Healthcare

died · New York · Senate May 5, 2026

S 3364: Establishes an office of the state medical fund ombudsperson and a medical indemnity fund advisory panel

Establishes an office of the state medical indemnity fund ombudsperson and a medical indemnity fund advisory panel to advocate for, assist and represent the interests of qualified plaintiffs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes ombudsperson to advocate for medical malpractice plaintiffs, protecting patient rights within healthcare dispute resolution.85% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3285: Allows a licensed pharmacist to order and administer certain tests

This bill allows licensed pharmacists in New York to order and administer specific diagnostic tests, directly affecting pharmacists and patients seeking convenient testing. It authorizes pharmacists to perform FDA-authorized tests for conditions like COVID-19, flu, RSV, strep throat, HbA1c, hepatitis C, and HIV. The law expands pharmacists' scope of practice to include these tests under federal "waiver" requirements, without requiring additional physician oversight. The provision expires on July 1, 2028, as noted in the bill's text.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands pharmacist scope for diagnostic tests, improving patient access to convenient testing without physician oversight, directly advancing healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5719: Relates to reimbursements practices of pharmacy benefit managers

S 5719 requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in New York to reimburse pharmacies for drugs at a rate equal to or higher than the pharmacy's actual cost of purchasing the drug. If a PBM denies a claim for a specific drug, it must provide a therapeutically equivalent alternative that the pharmacy can buy at or below the PBM's reimbursement rate; if unavailable at that cost, the PBM must adjust the reimbursement to cover the pharmacy's actual acquisition cost and allow rebilling. The bill also prohibits PBMs from reimbursing pharmacies less than they pay their own affiliated pharmacies for the same services, ensuring consistent payment rates. This directly affects pharmacies and PBMs operating in New York, aiming to prevent underpayment for drug procurement.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires PBMs to reimburse pharmacies at actual cost, preventing underpayment that could restrict drug access or increase patient costs, aligning with improved patient access and fair reimbursement practices.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4247: Provides Medicaid reimbursement for interpretation services provided by hospital inpatient and outpatient departments

Provides Medicaid reimbursement for interpretation services provided by hospital inpatient, outpatient and emergency department settings and in diagnostic treatment centers; provides further that time frames for notice, approval or certification of rates of payment and to the requirement of prior notice of rates of payment are suspended, deemed without any force and effect from and after February 1, 2027 for such rates effective for the period April 1, 2027 through March 31, 2028.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides Medicaid reimbursement for interpretation services, expanding access to healthcare for non-English speakers and improving patient access to hospital services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2129: Provides for the reimbursement for certain corrective lenses

Provides that group health insurance policies offered in the large group market that is issued, amended, or renewed in this state shall provide coverage for corrective lenses used to correct the sight of individuals medically diagnosed with color vision deficiency.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for corrective lenses for medically diagnosed color vision deficiency, expanding health insurance benefits under coverage requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1123: Relates to creating autism teams in hospitals

Relates to creating autism teams in hospitals; requires the department of health to design a pilot program to develop one "autism team" who may be called upon should a patient with autism come to a hospital; provides that members of the autism team shall be knowledgeable about autism and communication difficulties many people with autism have and advise physicians and other staff on how to communicate with patients with autism.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates autism teams in hospitals to improve communication and care for autism patients, directly supporting mental health services and enhancing patient care within healthcare settings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4720: Adds services delivered to individuals with developmental disabilities to the requirement that telehealth services be reimbursed at the applicable in person rates or fees regardless of location

Adds services delivered, to individuals with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury, through a facility licensed under article twenty-eight of the public health law, to the requirement that telehealth services be reimbursed at the applicable in person rates or fees regardless of the location of the patient or the clinician.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires equal telehealth reimbursement for developmental disability services, improving access and protecting patient rights under healthcare coverage policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Telehealth

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1588: Requiring the health care and wellness education and outreach program of the department of health to provide information regarding pressure ulcers

Requires the health care and wellness education and outreach program of the department of health to provide information regarding pressure ulcers for consumers, patients, educators and health care providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires health department to provide pressure ulcer education, enhancing patient/provider awareness and prevention efforts within healthcare services.80% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7448: Requires health care providers facilitate a screening for maternal depression within the first six weeks of a person giving birth

Requires maternal health care providers facilitate a screening for maternal depression, unless refused by the birth mother, within the first six weeks of birth and that such screening be covered by insurance.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates maternal depression screening coverage, expanding mental health access and insurance support for postpartum care, directly advancing patient access to mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 12, 2025

S 5534: Prohibits Medicaid from requiring prior authorization for certain HIV medications

Prohibits Medicaid service providers from requiring prior authorization for antiretroviral prescription drugs for the treatment or prevention of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves prior authorization barriers for HIV medications, improving patient access to essential treatments under Medicaid, aligning with healthcare access and patient rights indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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