Healthcare

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 8888: Relates to creating the family essential program

Creates the family essential program within the office for the aging to provide for advocacy, collaborative and education infrastructure for essential family caregivers within nursing homes and other long term care communities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates program to support family caregivers in nursing homes, enhancing care infrastructure and patient support within healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 3, 2026

S 8759: Requires the state office for the aging to publish a "Guide to Actions When Someone Close Dies"

This bill requires New York's State Office for the Aging to create and publish a "Guide to Actions When Someone Close Dies" within one year. The guide must cover practical information on economic security (pensions, insurance, taxes), legal steps (death certificates, wills), mental health support for grief, funeral arrangements and costs, and other relevant resources. It directly affects New Yorkers experiencing bereavement by providing a centralized, accessible resource during a difficult time. The guide will be available online and optionally in print, developed with input from experts in funeral services, mental health, law, and tax fields. The bill is procedural, focusing on creating a reference tool rather than changing existing laws.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMental health support for grief is explicitly required in the guide, aligning with healthcare support indicators for mental health services.65% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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signed · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 8807: Relates to procedures for protections of legally protected health activities

Specifies that professional liability insurance insurers cannot deny coverage or increase rates solely based on legal use or prescription of certain gender-affirming care-related drugs; prescribes procedures for warrants issued in other jurisdictions for electronic data related to legally protected health activities; provides for additional procedural methods for protection of legally protected health activities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents insurers from denying coverage/increasing rates for legal gender-affirming care, directly protecting patient access to covered health services per bill's language.95% confidence

signed · New York · Senate Mar 27, 2026

S 8806: Directs counties to develop and maintain comprehensive county emergency medical system plans

Directs the department of health to make available a model comprehensive county emergency medical system plan to provide guidance to counties in developing their plans and to review such county plans within a certain period of time; and directs counties, in coordination with their regional emergency medical services councils, to develop and maintain comprehensive county emergency medical system plans that provide for coordinated emergency medical systems within such counties.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects counties to develop coordinated emergency medical system plans, strengthening public health infrastructure and emergency response coordination within healthcare systems.90% confidence

Tags Local Government

signed · New York · Senate Feb 13, 2026

S 8769: Provides confidentiality for communications arising out of law enforcement peer support counseling

This bill establishes legal confidentiality for conversations between police officers and peer support specialists during official counseling sessions. It directly affects law enforcement officers seeking mental health support and the peer support specialists who provide it. Key provisions prohibit disclosing session details unless there's a specific threat of suicide, self-harm, violence, or child abuse - allowing limited disclosure only to prevent harm. Officers must receive written notice before sessions explaining these confidentiality rules and exceptions. The law ensures peer support communications remain private except in clearly defined safety emergencies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes confidentiality for police peer support counseling, promoting officer mental health and accountability - key aspects of criminal justice reform.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects mental health counseling confidentiality for police officers, removing barriers to access and aligning with mental health service support indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentConfidentiality protects law enforcement officers' access to mental health support, enhancing workplace safety and workers' rights in high-stress roles without restricting protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Mental Health

passed · New York · Senate Jun 1, 2026

S 8654: Enacts the New York state good guardianship act

This bill creates the "New York State Good Guardianship Act," establishing a statewide initiative to expand access to not-for-profit guardianship services for New Yorkers over 18 who are legally determined to need a guardian due to incapacity under Mental Hygiene Law Article 81. It allocates state funding through a new dedicated fund to support qualified non-profit organizations that provide free or low-cost guardianship services - including financial management, healthcare coordination, and daily living assistance - replacing unscrupulous for-profit providers. The initiative will operate a public helpline for guidance, require data collection on service outcomes, and aim to reduce Medicaid costs by preventing avoidable hospitalizations and shelter stays. Participating organizations must be tax-exempt and experienced, with the program administered by a state-selected lead agency and subject to annual performance reporting.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funding via new dedicated fund for non-profit guardianship services, directly funding a public program under government spending.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds non-profits providing healthcare coordination as part of guardianship services for incapacitated adults, improving access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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signed · New York · Senate Feb 13, 2026

S 8756: Amends the effectiveness of provisions related to permitting a close friend to make an anatomical gift of a decedent's body

This bill (S 8756) modifies the implementation timeline for a law allowing close friends to arrange body donations for medical purposes after a person's death. It changes the effective date so that the health commissioner can immediately begin implementing the law - rather than waiting 180 days - upon the bill's passage. This adjustment primarily affects individuals who wish to donate a deceased person's body for medical education or research, ensuring faster administrative readiness. The bill is procedural in nature, focusing solely on implementation timing, not the eligibility for body donations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves 180-day delay for body donations to medical education/research, supporting medical training infrastructure and research access.85% confidence

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 21, 2026

S 8964: Amends the definition of automated external defibrillators

Amends the definition of automated external defibrillator to remove the requirement that an action be taken by an operator before delivering an appropriate electrical impulse to the patient's heart to perform defibrillation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAmends AED definition to remove operator requirement, potentially improving emergency cardiac response times and public health outcomes.80% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Apr 30, 2026

A 9328: Expands Medicaid coverage to include pharmacological treatment for hyperhidrosis

Expands Medicaid coverage to include pharmacological treatment for hyperhidrosis when such treatment is ordered by a physician, registered physician assistant, or registered nurse practitioner; provides that the provisions shall not take effect unless all necessary approvals under federal law and regulation have been obtained to receive federal financial participation in the costs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly expands Medicaid coverage for pharmacological hyperhidrosis treatment, increasing patient access to healthcare services under public insurance program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medicaid

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 9405: Relates to entities who serve as navigators that can help individuals apply for health insurance

This bill authorizes New York's state health insurance marketplace to award annual grants to organizations that help residents apply for health insurance. It creates three specific grant programs: funding certified navigators (who assist individuals), community enrollment programs, and certifying licensed insurance agents to help low-income residents and small businesses. Priority funding is directed to New York City and counties with uninsured rates above the state average for people earning under 400% of the federal poverty level. The grants must follow federal rules and require annual state budget appropriations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes state grants for health insurance navigation programs, increasing government spending on public health services through specific appropriations.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates grant programs funding navigators and enrollment programs to expand health insurance access for low-income residents and small businesses, directly advancing coverage expansion.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Insurance

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