Healthcare

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 8, 2025

S 965: Requires insurers to provide insurance coverage for rare diseases, life-threatening conditions or diseases, degenerative and disabling conditions, or diagnoses involving medically fragile children

Requires insurers to provide insurance coverage for treatment of rare diseases, life-threatening conditions or diseases, degenerative and disabling conditions, or diagnoses involving medically fragile children, by a provider of the patient's choice.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to cover rare, life-threatening, and disabling conditions, expanding patient access and strengthening insurance coverage for critical healthcare needs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6128: Relates to covering mental illness under the healthy New York program

This bill (A 6128) requires health insurers and health coverage providers under New York's Healthy New York program to include coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions in existing policies. It directly affects insurers selling group or individual health insurance policies that cover hospital care or physician services. The key change amends insurance law to mandate that these policies explicitly cover mental health care, aligning it with other medical treatments. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to cover mental health diagnosis/treatment in existing policies, aligning with medical coverage standards per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3110: Directs the commissioner of health to make recommendations relating to increasing reimbursement rates

Directs the commissioner of health to make recommendations relating to increasing certain ambulatory patient group reimbursement rates and certain reimbursement rates for patient health care services provided by physicians in rural and underserved areas.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates increased reimbursement rates for rural/underserved healthcare providers, directly improving funding and access to services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth

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passed · New York · Senate May 19, 2026

S 1633: Provides additional protections for sensitive health information and requires patients to have the right to restrict the disclosures of such patient's health information

Provides additional protections for sensitive health information; requires all health information networks, electronic health record systems, and health care providers to provide patients with a right to restrict the disclosures of such patient's health information; defines terms; provides for exceptions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareGrants patients right to restrict health info disclosures, strengthening privacy protections in healthcare services.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill strengthens data privacy protections for health information in electronic health record systems, directly advancing tech policy goals of securing user data.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Feb 5, 2025

A 2675: Relates to coverage for prenatal vitamins

This bill requires most health insurance plans covering medical care (including major medical and similar comprehensive policies) to cover prenatal vitamins when prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider under New York's Education Law. It applies specifically to plans that already cover prescription drugs, mandating coverage without requiring additional plan changes. The coverage may still include standard deductibles and coinsurance, consistent with other benefits in the policy. This directly affects pregnant individuals and their insurance providers by ensuring access to a common prenatal supplement through existing health coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for prenatal vitamins, expanding access to essential maternal health services without increasing provider costs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5012: Prohibits health insurers from requiring prior authorization for anti-retroviral medication used to treat and prevent HIV infection

Prohibits health insurers, health care plans and HMOs from requiring prior authorization for anti-retroviral medication used to treat and prevent HIV infection.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes prior authorization barriers for HIV treatment access, directly improving patient access to critical healthcare services per indicators.92% confidence

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4024: Authorizes the delivery of telehealth services in schools by licensed providers

This bill allows licensed health providers to deliver remote health services (telehealth) to students within schools. It specifically authorizes school-based health, dental, and mental health clinics and telehealth providers to offer these services during school or non-school hours, requiring them to meet state licensing standards and follow new regulations. The bill mandates that schools cannot charge for these services (funding comes from federal/state/local sources), requires parental consent for student care, and ensures telehealth supplements rather than replaces school nurses and counselors. It also sets requirements for privacy technology, staffing, and billing through new state regulations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables school-based telehealth services (mental/health/dental), expanding student access to care within educational settings without cost barriers, directly supporting educational access and well-being.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes school-based telehealth for mental/dental health services, improves student access without cost, requires parental consent - directly expands healthcare access.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyThe bill authorizes the delivery of telehealth services, directly advancing and strengthening the application of technology for healthcare delivery in schools.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Telehealth

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passed · New York · Senate May 28, 2026

S 1634: Provides for primary care investment

Requires health care plans and payors to have a minimum of twelve and one-half percent of their total expenditures on physical and mental health annually be for primary care services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates 12.5% annual spending on primary care, directly funding and strengthening primary healthcare services as required by the bill.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Primary Care

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in committee · New York · Senate May 12, 2026

S 705: Relates to fair pricing for low-complexity, routine medical care

Relates to fair pricing for low-complexity, routine medical care to more closely align payment rates across ambulatory settings for selected services that are safe and appropriate to provide in all settings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill aligns payment rates for routine medical care across settings to ensure fair pricing, improving provider access and reducing disparities in ambulatory care services.90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 23, 2026

S 8309: Relates to outpatient mental health, substance use disorder, residential and rehabilitation services and Medicaid fee-for-service

This bill shifts outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services under New York's Medicaid program from a managed care model back to traditional fee-for-service billing, requiring federal approval. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries receiving these services and the providers (licensed facilities, clinics) delivering them. Key provisions mandate that these services be administered under fee-for-service, with savings from the transition required to be reinvested into community-based behavioral health services starting in 2026. The change takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies to services for individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareShifts mental health/substance use services to fee-for-service under Medicaid, mandates reinvestment of savings into community services, strengthening access and provider support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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