Healthcare

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6462: Requires that there be a one hundred foot buffer zone around abortion clinics

This bill requires abortion clinics to maintain a 100-foot buffer zone around all entrances to prevent patient harassment. It directly affects abortion clinics and patients seeking care by legally prohibiting specific disruptive behaviors within that zone. Key provisions define "harassment" to include physically blocking access, following patients, interfering with medical procedures, or damaging facilities within 100 feet. The law takes immediate effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates buffer zones to prevent harassment blocking access to abortion clinics, directly improving patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5299: Requires prescription containers for opioid medications to have a red cap top and a printed warning

This bill requires all prescription containers for opioid medications to have a red cap top displaying the warning "Caution: OPIOID. Risk of overdose and addiction." It directly affects pharmacies dispensing opioids by mandating this specific container labeling. The key mechanism specifies that containers must use a red cap (or red stickers if caps are unavailable) with the exact warning text, replacing existing color-coded labeling requirements for controlled substances. This policy change aims to increase visible safety warnings at the point of prescription.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates clear opioid warning labels to prevent overdose/addiction, directly enhancing patient safety in healthcare as defined.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2397: Requires health insurers to provide coverage for diagnosis and treatment of fibroids

Requires health insurers to provide coverage for procedures relating to the diagnosis and treatment of uterine fibroids and related conditions, including pain, discomfort and infertility resulting therefrom.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurer coverage for fibroid diagnosis/treatment, expanding patient access to care for a specific health condition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New York · Assembly Feb 10, 2026

A 8055: Relates to outpatient mental health, substance use disorder, residential and rehabilitation services and Medicaid fee-for-service

Bill A 8055 proposes to change how outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services are administered under Medicaid. It shifts these services, along with comprehensive Medicaid case management, from a managed care model back to a fee-for-service system. This change, subject to federal approval, directly affects individuals with mental illness or substance use disorder who rely on these services and the licensed facilities that provide them. The bill also requires that any savings generated by this transition be reinvested into community-based behavioral health services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill shifts Medicaid mental health/substance use services to fee-for-service model, enhancing provider access and continuity of care for patients.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5939: Relates to coverage of primary and preventive obstetric and gynecological care; repealer

This bill requires New York health insurance plans to cover preventive obstetric and gynecological services - such as cervical cancer screenings and bone density tests for osteoporosis - without annual deductibles or co-payments. It mandates prescription drug plans to include coverage for FDA-approved contraceptives, which may include reasonable deductibles and co-payments, while allowing religious organizations to opt out of covering contraceptives conflicting with their beliefs. Enrollees in group plans that opt out of contraceptive coverage can directly purchase it from their insurer at the same cost as the group plan. The bill repeals prior contraceptive coverage requirements and updates insurance law to standardize these preventive care provisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost coverage for preventive OB/GYN services and contraceptives, expanding patient access to essential healthcare without cost-sharing barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs Women's Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 28, 2026

A 5444: Provides insurance coverage for perimenopausal and menopausal care and treatment

This bill requires all health insurance policies covering hospital, surgical, or medical care to include comprehensive coverage for perimenopausal and menopausal care and treatment. It mandates coverage for specific symptoms like hot flashes, sleep disruption, bone loss, and cognitive changes without annual deductibles, co-pays, or coinsurance. The law directly affects women experiencing these symptoms and their insurance providers, who must comply with the new coverage standards. It applies to all policies issued, renewed, or modified on or after the effective date (January 1 following enactment). The bill defines "menopause" as a 12-month absence of menstruation and "perimenopause" as the transitional phase leading to menopause.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates comprehensive insurance coverage for perimenopausal/menopausal care without deductibles/co-pays, expanding access to specific health services for women.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Women's Health

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 24, 2026

S 7731: Requires coverage of a hospitalized birthing parent's interhospital transport to accompany their infant needing such transport

Requires insurance coverage of a hospitalized birthing parent's interhospital transport to accompany such birthing parent's newborn infant experiencing a condition necessitating transport.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for birthing parent's transport with infant, expanding access to necessary care and protecting patient rights during medical transport.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Women's Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1309: Authorizes collaborative programs for community paramedicine services

This bill authorizes hospitals, home care agencies, physicians, and emergency medical services (EMS) to form collaborative programs focused on community paramedicine. It allows these partnerships to provide preventive care in community settings - such as managing chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension) and reducing avoidable emergency room visits and hospital admissions - instead of relying solely on emergency transport. The law enables state funding (like grants or rate adjustments) and regulatory flexibility to support these initiatives, while requiring collaboration among the specified partners. It directly affects healthcare providers and at-risk patients, aiming to improve care coordination and reduce costs through proactive community-based services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes community paramedicine collaborations for preventive care (e.g., chronic condition management), reducing ER visits/hospital admissions via state-funded programs, improving access and cost efficiency.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Long-Term Care Primary Care

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1928: Relates to rural ambulance support

Authorizes the commissioner of health to make adjustments to payments for the provision and reimbursement of transportation costs for the purposes of providing increased access to Medicaid Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support Level 1, Advanced Life Support Level 2, and Specialty Care Transport in rural communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdjusts Medicaid payments for rural ambulance services, increasing government funding for essential healthcare access under state budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes Medicaid reimbursement adjustments to increase rural ambulance access, directly expanding emergency care coverage for rural communities.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid

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in committee · New York · Assembly May 6, 2026

A 8623: Relates to staffing at state-operated facilities that deliver health care services

Requires each state-operated facility that delivers health care services which is operated and licensed pursuant to the mental hygiene law, the education law, the correction law or section 504 of the executive law and which requires two or more registered nurses or licensed practical nurses to be present within the facility at any given time.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates minimum nurse staffing at state healthcare facilities, improving patient care access and safety in mental health and correctional settings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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