall notify such persons, and document such notification in the patient's medical record, prior to withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hospital notification of guardians for minors' life-sustaining treatment decisions, protecting patient rights in healthcare procedures.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 10, 2025

S 2669: Establishes an Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program

Removes the director of the office of the aging from deciding resources and information concerning Alzheimer's disease and any other dementia related matters; leaves such decisions to the commissioner of health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes Alzheimer's outreach/education program, a public health initiative directly supporting dementia care by shifting decision authority to health commissioner for improved service coordination.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 10, 2025

S 761: Relates to Down syndrome diagnosis awareness

Relates to including information about Down Syndrome in the health care and wellness education and outreach program; amends the effectiveness thereof.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds Down Syndrome awareness to healthcare education programs, enhancing patient information access within wellness initiatives.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 10, 2025

S 786: Relates to education and outreach for drug-induced movement disorders by the department of health

Provides for education and outreach for drug-induced movement disorders by the department of health through the health care and wellness education and outreach program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides education/outreach for drug-induced movement disorders via health department's wellness program, advancing patient access to specialized care services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 10, 2025

S 762: Relates to quality improvement and increased consumer transparency in assisted living residences

Requires reporting and posting by assisted living facilities relating to quality measures and information concerning rates, rent, and service fees; requires a scoring system of the assisted living quality reporting.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires quality reporting and transparency in assisted living facilities, enhancing consumer access to care quality data and improving service standards within healthcare services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 5, 2025

S 800: Relates to recommendations of the traumatic brain injury services coordinating council

This bill amends New York's public health law to establish requirements for the Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council. The council must develop annual recommendations addressing service availability, costs, regional disparities, emerging trends, Medicaid waiver differences, and administrative efficiency for individuals with traumatic brain injury. These recommendations must be posted annually on the state health department's website. The bill directly affects individuals with traumatic brain injury and service providers by mandating structured, transparent policy input on service delivery improvements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes council to develop annual recommendations improving service coordination, availability, and access for traumatic brain injury patients under public health law.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 5, 2025

S 790: Relates to veteran maternity care; and relates to the effectiveness of a chapter relating thereto

This bill establishes a maternity care coordinator role to improve coordination of healthcare for pregnant and postpartum veterans. The coordinator will work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, state health agencies, hospitals, and providers to connect veterans with maternity care services, share information about mental and physical health conditions affecting pregnancy, and promote the Veterans Community Care Program. It amends existing law to require this coordination, including disseminating resources to healthcare providers about veteran-specific care needs and referral systems for veterans with service-connected disabilities. The bill directly affects veterans receiving maternity care and the healthcare providers who serve them.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes maternity care coordinator to improve VA veteran access to services, coordinate care with providers, and promote community care program - directly advancing healthcare access for vulnerable population.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes maternity care coordinator to improve VA healthcare coordination for veterans, promoting access to services and mental/physical health support.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 5, 2025

S 772: Relates to the effectiveness of certain provisions relating to the application for the Medicare savings program

S 772 extends the deadline for certain rules related to applying for the Medicare savings program, changing the effective date from immediate to April 1, 2026. It amends a 2024 law to delay when specific application provisions take effect. This change directly affects individuals applying for Medicare savings benefits who must meet these requirements. The bill provides additional time for applicants to comply with the program's rules before the new deadline.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends Medicare savings program application deadline, providing additional time for compliance and improving access to healthcare benefits for applicants.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 5, 2025

S 785: Adds medical and health insurance information within the definitions of personal identifying information; repealer

This bill expands the legal definition of "personal identifying information" to explicitly include medical information and health insurance details. It directly affects individuals whose medical history, treatment records, or health insurance policy numbers could be misused, as these now count as sensitive data under identity theft laws. Key provisions add specific definitions: "medical information" covers health history and treatment, while "health insurance information" includes policy numbers and claims history. The bill modifies existing penal, business, and technology laws to incorporate these changes, removing prior related provisions through repeal. This update strengthens protections by making unauthorized use of health data prosecutable under current identity theft statutes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands definition of sensitive data to include medical/insurance info, strengthening patient data protection under identity theft laws.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands PII definition to include medical/health insurance data, strengthening privacy protections under identity theft laws as per bill's explicit intent.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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