Healthcare

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1259: Relates to the practice of physicians licensed in another state or territory of the United States pursuant to a reciprocal agreement

Authorizes physicians licensed in another state or territory of the United States to practice time-limited follow-up care via telehealth in NYS pursuant to a reciprocal agreement; requires annual authorization.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes out-of-state physicians to provide telehealth follow-up care, expanding patient access to medical services across state lines without requiring full licensure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Telehealth

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6524: Requires the state university of New York and the city university of New York to adopt certain provisions related to student mental health

Requires the state university of New York and the city university of New York to adopt certain provisions related to student mental health such as administering student mental health surveys, establishing a mental health committee, administering mental health training to faculty and staff, and improving university policies regarding mental health.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires SUNY/CUNY to implement mental health surveys, training, and policy improvements, strengthening student support services in higher education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health surveys, committees, staff training, and policy improvements for student mental health services at public universities, directly strengthening mental health support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3130: Authorizes public access defibrillation providers to possess and carry automated external defibrillators in personal motor vehicles

This bill allows public access defibrillation providers (such as trained community volunteers or first responders) to legally carry automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in their personal vehicles. It amends health law to explicitly authorize these individuals to possess and transport AEDs while traveling in their cars. The change removes a prior legal barrier, enabling faster access to life-saving equipment during cardiac emergencies outside of formal medical settings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes legal barrier for AED access in vehicles, improving emergency response for cardiac events and enhancing public health access to life-saving equipment.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3745: Provides for insurance and medicaid coverage for standard fertility preservation services provided due to iatrogenic infertility

Provides that Medicaid and policies issued in this state that provide coverage for hospital, surgical or medical care shall provide coverage for standard fertility preservation services when a necessary cancer treatment may directly or indirectly cause iatrogenic infertility to a covered person.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid/insurance coverage for fertility preservation during cancer treatment, expanding access to essential healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1006: Establishes the Take A Look medical and dental workforce employment tour pilot program

Establishes the Take A Look medical and dental workforce employment tour pilot program which is a campaign to promote and market the health care workforce employment and career opportunities in the following economic development regions: central, north country, western, finger lakes, capital region, mohawk and southern tier.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePromotes healthcare workforce recruitment through marketing campaigns, addressing sector staffing needs to strengthen service capacity and access.85% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate May 5, 2026

S 1917: Establishes an emergency insulin program

This bill establishes a state-run emergency insulin program to provide affordable access to analog insulins (life-saving prescription medications for managing type 1 and insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes) for uninsured or underinsured individuals at risk of serious health complications. It creates an emergency insulin program trust fund (funded by state appropriations and contributions from insulin manufacturers) to cover costs, allowing pharmacies with 20+ locations and certain facilities to dispense insulin without individual prescriptions through a sliding-scale cost-sharing system capped at $100 for a 30-day supply. The program must be operational by April 1, 2026, and requires the health commissioner to report annually on program participation, insulin types distributed, costs, and public-private partnerships. The bill directly affects vulnerable diabetic patients and healthcare providers participating in the program, focusing on immediate emergency access rather than long-term coverage changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds emergency insulin program via state appropriations, increasing public health spending and creating a dedicated trust fund per bill's summary.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates state-run emergency insulin program to provide affordable access to life-saving medication for uninsured/underinsured diabetics, directly improving patient access and funding critical healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8532: Provides for the release of patient records by the office of mental health

This bill creates regulations for sharing mental health records of deceased patients in facilities operated by New York's Office of Mental Health. It allows family members, personal representatives, or healthcare providers involved in the patient's care to access records upon written request, while respecting any prior expressed wishes of the deceased. The regulations must align with federal privacy laws (HIPAA) and define "family member" for the purpose of record sharing. It directly affects families and healthcare providers seeking information about deceased patients in state mental health facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables family/healthcare providers to access deceased patients' mental health records per HIPAA, improving care continuity and respecting patient wishes.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill creates regulations for mental health records sharing aligned with HIPAA (data privacy law), ensuring privacy protections for deceased patients' records per federal standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1780: Provides for mental home health care services for the aging

Directs the commissioner of the office of mental health and the director of the state office for the aging shall establish a mental home health services program for the aging to facilitate access to mental home health services to respond to identified mental health needs, including those needs that may have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, and for the aging or families that may not have access to mental health professionals in-person; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes mental home health services program for aging population, facilitating access to mental health care including pandemic-related needs, directly expanding mental health service access under healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5704: Relates to certification by pharmacists of patients using medical cannabis

Relates to the content and procedure for certification by pharmacists of patients using medical cannabis; allows a pharmacist employed by a registered organization and responsible for supervising the dispensing of medical cannabis within a cannabis dispensing facility to recommend and certify patients upon consultation within such dispensing facility.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands pharmacists' role in certifying medical cannabis patients, improving access to healthcare service.90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7052: Relates to the rates of payment for certified home health agencies

This bill requires New York State to establish episodic payments (a payment system based on specific care episodes rather than per visit) as the standard method for reimbursing certified home health agencies starting October 1, 2025. It directly affects Medicaid managed care plans, child health insurance plans, and Essential Health Plans operating in New York by mandating they use this payment system and ensure access to home health services for enrolled members. The law requires the state commissioner to notify these plans annually about their responsibilities, emphasizing that home health services reduce avoidable hospital costs. Plans may still negotiate alternative payment rates with agencies, including value-based options tied to health outcomes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates episodic payments for home health agencies, ensuring access to services under Medicaid/insurance plans, directly improving patient access to home health care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Hospitals Medicaid

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