Healthcare

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4650: Relates to reimbursement by Medicaid for services required by state law

Relates to reimbursement for Medicaid for services required by state law; provides department of health must pay 100% of the non-federal share for services required by state law, not federal.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires 100% state funding for Medicaid services mandated by state law, preventing defunding and ensuring continued coverage for required health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1968: Prohibits the establishment, incorporation, construction, or increase in capacity of for-profit nursing homes

Prohibits the public health and health planning council and the commissioner of health from approving the establishment, incorporation, construction, or increase in capacity of for-profit nursing homes.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill prohibits for-profit nursing homes, restricting a sector of healthcare provision per its explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Public Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1396: Relates to criminal history records of maintenance employees in adult residential health and assisted living facilities

This bill (S 1396) requires background checks for maintenance employees at assisted living and residential health care facilities. It defines "maintenance employees" broadly to include janitors, security, groundskeepers, and similar staff (excluding volunteers), and mandates that the Department of Health access their criminal history records. Courts must notify the health department within 7 days of any criminal conviction related to job duties. The bill also allows temporary hiring during background checks, requiring facilities to conduct direct observation of these workers until results are received. The bill is pending in the Health committee (referred January 9, 2025).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires background checks for facility maintenance staff to enhance resident safety in healthcare settings, directly supporting facility safety standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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passed · New York · Assembly Jun 1, 2026

A 6650: Relates to third-party network contracts

Allows dental provider networks, certain health and hospital service corporations, and health care plans to enter into contracts with a third party to gain access to services and discounted rates of a provider under a provider network contract.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables third-party network contracts for discounted care access, expanding provider options and affordability without restrictions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 304: Requires pharmacies to stock emergency contraception

Bill A-304 requires all pharmacies to maintain emergency contraception in stock. It directly affects pharmacies and patients seeking emergency contraception, ensuring immediate access without requiring a prescription. The bill defines "emergency contraception" as FDA-approved over-the-counter drugs used to prevent pregnancy after intercourse, dispensed per professional standards. Pharmacies must keep these specific medications available, with the law taking effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates pharmacies to stock emergency contraception, improving patient access to reproductive health services without prescription requirements, directly advancing healthcare access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2661: Includes senior citizens as vulnerable populations eligible for supportive housing

This bill amends New York's public health law to explicitly include senior citizens (defined as 62+ years old) as a vulnerable population eligible for supportive housing programs. It requires that funding and housing development initiatives specifically address the needs of seniors, with grant applications and allocations prioritizing accessible housing and services for this group. The policy change ensures seniors are formally recognized in eligibility criteria for housing support, directing state funds toward their housing stability and community-based services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAmends public health law to include seniors in housing programs addressing healthcare needs, directing funding toward accessible services for vulnerable population.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly includes seniors (62+) as vulnerable population eligible for supportive housing, requiring programs to prioritize accessible housing and services for them.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Homelessness Property Development

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7230: Establishes duties for pharmacies when pharmacists employed by such pharmacy refuse to fill prescriptions on the basis of personal beliefs

Establishes duties for pharmacies when pharmacists employed by such pharmacy refuse to fill prescriptions on the basis of personal beliefs; requires a pharmacy to ensure the prescription is filled by another pharmacist; requires the pharmacy to inform individuals of items not in stock; requires such items to be ordered by another pharmacist without delay; sets forth penalty provisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents pharmacists from refusing prescriptions based on personal beliefs, ensuring patient access to medications and protecting patient rights through mandatory alternative filling by another pharmacist.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 3939: Requires every general hospital to have a community advisory board

S 3939 requires every general hospital in New York to establish a community advisory board made up of local residents. The board must help hospitals create and update mission statements, review how well they serve community health needs (especially for underserved groups), and report annually on charity care and access to services. Hospitals must publicly share these reports on their websites and the state health department’s site. The bill also ensures board members cannot be state employees and are only reimbursed for expenses, not paid a salary.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates community advisory boards to review service to underserved groups and report on charity care access, improving hospital accountability for community health needs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6630: Enacts the expanded in-home services funding act; appropriation

This bill (A 6630) creates the "Expanded In-Home Services Funding Act" to increase state funding for in-home care services for elderly residents. It allocates $42 million specifically to eliminate waitlists for essential services like meal delivery, housekeeping, personal care, and transportation, while ensuring counties have resources to meet growing demand. The bill establishes a five-year pilot program to test new service models (including tele-health and volunteer transportation networks), with a designated portion of funds prioritized for rural counties facing the highest need. Annual reports will track fund usage, waitlist reductions, and improvements in senior well-being, as required by the bill's provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $42M to fund in-home care services, expanding public spending on essential programs like meal delivery and transportation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $42M to expand in-home healthcare services for elderly, eliminating waitlists and piloting tele-health, directly increasing access and funding for essential care.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly allocates $42M to fund transportation services as part of in-home care, including transportation in the listed essential services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 41: Directs the office of mental health to develop materials relating to suicide prevention for school-aged children; authorizes school districts to include suicide prevention in health class curriculum

Directs the office of mental health to develop materials relating to suicide prevention and identifying signs of depression for school-aged children; authorizes school districts to include suicide prevention in health class curriculum.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes school districts to include suicide prevention in health curriculum, enhancing student mental health education and supporting school-based health programs within K-12 education framework.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health prevention materials and curriculum inclusion, directly supporting mental health services in schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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