Healthcare

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 28, 2026

S 4724: Ensures identical health benefits for public retirees

Ensures that public retirees are not having their skilled nursing care benefits reduced under the state health benefit plan at the time they enroll for medicare.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents reduction in retiree health benefits, maintaining current government spending on public services.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents reduction of skilled nursing benefits for public retirees upon Medicare enrollment, protecting existing coverage and aligning with benefit protection indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicare

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7259: Relates to educational materials pertaining to sexual health to individuals enrolled in Medicaid

Requires social services districts to distribute educational materials pertaining to sexual health, including information on HIV prevention and pre-exposure prophylaxis to individuals enrolled in Medicaid.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires Medicaid sexual health education including HIV prevention and PrEP, advancing public health access and preventive care services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2315: Prohibits co-pays for certain short term opioid drug prescriptions

Prohibits insurance companies from imposing a co-pay pursuant to a follow up visit with a physician in order to receive a refill on an opioid drug prescription which was initially written for seven days or less.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill prohibits insurance co-pays for opioid prescription follow-ups, removing financial barriers to access necessary care and improving patient access to healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1943: Relates to providing copies of medical records to patients

This bill (A 1943) allows patients, parents of infants, legal guardians, or conservators to request written copies of medical records from doctors or hospitals. Providers must give the first copy for free, and additional paper copies may be charged up to $0.75 per page (or $0.20 per page for a second copy, capped at $100 total). It prohibits denying access due to inability to pay, requires electronic copies for government benefit applications without charge, and bans sharing infant venereal disease or abortion treatment records with parents/guardians. The law applies directly to healthcare providers and patients seeking their own health information.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates free initial medical record copies for patients, prohibits denial due to payment inability, and ensures electronic access for benefits - directly improving patient access to healthcare records.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8349: Relates to insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization

Bill A 8349 amends insurance law regarding coverage for in vitro fertilization (IVF). It prevents health insurers and corporations from discriminating based on an insured's personal characteristics, such as age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, or gender identity, or health conditions. A key provision specifies that insurers cannot require females aged 35 or older to transfer all embryos from a prior IVF cycle as a prerequisite for coverage of a subsequent cycle. This bill directly affects individuals seeking IVF treatment and the insurance providers covering these services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents insurance discrimination for IVF coverage and removes age-based barriers, expanding access to reproductive healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 10, 2026

S 2278: Requires general hospitals to have a registered professional nurse as a member of the governing entity responsible for developing a general hospital's strategic plan, structure, systems, policies and programs

Requires hospitals to have a registered professional nurse as a sitting and voting member of the governing entity responsible for developing a hospital's strategic plan, structure, systems, policies and programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates nurse representation in hospital governance to influence strategic policies, improving clinical decision-making and patient care quality per healthcare support indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 23, 2026

S 4964: Relates to medical malpractice excess line insurance

This bill amends New York's insurance law to change requirements for medical malpractice insurance. It removes the need for insurers to obtain a declination from insurance associations before placing coverage for hospitals, physicians, or dentists. The key provision states that if insurance is available through an association or plan, insurers no longer must get a declination for these specific medical malpractice policies. This directly affects healthcare providers (hospitals, doctors, dentists) purchasing malpractice insurance by simplifying the placement process. The change applies to all medical malpractice coverage, not just specific types, streamlining how insurers secure this essential coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves declination requirement for medical malpractice insurance, easing provider access to coverage and supporting healthcare system stability.85% confidence

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1008: Relates to improving student mental health and mental health literacy in institutions of higher education in the state, and requiring the amendment or adoption of related protocols, policies and programs

Relates to improving student mental health and mental health literacy in institutions of higher education in the state; requires the amendment or adoption of related protocols, policies and programs in SUNY, CUNY and independent institutions of higher education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires mental health program adoption in higher ed institutions, enhancing student well-being and support within educational framework95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health protocols in colleges, directly advancing mental health services under healthcare policy as per indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Apr 29, 2025

S 1806: Prohibits correctional facilities from denying entry to certain peer support advocates based on such advocates' prior history of incarceration

Prohibits correctional facilities from denying entry to peer support advocates who are certified or licensed and are participating in the provision of corrections-based substance use disorder treatment and transition services based on such advocates' prior history of incarceration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill removes barriers for formerly incarcerated peer advocates in correctional facilities, directly supporting rehabilitation programs and reducing recidivism through expanded access to substance use treatment services.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables peer support for substance use disorder treatment in correctional facilities by removing barriers based on prior incarceration, improving access to mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Senate Mar 17, 2025

S 814: 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 in organ donation registration via EHR, aligning with healthcare patient rights protection indicators.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates no retention of donor data in electronic health records, directly protecting patient privacy through data minimization.95% confidence

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