Healthcare

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6523: Requires insurance companies to reimburse all health care practitioners at the same rate for cervical cytology screening

Requires insurance companies to reimburse all health care practitioners at the same rate for cervical cytology screening, including the preparation of a Pap smear; prohibits health care practitioners from refusing to provide a Pap smear during a regular annual checkup if such patient has not had a Pap smear done in the preceding twelve months.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal insurance reimbursement for cervical screenings and ensures access during annual checkups, improving preventive care access and patient rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 9, 2026

S 3359: Expands health care services provided by telehealth

Expands health care services provided by telehealth to include services delivered through a facility licensed under article twenty-eight of the public health law that is eligible to be designated or has received a designation as a federally qualified health center, including those facilities that are also licensed under article thirty-one or article thirty-two of the mental hygiene law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands telehealth access to federally qualified health centers and mental health facilities, improving patient access and strengthening mental health services coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care Public Health Telehealth

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 635: Provides a tax credit for qualified caregiving expenses

This bill creates a new tax credit for New York State residents who pay for qualified caregiving services for eligible family members. It directly affects caregivers (including spouses on joint returns) with household incomes under $75,000 ($150,000 for couples) who provide uncompensated care to family members meeting specific criteria (e.g., over 18, NY resident, needing daily living assistance certified by a healthcare provider). The credit covers 50% of eligible expenses - such as home health services, respite care, or home modifications - up to $3,500 annually, with a total annual cap of $35 million allocated on a first-come basis. Unused credit amounts cannot be refunded or carried forward, and applications require documentation including income and family member details.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit for lower-income caregivers (under $75k), reducing tax burden per bill's explicit language95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides tax credit for healthcare-certified caregiving services, improving access to essential health support for vulnerable family members.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 24, 2026

S 438: Establishes the prescription drug supply chain transparency act

Establishes the prescription drug supply chain transparency act; requires pharmacy services administrative organizations, pharmacy switch companies and rebate aggregators to register with the insurance department and to provide certain disclosures relating to the ownership and activities of such entities; relates to deposits into the pharmacy benefit manager regulatory fund.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires pharmacy entities to disclose ownership/activities, enhancing supply chain transparency to protect patient access and safety in drug coverage.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 2128: Relates to requiring certain health insurance issuers to certify that at least a majority of prescription drug rebates are provided to patients at the point of sale

Requires certain health insurance issuers to certify that at least a majority of prescription drug rebates are provided to patients at the point of sale.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to pass drug rebates to patients, reducing out-of-pocket costs and improving access to prescription drugs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6502: Requires gynecological services to be offered to certain incarcerated individuals

This bill requires all state and local correctional facilities to provide annual, no-cost gynecological services to incarcerated people with cervixes. Facilities must offer these services unless an individual declines in writing, and they must report annually on service uptake and written declinations. The law defines gynecological services as part of "routine medical care" under existing correctional health regulations. It applies directly to incarcerated individuals with cervixes, ensuring access to standard preventive and diagnostic care without financial or administrative barriers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates gynecological care in correctional facilities, advancing humane treatment and bodily autonomy for incarcerated individuals with cervixes within the corrections system.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost gynecological services for incarcerated individuals with cervixes as routine medical care, expanding access and protecting reproductive health rights within correctional facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Women's Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1336: Relates to requiring immunization information systems to record data on the number of vaccine exemptions reported by each health care provider

This bill (A 1336) requires health care providers to report the number of vaccine exemptions they grant for children, and mandates that immunization information systems (including New York State’s and New York City’s registries) record and store this data by provider. It directly affects health care providers who issue vaccine exemptions and state/local health departments responsible for managing immunization records. The key mechanism is a new requirement for providers to report exemption counts, which must then be entered into existing statewide systems in a searchable format for health officials to access. This creates a standardized, provider-level data tracking system without changing exemption eligibility rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires health providers to report vaccine exemptions, enhancing public health oversight and data collection for immunization programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

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failed · New York · Assembly May 19, 2026

A 4303: Relates to requiring health care facilities to report incidents of a sexual offense to the departments of both health and education

This bill, known as "Clara's Law," requires hospitals and approved healthcare facilities to report all separate allegations of sexual offenses committed by licensed healthcare practitioners against patients to both the state Department of Health and Department of Education within 30 days. It directly affects healthcare facilities, licensed practitioners (including those under Education Law Title 8), and the state departments responsible for oversight. The law mandates written reports containing specific details like the practitioner's license information, the nature of the incident, any criminal conviction, and the facility's actions taken. These reports aim to ensure both departments can monitor and address potential misconduct involving patient safety.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates reporting of healthcare practitioner sexual offenses to protect patient safety and enhance accountability in healthcare facilities.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6603: Creates the lupus research enhancement program and the lupus research enhancement fund

This bill creates a state-funded program and dedicated fund to support research on lupus, an autoimmune disease affecting approximately 1.5 million Americans - disproportionately women of color and those facing health disparities. It provides grants to state academic medical institutions for lupus research, including causes, diagnosis, and treatments, through a competitive peer review process modeled after federal standards. A new advisory council, composed of lupus patients, medical experts, and health professionals, will oversee the program and prioritize research addressing health inequities. The initiative aims to accelerate scientific progress toward better lupus care and outcomes, reducing the current gap in treatment options and diagnostic delays.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates state-funded lupus research program with dedicated fund, allocating budget resources for health research addressing disparities.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates state-funded lupus research program with dedicated grants, addressing health disparities through medical research funding.95% confidence

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passed both · New York · Senate May 12, 2026

S 634: Requires certain health insurance policies to provide coverage for diabetes and prediabetes screening

This bill requires most health insurance policies in New York to cover diabetes and prediabetes screening at no cost to the patient. It applies to policies covering physician services or major medical coverage, mandating that insurers include screening per national evidence-based guidelines without deductibles, copays, or other cost-sharing. The law affects health insurance companies and their policyholders who need preventive diabetes screening. Coverage must be provided free of charge for all qualifying policies issued or renewed after the effective date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost diabetes/prediabetes screening coverage, expanding access and removing financial barriers under insurance policies95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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