This bill establishes a state-funded program to provide peer support for healthcare workers' mental health. It creates a grant program through the Office of Mental Health, allowing eligible organizations (like hospitals or community groups) to apply for up to $250,000 each to develop peer-to-peer mental health support programs. The program requires training for peer volunteers in areas like stress and suicide prevention, while prohibiting the collection of personal health data from workers seeking support. The state appropriates $10 million to fund the program, which takes effect immediately. The bill directly affects healthcare workers by expanding access to confidential mental health support through their peers.
This bill establishes a state policy guaranteeing New Yorkers the right to choose private health care providers and coverage without state mandates or penalties. It prohibits New York from requiring anyone to participate in a specific health care system or plan, or imposing fines for declining coverage or selecting a particular option. The law applies to all residents and takes effect immediately upon enactment. It is a policy declaration rather than a regulatory change, affirming existing private health care choices under general state laws.
This bill eliminates multiple taxes on health insurance in New York State, directly affecting consumers and health insurance companies. It phases out four specific taxes over time, including the $1.1 billion annual "covered lives assessment" on insured individuals, a 9.63% surcharge on hospital services, a $350 million flat tax on commercial insurance policies, and a $149 million tax on insurance companies. Key provisions gradually reduce these taxes: for instance, the insurance company tax drops from 1.75% to 0.37% by 2030 and is eliminated entirely after 2031. The legislation aims to lower health insurance costs by removing these taxes, which the bill states collectively cost consumers over $5 billion annually in 2018.
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.
Requires Medicaid to cover a wearable medical device that uses low-intensity, alternating electric fields delivered to the tumor site to treat glioblastoma and other cancers as recommended by medical and scientific evidence.
This bill would allow licensed pharmacists to order and administer FDA-approved tests for certain infectious diseases (like flu or STIs) after completing required training. It directly affects pharmacists by expanding their scope of practice and patients seeking rapid, accessible testing for suspected infections. Pharmacists would need to follow federal lab rules and use only tests approved for limited settings. The bill is currently pending in the Health committee with no votes taken.
Enacts the "ensuring access to behavioral health act"; includes mental health services, substance use disorder treatment services and recovery support services to network adequacy requirements for insurance coverage.
This bill (A 2510) creates a tax credit for individuals diagnosed with cancer or parents with children diagnosed with cancer. It allows a credit of up to $500 per year for qualified medical expenses related to cancer treatment, including diagnosis, cure, medication, insurance deductibles, wigs, and prosthetics. The credit can be applied against state income tax, and any unused portion may be refunded without interest. This policy directly affects cancer patients and families managing treatment costs through their state tax filings.
This bill allows New York pharmacists to administer FDA-approved progestin-only contraceptive injections, expanding access to this specific form of birth control. It requires pharmacists to complete training, provide patient screening questionnaires and fact sheets about clinical considerations, and notify a patient's primary care provider (unless the patient opts out). The policy directly affects patients seeking contraception and pharmacists who will administer the injections. Key safety mechanisms include mandatory screenings, provider notifications, and pharmacist discretion to refuse service if health risks are identified.
Establishes a five hundred dollar credit against income tax for nurses employed on a full-time basis for not less than six months and nurses teaching at institutions of higher education on and after January 1, 2026.
