Healthcare

signed · New York · Senate Dec 5, 2025

S 3355: Includes digital health care service platforms in the definition of temporary health care services agency

This bill amends New York's public health law to explicitly include digital health care platforms (e.g., app-based services connecting workers with facilities) in the legal definition of "temporary health care services agency." It directly affects digital health staffing platforms and health care facilities that use them, requiring these platforms to verify workers' licenses and training before assignments. Key provisions mandate submitting contracts with health facilities to the state within five business days and documenting staff qualifications. The law ensures digital platforms face the same regulatory standards as traditional staffing agencies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates license verification for digital health platforms, enhancing patient safety and regulatory compliance in healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

vetoed · New York · Senate Dec 5, 2025

S 4926: Relates to contracted network pharmacy use

This bill (S 4926) gives injured workers in New York State the right to choose their own pharmacy for prescribed medications under specific circumstances, directly affecting workers receiving workers' compensation. It allows them to bypass the employer/carrier's contracted pharmacy if payment is denied within 72 hours or if reauthorization fails for reasons like missing medical reports, disputes over treatment guidelines, or case settlement delays. Pharmacies dispensing medication under this provision must follow the state’s pharmacy fee schedule, medical treatment guidelines, and formulary, and assume liability for costs if the medication isn’t later approved. The bill was passed by the state legislature in June 2025 but was vetoed by the Governor on December 5, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareGives injured workers pharmacy choice when denied, improving access to medications under workers' comp, directly protecting patient rights and access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill grants injured workers right to choose pharmacy when denied by employer, protecting access to medications under workers' comp, advancing employment benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · New York · Assembly Dec 5, 2025

A 7563: Relates to the removal of actions to certain courts in an adjoining county

This bill allows criminal cases in counties outside cities with over one million residents to be transferred to specialized mental health courts in neighboring counties. It requires the defendant's motion, consent from both district attorneys, and excludes family violence cases where the accused and victim are family members. The transfer cannot take effect for five days unless the receiving court agrees to accept the case earlier. This creates a formal process for connecting defendants with treatment-focused courts in adjacent jurisdictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates formal process to transfer eligible criminal cases to mental health courts, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through specialized diversion.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes formal process for transferring criminal defendants to mental health courts, expanding access to mental health treatment services as part of the healthcare system.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New York · Senate Dec 5, 2025

S 7223: Relates to authorizing the city of New York to transfer and convey certain city owned property to the Bedford-Stuyvesant volunteer ambulance corps

This bill authorizes New York City to transfer ownership of a specific parcel of city-owned land at 727 Greene Avenue in Brooklyn (Block 1614, Lots 1, 79, and 80) to the Bedford-Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps (BSVAC) at no cost. The transfer enables BSVAC to build a permanent facility to support its emergency medical services, community health programs, and EMS training for the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. The land must be used exclusively for ambulance services, emergency response, community health initiatives, and related programs, with ownership reverting to the city if these purposes are not maintained. The bill recognizes BSVAC’s longstanding service to the community and became law after being signed by the governor on December 5, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes land transfer to ambulance corps for permanent facility, enabling expanded emergency medical services and community health programs in Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

vetoed · New York · Senate Dec 5, 2025

S 8265: Relates to ensuring continued access to backup devices for patients with cochlear implants

This bill requires health insurance to cover backup cochlear implant devices for patients during initial implantation and for all future replacements or upgrades (typically needed every 3-5 years). It directly affects patients with cochlear implants who currently lack access to backup devices after their initial device is installed. The law mandates that large group health insurance policies provide this coverage as long as the patient uses the implant, including for necessary upgrades, while allowing standard deductibles and copays. The bill was passed by the legislature but vetoed by the governor on December 5, 2025, so it has not become law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for backup cochlear devices, expanding patient access to necessary medical equipment previously lacking coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

vetoed · New York · Assembly Dec 5, 2025

A 1988: Enacts the "age-friendly health system enhancement act"

Establishes an age-friendly health system technical assistance center to provide assistance in relation to age-friendly health systems; relates to hospital performance data.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates technical assistance center for age-friendly health systems, improving hospital performance data and patient care for seniors, aligning with healthcare enhancement indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

vetoed · New York · Assembly Dec 5, 2025

A 5155: Relates to veterans health care

Relates to veterans' health care; creates a veteran health care review to ensure veterans and their families have access to health and mental health treatment, including for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, military sexual trauma, reproductive and mental health conditions, and suicide prevention.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates veteran health care review to ensure access to mental health, PTSD, and suicide prevention services, expanding coverage and access for veterans95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates veteran health care review to ensure access to mental health, PTSD, suicide prevention, and reproductive care, advancing healthcare access for veterans.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · New York · Assembly Dec 4, 2025

A 1195: 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 screenings with no patient cost-sharing, expanding access and protecting patient rights per bill language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New York · Assembly Nov 21, 2025

A 2398: Replaces the words addict and addicts with the words persons with substance use disorder or a variation thereof

This bill amends multiple New York State laws to replace the terms "addict" or "addicts" with "person with substance use disorder" or a similar phrase throughout legal texts. It specifically updates references in the judiciary law (affecting court proceedings), mental hygiene law (governing treatment programs), and public health law (regarding controlled substance dispensing). The change applies to all relevant legal documents, including those describing mental health hearings, treatment eligibility, and medication administration protocols. This terminology shift aims to reduce stigma by using person-centered language consistent with modern healthcare and legal standards. The bill was signed into law as Chapter 511 on November 21, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReplaces stigmatizing terms with person-centered language in court, treatment, and health laws, aligning with criminal justice reform to reduce bias and improve rehabilitation access.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReplaces stigmatizing terms with person-centered language in mental hygiene/public health laws, advancing patient dignity and aligning with mental health service standards.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New York · Senate Nov 21, 2025

S 4892: Relates to physical therapist assistants

Provides that supervision by a licensed physical therapist of a physical therapist assistant shall be continuous but shall not require the physical presence of the licensed physical therapist at the time and place where services are being performed; requires a licensed physical therapist to be available for consultation with the physical therapist assistant or the patient within a reasonable amount of time.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows flexible supervision for physical therapist assistants, improving access to physical therapy services without requiring physical presence of supervising therapists.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare