Healthcare

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5991: Requires the office of mental health, the office of addiction services and supports and the department of education to create a behavioral health website

Requires the office of mental health, office of addiction services and supports and the department of education to create a behavioral health website which shall provide information on various behavioral health issues such as depression, eating disorders, anxiety, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires creation of behavioral health website with mental health resources, directly supporting access to mental health information and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1940: Requires enhanced federal medical assistance percentage funds be directly shared with the counties and the city of New York

Requires enhanced federal medical assistance percentage funds be directly shared with the counties and the city of New York; requires the comptroller examine and audit all funds received from the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage and the distributions made to counties and the city of New York.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects federal medical funds to counties/NYC for healthcare services, strengthening public program funding and fiscal accountability through required audits.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects federal medical assistance funds to local counties and NYC, ensuring healthcare funding reaches communities without state intermediaries, strengthening local healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6042: Establishes the aging in place task force, and provides for its powers and duties

S 6042 establishes a 14-member Aging in Place Task Force within the Office for the Aging to study state policies supporting seniors staying in their homes. The task force will examine infrastructure, zoning, nutrition programs, fraud protections, home medical care, tax incentives, and insurance options, then report findings to the governor and legislature by January 1, 2028. It includes state agency officials, legislative committee chairs, and gubernatorial appointments, with no compensation for members. The bill directs the task force to identify actionable policy changes but does not enact new laws itself.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExamines home medical care and insurance options to support seniors' healthcare access through policy studies, aligning with improving patient access and coverage.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1687: Prohibits the packaging, sale and distribution of confectionery and candy designed to resemble a tobacco product

This bill bans the manufacture, sale, and distribution of candy or confectionery products designed to look like tobacco products (such as candy cigarettes or gum cigars). It directly affects candy manufacturers, sellers, and retailers who produce or market items mimicking cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. The law prohibits using tobacco-like packaging, branding, or descriptions, and violations carry civil fines of $100-$500. The policy change explicitly prevents candy resembling tobacco from being sold under existing confectionery laws.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill reduces youth tobacco initiation by banning candy resembling tobacco products, directly supporting public health initiatives within healthcare policy.90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6526: Ensures that the offices of mental health and people with developmental disabilities provide materials to individuals in different languages

Ensures that the office of mental health and the office for people with developmental disabilities provide materials to individuals in English and the top six languages spoken in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures multilingual access to mental health materials, improving patient access and inclusivity in healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7681: Establishes mandatory minimum medicaid coverage for hospital confinement for childbirth

Requires all insurance policies and health maintenance organization contracts to provide coverage for maternity patients and their newborns for hospital stays of at least 48 hours following childbirth by natural delivery and 96 hours following childbirth by caesarean section; provides such coverage for patients who are recipients of medicaid.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates minimum Medicaid coverage for childbirth hospital stays, expanding insurance access and protecting patient rights for essential maternity care services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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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

Sub-Topics Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3127: Relates to workers' access to treatment

Allows for treatment costing less than $1,500 to be done without prior approval, and more clearly defines the list of "pre-authorized procedures" as a floor on treatment as opposed to its current status as a ceiling; allows non-network providers of testing to be compensated at the provider network rate negotiated by the carrier.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves prior approval for low-cost treatment, clarifies coverage floor vs ceiling, and ensures non-network compensation at network rates - improving patient access and coverage.85% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4254: Requires information made public by the state board of professional medical conduct and health information to be published in the 8 most spoken languages

Requires information made public by the state board of professional medical conduct and health information required to be made public by the department of health to be disseminated in both written and electronic form in the 8 languages that are most spoken in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires health information dissemination in top 8 languages, improving access for non-English speakers and aligning with patient access indicators.85% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate May 15, 2026

S 4719: Authorizes all municipalities to join a county self-funded or self-insured health plan

Authorizes all municipalities, with the consent of the county and the governing body of such municipality, to join a county self-funded or self-insured health plan; requires certification.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables municipalities to join county self-funded health plans, expanding administrative options for employee healthcare coverage without restricting access or funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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