Healthcare

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1950: Relates to health care proxy information on driver's licenses; repealer

This bill requires New York driver's license and identification card applications to include clear, conspicuous questions about health care proxies and living wills. Specifically, applicants must see prompts like "Have you completed a health care proxy? Check 'yes' or 'skip'." and space to list a health care agent's name. It also mandates space for questions about life-sustaining treatment preferences. The bill affects all applicants for driver's licenses or ID cards in New York, adding these health care directives to standard application forms without changing healthcare law or requiring new actions from applicants.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires driver's license applications to include health care proxy questions, promoting patient autonomy and advance care planning per NY's healthcare directive framework.85% confidence

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Mar 26, 2025

S 6902: Relates to requiring all insurance policies and medical assistance to provide coverage for medically necessary hearing aids for children under 16 years of age

Enacts "Isabella's law" to require all health insurance policies and medical assistance to provide insurance coverage for the cost of medically necessary hearing aids for children under the age of 16.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for medically necessary hearing aids for children, expanding health insurance benefits and improving access to essential healthcare services for minors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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died · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1746: Provides for the review of policies and practices pertaining to emerging infectious disease outbreaks in correctional facilities

Provides for the review of policies and practices pertaining to infectious disease outbreaks in correctional facilities, including the treatment and prevention of the disease among incarcerated individuals and staff.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reviews infectious disease policies in correctional facilities, improving health standards within criminal justice's correctional component.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires review of infectious disease policies in correctional facilities to improve treatment/prevention, strengthening public health protocols within healthcare settings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Public Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3485: Relates to prescription drug formulary coverage for interchangeable biologics and biosimilars

This bill amends New York insurance law to require health insurers to allow patients to try cheaper interchangeable biologics and biosimilars before covering brand-name drugs. It updates prior authorization rules so insurers must consider these cost-saving alternatives when reviewing coverage for biologic medications. The law also allows insurers to move a drug to a higher-cost insurance tier only if a cheaper interchangeable biologic or biosimilar is simultaneously added to the plan's drug list. These changes directly affect patients seeking biologic treatments and insurers managing prescription drug coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to prioritize cheaper biosimilars over brand-name drugs, improving patient access and reducing costs for biologic medications.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3742: Requires high schools to carry and have a trained employee to administer opioid antagonists

This bill (A 3742) requires all high schools to keep opioid antagonists (like naloxone) available for emergency overdose treatment and to have at least one trained employee present during all school hours and after-school activities. The law mandates schools to acquire the medication, designate a staff member who completed approved training in its use, and ensure that employee oversees storage and administration. It directly affects high schools, students, and staff by establishing a concrete protocol for responding to opioid overdoses on school grounds. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment and does not include exemptions for school activities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates schools to stock naloxone and train staff for opioid overdose emergencies, directly strengthening public health response and student safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1710: Provides for coverage for certain individuals under the 1332 state innovation program

This bill establishes a new health coverage option under New York's 1332 state innovation program, allowing the state to create a health plan for specific uninsured New Yorkers who don't qualify for Medicaid or ACA marketplace plans. It directly affects residents under 65 with household incomes between 133% and 250% of the federal poverty line, including some noncitizens ineligible for Medicaid due to immigration status. Key provisions include requiring coverage for essential health services (like cancer care access at Medicaid rates, dental, vision, and chronic illness support), automatic enrollment for children born to eligible parents, and continued coverage during pregnancy for one year postpartum. The program requires federal approval under the ACA's Section 1332 waiver process and operates alongside existing Medicaid and marketplace plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands health coverage for uninsured NY residents (133-250% FPL) via new 1332 program, requiring essential health services for previously excluded groups.92% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationExplicitly includes noncitizens ineligible for Medicaid due to immigration status in health coverage program, providing services to this group.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · New York · Assembly May 29, 2025

A 5480: Protects individuals who provide or receive legally protected health activity from criminal or civil liability or professional sanctions imposed by jurisdictions outside the state; repealer

Protects individuals who provide or receive legally protected health activity, including reproductive health care and gender-affirming care, from criminal or civil liability or professional sanctions imposed by jurisdictions outside the state.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents criminal liability for health care access, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice reform by reducing unnecessary criminalization.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects access to reproductive and gender-affirming care by shielding providers/receivers from out-of-state liability sanctions, directly advancing patient rights in healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 24, 2025

S 3162: Relates to the publication of immunization information

Relates to the publication of immunization information; requires schools to provide immunization information to the commissioner of health; requires the department of health to make immunization information, including rates of immunization, available on its website.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires public disclosure of school immunization rates to improve public health transparency and monitoring, advancing data-driven healthcare initiatives.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3947: Requires API to facilitate patient and provider access to health information for enrollees and contract providers

Requires insurance companies to establish and maintain API to facilitate patient and provider access to health information; includes patient access, provider directory and payer to payer exchange.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurance APIs for patient/provider health info access, directly improving data accessibility per support indicators.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires API implementation for health data access, promoting standardized technology use in sensitive information handling per healthcare data privacy standards85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New York · Senate Mar 17, 2026

S 999: Relates to reimbursement for early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment

Requires the department of health to review claims for expenditures for early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment and other health services, care and supplies which are furnished to eligible children and pre-school children regardless of whether such children have handicapping conditions, are suspected of having handicapping conditions or have an individualized education plan; requires the department of health to apply for all necessary federal approvals regarding such expenditures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires reimbursement for pediatric screenings/treatment, ensuring coverage for eligible children regardless of conditions, expanding access to early healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

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