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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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 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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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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signed · New York · Assembly May 23, 2025

A 5572: Relates to organ donation registration through a patient-facing portal

Provides that organ donation registrations through an electronic health record product do not retain or store patients' donor status information and meet standards established by the commissioner; amends the effective date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient privacy by preventing storage of organ donation status in EHR portals, aligning with patient rights in healthcare access and data security.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

in committee · New York · Senate Apr 15, 2025

S 7399: Provides for emergency appropriation for the period April 1, 2025 through April 17, 2025

This bill provides emergency funding to cover state government operations from April 1-17, 2025, until the regular budget for the 2025 fiscal year is enacted. It appropriates $986.8 million for payroll and benefits for state employees (including executive branch, legislature, and judiciary), $32 million for non-personal service liabilities, and $537.1 million for employee benefits like health insurance and retirement contributions. The funds are specifically designated to pay salaries and cover operational costs incurred during the specified period, including liabilities from the previous fiscal year. This temporary measure ensures continuity of government services without altering existing budget authority.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides emergency budget funding for essential operations (payroll, benefits, liabilities) to maintain government continuity during fiscal gap, directly supporting budget stability.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $537.1M specifically for employee health insurance benefits, directly funding healthcare coverage as part of state employee benefits.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds state employee payroll and benefits including health insurance and retirement, directly supporting labor compensation and benefits for public workers.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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signed · New York · Assembly Apr 10, 2025

A 7765: Provides for emergency appropriation for the period April 1, 2025 through April 15, 2025

This bill provides emergency funding to keep state government operations running during a budget gap from April 1 to April 15, 2025. It directly affects all state employees (including executive branch staff, legislators, and judiciary personnel) by covering their payroll payments and related liabilities incurred during that period. Key provisions allocate $668 million for salaries, $32 million for non-personal service debts, and $516 million for employee benefits like health insurance and retirement contributions. The funding is temporary, designed to bridge the gap until the regular 2025-2026 budget is enacted under state law. As a procedural emergency appropriation, it focuses on maintaining essential services without altering long-term policy.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides emergency funding to cover payroll, benefits, and debts during budget gap, ensuring continued government operations without tax changes or service cuts.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $516M for employee health insurance benefits, directly funding healthcare coverage for state workers during budget gap period.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

in committee · New York · Senate Apr 10, 2025

S 7317: Provides for emergency appropriation for the period April 1, 2025 through April 15, 2025

This bill provides emergency funding to cover state government payroll and operational costs for the period April 1-15, 2025. It directly affects state employees (including executive branch staff, legislators, and judiciary personnel) by authorizing payments for salaries and pre-existing liabilities incurred before April 1. Key provisions include $668 million for personal services (payroll) and $516 million for employee benefits like health insurance, social security, and retirement contributions. The funding is temporary, intended to bridge the gap until the full fiscal year budget is enacted, and applies specifically to the state's 2025 fiscal year beginning April 1. It does not create new policy but ensures continuity of essential government operations during a budget transition period.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides emergency funding for payroll and benefits, ensuring essential government operations and fiscal stability during a critical period.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $516M for employee benefits including health insurance, directly funding coverage for state employees' healthcare needs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill allocates $668M for payroll and $516M for employee benefits (health, retirement) to cover state worker salaries and pre-existing liabilities, directly supporting labor compensation and benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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