Healthcare

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3697: Requires providers of insurance policies to maintain a database of health care providers offering foreign language services

This bill requires health insurance providers covered under the Affordable Care Act to create and maintain a publicly accessible database. The database must list healthcare providers (doctors, physicians, etc.) enrolled in their plans who offer foreign language services, including each provider's name, location, specialty, and languages spoken. It directly affects insurance companies and their policyholders by making it easier for non-English speakers to find linguistically accessible care. The requirement applies to all insurers mandated to provide foreign language services under federal law. The bill does not create new language service obligations but ensures existing provider information is organized and available to customers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to list linguistically accessible providers, directly improving access for non-English speakers per ACA coverage requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2089: Sets reimbursement rates for essential safety net hospitals

Sets reimbursement rates for essential safety net hospitals at no less than regional average commercial rates for health care services provided by all hospitals in the same geographic region.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates reimbursement rates for safety net hospitals at regional commercial averages, preventing underfunding and ensuring continued access to care for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · New York · Senate Apr 4, 2025

S 7108: Relates to women's health in correctional facilities

Relates to women's health in correctional facilities; establishes a women's health education program; requires HIV and STD testing to be offered to incarcerated individuals; provides pregnant incarcerated individuals with access to prenatal vitamins as well as a specialized diet tailored to pregnancy needs; requires a study and report on women's health in prison.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates health services for incarcerated women in correctional facilities, promoting humane treatment and rehabilitation - directly advancing correctional care standards within criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates HIV/STD testing, prenatal vitamins, specialized diets, and a health education program for incarcerated women, directly expanding healthcare access and services within correctional facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Women's Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 351: Adopts the solemn covenant of the states to award prizes for curing diseases interstate compact

This bill creates an interstate compact allowing states to join together to fund prizes for medical treatments that successfully cure diseases. It establishes a commission to award these prizes, set pricing for cures, and collect royalty fees from non-participating states based on estimated five-year public health savings. The royalties are capped at the actual healthcare cost savings the cure would generate, ensuring fees align with real public health benefits. Only states that formally join the compact ("compacting states") would directly manage the program, while non-participating states would pay royalties on cures developed under the system.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates interstate compact funding prizes for disease cures, aiming to accelerate medical advancements and reduce healthcare costs through public health savings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2164: Requires health insurance policies to include coverage of optional anesthesia for certain contraceptive and menstrual health procedures

Requires health insurance policies to include coverage of optional anesthesia for certain contraceptive and menstrual health procedures including, but not limited to, loop electrosurgical excision procedure, colposcopy, ablation, and intrauterine device insertion.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates health insurance coverage for optional anesthesia during specific contraceptive and menstrual procedures, expanding coverage and improving patient access to reproductive healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8286: Prohibits participation in torture of incarcerated individuals by health professionals

Prohibits participation in torture of incarcerated individuals by health professionals; prohibits a health care professional from engaging, assisting or planning the torture of an incarcerated individual; requires health care professionals to report torture.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits health professionals from torturing incarcerated individuals and mandates reporting, aligning with civil rights protection and criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits health professionals from participating in torture, protecting patient rights and ethical standards in healthcare practice.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5456: Requires providers to share electronic health records with plans for purposes of improving patient care and reducing administrative delays

S 5456 requires hospitals to share complete electronic health records (EHRs) electronically with health plan reviewers (utilization review agents) to verify medical necessity for individual patient care decisions, directly affecting hospitals, health plans, and patients. Key provisions mandate that shared records cannot be used for billing audits or historical pattern analysis, must include full medical history without excluding admission/discharge details, and prevent health plans from requesting redundant information already in the EHR. The bill also updates rules to limit unnecessary data requests during reviews and requires health plans to prioritize data security, including pursuing HITRUST certification for privacy compliance. These changes aim to streamline coverage determinations while protecting patient privacy and reducing administrative delays.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates sharing complete EHRs for verifying medical necessity to improve patient care and reduce delays, prohibiting misuse for billing. Strengthens care coordination and protects patient rights per healthcare topic definition.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

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passed both · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 614: Provides for enrollment in medical assistance programs for incarcerated individuals

Provides for enrollment of eligible incarcerated persons in the medical assistance for needy persons program; provides for enrollment of incarcerated individuals in other medical assistance programs, where eligible.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides medical assistance access for released inmates, supporting reintegration and reducing recidivism through healthcare continuity post-release.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides presumptive eligibility for medical assistance upon release from correctional facilities, expanding healthcare access for a vulnerable population by enabling enrollment without delay.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2681: Requires residents to maintain minimum essential coverage health insurance in the state of New York or pay a tax for failing to do so

Requires residents to maintain minimum essential coverage health insurance in the state of New York or pay a tax for failing to do so; provides that such funds be used for the NY State of Health marketplace.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes tax on uninsured residents to fund NY State of Health marketplace, directly advancing public health program funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates health insurance coverage with tax penalty, directing funds to NY State of Health marketplace to expand access and enrollment95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3186: Requires certain health care providers to disclose certain facts in regard to probation to current and new patients

S 3186 requires licensed healthcare providers (like doctors, nurses, dentists, and therapists) who are on probation to disclose specific details about their probation to patients before their first appointment. Providers must provide written information including the reason for probation (e.g., gross negligence, felony conviction, or practice restrictions), probation duration, and how to find more details online. Patients can cancel their appointment without cost if they choose, and providers face fines or license suspension for failing to disclose this information. The law applies to all probationary orders issued on or after January 1, 2026, affecting providers in 15 licensed healthcare professions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires healthcare providers on probation to disclose details to patients, enhancing transparency and patient rights in healthcare decisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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