Healthcare

passed · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 8082: Relates to authorizing the release of certain records of deceased residents of mental health facilities to family members upon written request

This bill (S 8082) requires New York's mental health commissioner to create regulations allowing family members to access specific records of deceased residents at mental health facilities upon written request. The records include basic details (name, dates of admission/discharge/birth/death, cause of death), treatment history, employment, and residential history. It prohibits releasing records if the deceased had previously and formally objected in writing, and allows a qualified person (as defined in existing law) to object on behalf of someone who lacked decision-making capacity. The bill also permits physicians to request records for family members with a demonstrated medical need related to their own health care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows family access to deceased mental health patient records, supporting transparency and patient rights in mental healthcare services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1003: Relates to a school-based mental health loan repayment program

Establishes a school-based mental health loan repayment program to aid youth mental health practitioners; provides for awards up to thirty thousand dollars to eligible applicants who agree to four years of service in underserved schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes loan repayment program for mental health practitioners in underserved schools, directly supporting student mental health services and educational access through targeted funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds loan repayment for mental health practitioners in underserved schools, directly expanding access to youth mental health services through financial incentives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Student Health Mental Health

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passed both · New York · Assembly Jun 1, 2026

A 9168: Relates to reporting on food security trends

This bill requires New York's Department of Public Health to annually report on food security trends at the county level. It directs the department to include the USDA's standard six-item food security survey in its existing health tracking system and publicly post the results online each year. The law directly affects New York residents by creating a state-level tracking system to monitor food insecurity, replacing the discontinued federal USDA report. This provides lawmakers and community organizations with updated, localized data to inform decisions about nutrition assistance programs and resource allocation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands public health data collection by requiring food security tracking in NY's health monitoring system, supporting public health program enhancement.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7357: Relates to pharmacy benefit management services and durable medical equipment

Expands pharmacy benefit management services to include the management or administration of benefits relating to durable medical equipment; defines "durable medical equipment"; relates to pharmacy or durable medical equipment provider audits by pharmacy benefit managers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands pharmacy benefit management to include durable medical equipment, potentially improving patient access to covered equipment benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · New York · Assembly Feb 3, 2025

A 427: Relates to the definition of medical debt

Relates to the definition of medical debt; clarifies that such debt must be related to health care services, products or devices provided to a person by a hospital.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies medical debt definition to require healthcare services, protecting patients from misclassified debt and aligning with patient rights safeguards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7204: Requires pediatric care providers to screen every child beginning at the age of twelve months for autism spectrum disorders

Directs the commissioner of health and commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities to jointly promulgate rules and regulations requiring pediatric health care providers to screen children beginning at the age of 12 months for autism spectrum disorders during each wellness and preventative care examination and to conduct such screening annually until such child reaches age six, and thereafter at eleven and fourteen years of age.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates autism screenings during pediatric wellness visits, advancing preventive healthcare and early intervention for developmental disorders.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5273: Provides for qualified mental health associates

Directs the office of mental health to establish programs for the training and development of persons capable of providing coaching and support to individuals under treatment plans developed by licensed mental health practitioners, including but not limited to a process of issuing, either directly or through contract, credentials for qualified mental health associates.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates training programs and credentials for mental health associates to support individuals under licensed practitioners, expanding mental health service capacity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6501: Repeals sections 1 and 1-a of part FFF of chapter 56 of the laws of 2020

Relates to directing the department of health to remove the pharmacy benefit from the managed care benefit package; provides the pharmacy benefit under the fee for service program.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill removes pharmacy benefit from managed care package (which typically controls costs) and shifts to fee-for-service, likely increasing patient costs/access barriers without explicit coverage expansion.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 153: Enacts the "total access to menstrual products (TAMP) act"

The "Total Access to Menstrual Products (TAMP) Act" requires all female-designated and gender-neutral bathrooms in New York to provide free menstrual products - including sanitary napkins, tampons, and panty liners - to users. It directly affects workplaces (factories, mines, offices), public facilities (county/city buildings, state universities), hospitals, hotels, and transportation (railroad cars), mandating these products be available at no cost. Key provisions amend labor, public health, and municipal laws to standardize this requirement across all covered facilities. The law focuses on ensuring accessibility without cost, avoiding policy speculation or advocacy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates free menstrual products in hospitals/public facilities, improving access to essential health supplies for menstruating individuals, aligning with healthcare access protections.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates free menstrual products in workplaces, advancing employee workplace standards and supporting workers' rights by ensuring access to essential hygiene products in employment settings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1937: Relates to patient counseling before issuing a prescription for a schedule II opioid

Relates to patient counseling before issuing a prescription for a schedule II opioid; requires practitioners to consult with the patient regarding the quantity of the opioid and the patient's option to fill the prescription in a lesser quantity, and to inform the patient of the risks associated with opiate addiction and document the reason for the prescription.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires opioid prescription counseling to inform patients of addiction risks and document reasons, enhancing patient safety and informed consent in healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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