Healthcare

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3104: Requires comprehensive coverage for treatment of obesity

Requires comprehensive coverage for treatment of obesity, including coverage for prevention and wellness, nutrition counseling, intensive behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery, and FDA-approved anti-obesity medication.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates comprehensive insurance coverage for obesity treatment, expanding access to prevention, counseling, and medical interventions, directly advancing healthcare access and coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4215: Requires mandatory health insurance coverage for prosthetic devices

Requires mandatory health insurance coverage for prosthetic devices; requires coverage where the model is determined to adequately meet the medical needs of the policy holder.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for prosthetic devices, expanding patient access to essential medical equipment per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5854: Establishes a pilot program for rural health zones

This bill establishes a pilot program to improve rural healthcare access in specific New York counties through designated "rural health zones." It creates four pilot zones (Orange/Sullivan/Ulster; Orleans/Genesee/Wyoming and adjacent areas; Cortland/Tompkins; and a fourth zone to be determined) and requires each zone to form a board of 8+ members - including county health officials, state appointees, and healthcare/business representatives - to develop transformation plans. The boards will review healthcare needs, hold public hearings, and distribute state funds to support hospitals, clinics, and safety-net providers through grants, loans, and tax incentives. The program aims to address gaps in rural healthcare infrastructure and outcomes by fostering collaboration between providers, communities, and state agencies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates rural health zones to improve healthcare access via designated boards and transformation plans in underserved areas, directly advancing patient access.95% confidence

Tags Rural Communities

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1813: Relates to medical assistance for patients for infertility treatment

This bill amends New York's social services law to require medical assistance (like Medicaid) to cover specific fertility treatments for patients using oral or injectable ovulation drugs. It mandates coverage for necessary monitoring services - including office visits, diagnostic tests (like ultrasounds), and blood work - during infertility treatment. If federal funding isn't available for these services, the state would use its own funds to support a grant program ensuring access. The policy directly affects patients seeking fertility care who rely on state medical assistance programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates state funds for infertility coverage if federal funds unavailable, increasing state healthcare spending under budget allocation.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid coverage for infertility treatments and monitoring services, expanding health insurance access for reproductive care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7900: Relates to prescription drug cost-sharing assistance

Authorizes insurance policies which provide coverage for prescription drugs where cost-sharing obligations are determined by category of prescription drugs to offer a program to insureds that utilizes rebates or discounts to lower an insured's cost-sharing for prescription drugs if the insured's cost-sharing under such program would be more favorable than the cost-sharing that would otherwise be applicable to the prescription drug.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill lowers patient prescription drug costs via rebates/discounts, improving affordability and access to medications under insurance coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

Track

signed · New York · Assembly Feb 14, 2025

A 443: Relates to step therapy protocol

This bill modifies New York's insurance law to regulate "step therapy" protocols used by health insurers. It directly affects patients and insurers by limiting how insurers can require patients to try lower-cost drugs before covering a prescribed medication. Key provisions include capping required drug trials at two per condition, banning protocols for unapproved or unsupported drugs, requiring insurer acceptance of doctors' written proof of drug failure as valid evidence, and preventing redundant step therapy for patients who recently completed it under another plan. The changes take effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareLimits insurer barriers to medication access, requiring acceptance of physician proof of prior failure, protecting patient rights in coverage decisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4972: Institutes a moratorium on the closure of hospitals during a pandemic

This bill prohibits hospitals in the state from closing or reducing capacity below pre-moratorium levels during any state of emergency declared due to a pandemic. It directly affects all hospitals within the state's jurisdiction during such emergencies. The key provision creates an automatic, enforceable moratorium that overrides existing laws allowing closures, requiring hospitals to maintain their operational capacity as of the moratorium's start date. The law takes effect immediately upon passage and applies only during pandemic-related emergencies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits hospital closures during pandemics, ensuring continuous healthcare access and capacity during emergencies, directly protecting public health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track

passed · New York · Senate May 7, 2026

S 4867: Prohibits the application of fail-first or step therapy protocols to coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of serious mental health conditions

Prohibits the application of fail-first or step therapy protocols to coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of serious mental health conditions; defines serious mental health condition.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits step therapy barriers for serious mental health coverage, improving patient access and protecting treatment rights under mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5279: Relates to pregnant and postpartum individuals and their children's health coverage and information

Expands coverage for pregnant and postpartum individuals and their children; establishes a health expense account program for pregnant and postpartum individuals; requires the creation of informative pamphlets on maternal depression.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands coverage for pregnant/postpartum individuals, establishes health expense accounts, and mandates maternal depression pamphlets - directly advancing healthcare access and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Women's Health

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2352: Requires insurers and health plans to grant automatic preauthorization approvals to eligible health care professionals in certain circumstance

This bill requires health insurers to automatically approve preauthorization requests for specific medical services when healthcare professionals (like doctors or nurses) have received approval for at least 90% of similar requests in the past six months. It directly affects healthcare providers who work with participating insurers and ensures insurers must pay for covered services without delay or reduction once automatic approval is granted. Key provisions include annual reviews (by November 15th) to maintain approval status, a 30-day notice period before rescinding approvals, and a guarantee that insurers cannot deny payment for services covered under the automatic approval. The law aims to reduce administrative delays for providers while maintaining insurer oversight through retrospective reviews.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates automatic preauthorization for providers with high approval rates, reducing delays in patient access to covered services without insurer interference.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track