Healthcare

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7298: Includes ambulance services to the emergency room as part of emergency services for the purposes of surprise bills

This bill amends New York's financial services law to explicitly include ambulance services to an emergency room as part of "emergency services" for surprise billing protections. It requires health insurance plans to cover non-participating ambulance providers' emergency services (including ambulance rides to the ER) without charging patients more out-of-pocket than they would with a participating provider. The law prohibits ambulance providers from billing patients for costs beyond standard copays, coinsurance, or deductibles. It also extends these protections to mobile crisis intervention services provided by licensed mental health or addiction services providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill prevents surprise billing for ambulance services to ER, ensuring patients pay no more than with in-network providers. Directly protects patient financial rights in healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7419: Relates to school based health centers

Establishes school based health centers to be organized through school, community, and health provider relationships and provide services in keeping with state and local laws and regulations, as well as established medical standards, and best practices.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes school-based health centers to provide health services, supporting student well-being and educational access. Enhances student programs by addressing health needs in schools.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes school-based health centers to provide healthcare services, directly improving student access to health services per summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 9, 2025

S 138: Relates to the medical aid in dying act

S 138 establishes a "Medical Aid in Dying Act" for New York, allowing terminally ill patients (with decision-making capacity and a confirmed terminal illness expected to cause death within six months) to request and self-administer medication to end their life. Key provisions require patients to make an oral and written request, receive confirmation from two physicians (an attending physician and a consulting physician), and sign a witnessed written request with two non-related, non-beneficiary adults. The bill mandates patients be fully informed of alternatives like palliative care, outlines physician responsibilities, and includes requirements for documentation, safe medication disposal, and protections for healthcare providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes legal framework for terminally ill patients to access medical aid in dying, expanding patient autonomy and rights within healthcare, aligning with patient-centered care protections.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4744: Relates to insurance coverage for medical marijuana

This bill clarifies that medical marijuana, when dispensed under New York's medical marijuana program, must be treated as a "prescription drug" for coverage purposes under specific state programs, including Medicaid (title eleven of social services law), workers' compensation, and elder care programs. It requires these state-run programs to cover medical marijuana but explicitly states it does not mandate coverage by private insurers or health plans. The bill also adds a certification process for dispensaries to be recognized as medical assistance providers under state law. It applies to state programs only, not private insurance, and does not create new coverage requirements beyond the specified state-run systems.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires state programs (Medicaid, workers' comp) to cover medical marijuana as prescription drug, expanding patient access to prescribed treatment under public healthcare coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Prescription Drugs

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7413: Conforms and improves the process for determining incapacity

This bill (A 7413) updates New York's process for determining a patient's incapacity to make healthcare decisions, specifically for life-sustaining treatment decisions. It requires an initial determination by a treating doctor, followed by a separate concurring determination by another qualified healthcare professional (like a nurse practitioner or specialist), to confirm the patient lacks capacity. The bill specifies different qualifications for the concurring reviewer based on whether incapacity stems from mental illness (requiring a psychiatrist) or developmental disability (requiring specialized training or experience). These determinations must be documented in the patient's medical record, and a patient's appointed healthcare agent cannot make the capacity determination. It directly affects hospitals, healthcare facilities, and medical staff involved in end-of-life care decisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires dual professional assessments for healthcare incapacity determinations, strengthening patient rights and decision safeguards in life-sustaining treatment decisions.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6862: Requires health insurers to provide coverage for long term medical care for Lyme disease and other tick borne related pathogens

This bill requires all health insurers in New York to cover long-term treatment for Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. It mandates coverage for at least 30 days of intravenous antibiotics, 60 days of oral antibiotics, or a combination, plus additional treatment as recommended by a physician. The law applies to all individual health insurance policies, group plans, and medical expense corporations. It also expands workers' compensation to include Lyme disease as a covered disability and clarifies that workplace-related tick-borne illnesses qualify for benefits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to cover long-term Lyme disease treatment, expanding patient access to essential care and protecting coverage rights for tick-borne illnesses.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' compensation to cover Lyme disease as a covered disability, directly enhancing workplace injury protections and benefits for affected workers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2397: Requires DOH to develop a payment methodology for federally qualified health centers and rural health centers that dispense ovulation enhancing drugs

Requires federally qualified health centers and rural health centers cover the cost of all ovulation enhancing drugs dispensed and other covered entities pursuant to section 340B of the federal public health service act.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates coverage of ovulation enhancing drugs at health centers, expanding access to fertility treatments under 340B program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6168: Relates to coverage for single source drugs

Provides that every insurance policy which provides coverage for prescription drugs shall insure that there is continuous coverage of a single source drug that is part of a prescribed therapy until such prescribed therapy is no longer medically necessary for the enrollee of such policy; defines "single source drug".

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates continuous insurance coverage for single source drugs in prescribed therapy, preventing coverage gaps and protecting patient access to necessary medications.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 10, 2025

S 6288: Requires general hospitals to provide language assistance services

Requires general hospitals to provide language assistance services; requires general hospitals to develop a language assistance program to ensure meaningful access to the general hospital's services and reasonable accommodation for all patients who require language assistance.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates language assistance to improve patient access to hospital services, directly advancing healthcare accessibility for non-English speakers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8191: Provides for continuity of gender affirming care

Bill A 8191 establishes a gender affirming care program within the Department of Health to ensure the continuity of these services in the state. This program aims to provide funding and resources to healthcare providers to facilitate access for individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. The bill defines gender affirming care to include a range of social, psychological, behavioral, medical, and surgical interventions. Funding for the program will be appropriated by the legislature, with a minimum amount set and annual increases tied to the consumer price index. The Department of Health is tasked with creating regulations and consulting experts to implement the program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes state-funded gender affirming care program with explicit funding/appropriations to expand access, improve provider resources, and protect patient rights for this healthcare service.95% confidence

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