Makes permanent certain provisions relating to reimbursement for commercial and Medicaid services provided via telehealth; establishes the rural healthcare professional loan repayment award program and the rural healthcare professional tax credit program; establishes a tax credit for rural healthcare providers.
Provides lifetime, premium-free insurance through the New York state of health marketplace to a person who donates a kidney during the course of their lifetime; establishes the kidney donor insurance fund.
This bill (A 3159) requires commercial health insurance plans to cover peer support services as part of substance use disorder treatment. It directly affects insurance companies offering medical, major medical, or comprehensive coverage and people receiving substance use disorder care. The key provision mandates that insurers cover certified peer support services (provided by advocates certified under New York's addiction services program) with the same financial terms and treatment limitations as standard medical care - meaning no stricter copays, deductibles, or visit limits than for other medical services. This ensures individuals with substance use disorder have access to these specific support services without facing more restrictive insurance barriers than typical medical treatments. The bill applies to all commercial health insurance contracts covering outpatient substance use disorder treatment.
This bill requires all senior high schools to include voluntary cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instruction as part of their health education curriculum. It mandates that instructors must hold valid CPR certification and that school authorities provide necessary facilities, time, and learning materials. The curriculum must meet or exceed standards set by the American Heart Association or American Red Cross, ensuring quality instruction without prescribing lower-quality alternatives. The bill directly affects public and private senior high schools across the state and takes effect July 1, 2025.
Prohibits public employers from diminishing health insurance benefits provided to Medicare-eligible retirees and their Medicare-eligible dependents or the contributions such employer makes for such health insurance coverage below the level of such benefits or contributions made on behalf of such retirees and dependents by the public employer as of December 31, 2021.
Prohibits approved organizations providing coverage under the child health insurance plan from discriminating against health care providers which do not participate in the organization's health care network.
This bill restricts health care employers from requiring nurses or health care workers (excluding doctors, residents, and security staff) to work more than their regularly scheduled hours, except in specific emergencies or during ongoing surgical procedures. It defines "regularly scheduled work hours" to include pre-scheduled on-call time and shift report communication, and prohibits using on-call time as a substitute for mandatory overtime. Exceptions include health care disasters, official emergency declarations, unanticipated staffing emergencies, or procedures requiring continuous presence for patient safety. The law aims to protect patient care quality by limiting excessive work hours, without affecting existing rights under other laws or collective bargaining agreements.
Relates to coverage for applied behavior analysis and for developmental, individual-differences, relationship-based treatment of autism spectrum disorder.
S 118 creates a searchable public database of existing dementia and Alzheimer's disease support programs for elderly individuals (60+). The office of aging, working with the health department, will develop criteria to identify successful programs and maintain the database on its website. The database will include program names, descriptions, contact details, and service areas to help elderly individuals, families, and caregivers find local resources. It requires annual updates to ensure the information remains current and accessible. This bill directly affects elderly persons with dementia/Alzheimer's and the service providers offering support in community settings.
Prevents discrimination by insurers based on an individual's mental health or substance use disorder; incorporates into law federal enforcement rules set forth in the federal mental health parity and addiction equity act of 2008.
