Healthcare

passed · New York · Senate May 14, 2026

S 4969: Requires victims of firearm violence be offered and/or provided psychiatric care

Senate Bill S 4969 requires all general hospitals to establish policies and procedures for victims of firearm violence. Hospitals must develop plans for identifying, assessing, treating, and referring individuals with injuries from firearms, and provide training to their medical, clinical, and security personnel. Upon discharge, hospitals must inform victims about available psychiatric services related to firearm violence and coordinate these services if requested. The Commissioner of Health will provide a model policy for hospitals and identify psychiatric service organizations in their areas.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hospitals to provide psychiatric care referrals for firearm violence victims, expanding mental health access and aligning with healthcare service protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5698: Relates to the creation of the health professional nutrition education office

This bill creates a new Office of Health Professional Nutrition Education within New York's Department of Health. The office will directly assist medical schools, nursing programs, and other health professional training institutions in developing curricula focused on diet and nutrition. Key provisions include helping programs establish nutrition education standards, applying for research grants to improve nutrition training, and producing triennial reports to the legislature on progress and policy options. The office will also coordinate with a governor-appointed advisory council and provide public access to council meetings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates office to assist health professional programs in developing nutrition curricula, directly supporting higher education curriculum enhancement and research funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates office to enhance nutrition education in health professional curricula, strengthening provider training in a key healthcare area.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3116: Requires health practitioners to discuss with patients the risks associated with certain pain medications before prescribing such medications

Requires health practitioners to discuss with patients the risks associated with certain pain medications before prescribing such medications; requires that for the first opioid analgesic prescription of a calendar year the prescribing physician shall counsel the patient on the risks of overdose.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates risk discussion and overdose counseling for opioid prescriptions, enhancing patient safety and informed consent, directly protecting patient rights in healthcare delivery.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track

passed both · New York · Assembly Mar 25, 2026

A 4677: Requires insurance coverage for lactation consultant services

Requires insurance coverage for lactation support services by a certified lactation consultant who evaluate and manage lactation and infant feeding problems and provide preventative clinical consulting to prevent or minimize the occurrence of potential problems.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for lactation services, expanding health coverage for maternal care and infant feeding support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New York · Assembly Oct 22, 2025

A 8914: Relates to health insurance coverage for surviving dependents following the death of a police officer by suicide

Provides that where an active or retired police officer dies by suicide and is enrolled in a health insurance plan, the surviving dependents of such police officer shall be entitled to such health insurance coverage for ninety days following such police officer's death.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends health insurance coverage to dependents of police officers who die by suicide, expanding access to healthcare benefits for a vulnerable group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2310: Relates to requiring mental health practitioners to receive training on substance use disorder, the specific needs of the substance use disorder community and co-occurring disorders

Requires mental health practitioners to receive training on substance use disorder, the specific needs of the substance use disorder community and co-occurring disorders.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates training for mental health practitioners on substance use disorder and co-occurring disorders, directly strengthening mental health service quality and addressing specific patient needs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 358: Authorizes pharmacists to dispense HIV pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis

This bill allows pharmacists to dispense HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) under specific conditions. Pharmacists may provide up to a seven-day PEP starter pack for immediate HIV exposure risk and a 30-60 day PrEP supply for ongoing prevention, based on physician or nurse practitioner orders. Patients must be HIV-negative (verified by recent test), screened for symptoms/contraindications, and receive education on medication use, side effects, and follow-up care. Pharmacists must complete health department training and connect patients to healthcare providers for ongoing treatment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes pharmacists to dispense HIV prevention drugs (PrEP/PEP), expanding patient access to critical preventive care without requiring immediate doctor visits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

Track

passed · New York · Senate Mar 11, 2026

S 5105: Directs the commissioner of the office of addiction services and supports to promulgate rules and regulations for providers operating in rural locations

Directs the commissioner of the office of addiction services and supports to promulgate rules and regulations for providers operating in rural locations while taking into account the extra challenges encountered by such providers, including but not limited to, increased and additional expenses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects rules for rural addiction providers addressing cost challenges, improving access to healthcare services in underserved areas.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 780: Enacts the "Supervising Upcoming Professionals for Practice in Official Roles in Therapy (SUPPORT) act"

Enacts the "Supervising Upcoming Professionals for Practice in Official Roles in Therapy (SUPPORT) act"; provides that for licensure as a clinical social worker, an applicant may satisfy the experience requirements under supervision of a mental health practitioner who has been granted the privilege to diagnose and develop assessment-based treatment plans under article one hundred sixty-three of the education law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables supervised practice for mental health professionals, expanding access to therapy services and supporting mental health care delivery under licensure requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Mar 23, 2026

S 5746: Creates the district long-term care ombudsperson council program

S 5746 establishes a district-level coordination program for long-term care ombudsperson volunteers in each assembly district. It creates "district long-term care ombudsperson council programs" to organize volunteers, requiring each council to include appointed coordinators (with minimal stipends) and trained resident advocates. The bill mandates standardized training for council members on topics like cultural competency, facility regulations, and conflict resolution, and requires facilities to include council contact information in new resident welcome packets. This program directly affects volunteers, local ombudsman programs, and long-term care facilities by improving coordination and standardizing volunteer roles within the existing state ombudsman framework.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates ombudsperson councils to advocate for long-term care residents' rights and improve facility oversight, aligning with patient rights protection in healthcare services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

Track