Healthcare

signed · New York · Senate Feb 14, 2025

S 760: Relates to requiring insurance coverage for epinephrine auto-injectors

This bill requires New York health insurance plans covering prescription drugs to include coverage for at least two epinephrine auto-injectors for emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions. It caps out-of-pocket costs for these devices at $100 annually, regardless of the plan's deductible, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing rules. The law applies to all major medical, group, and similar health insurance policies sold in New York, including health savings account-qualified plans, with specific provisions to maintain federal eligibility for preventive care coverage. It ensures individuals face a predictable maximum cost for these life-saving devices. The bill was signed into law on February 14, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for epinephrine auto-injectors with $100 annual cost cap, directly expanding access to emergency allergy treatment and protecting patient financial rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care

in committee · New York · Senate Apr 22, 2026

S 1782: Relates to dementia care navigators and coordinators

Requires each designated agency to employ a dementia care navigator to provide support for caregivers of individuals with dementia and to assist individuals with dementia in accessing appropriate services; requires the state office for the aging to establish the position of dementia care coordinator.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes dementia care coordinators and navigators to improve access to dementia care services under state aging office, directly advancing healthcare access for elderly patients.90% confidence

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 464: Authorizes Medicaid coverage for the complex care assistant program

Establishes a program for specific individuals to become complex care assistants and provide private duty nursing services to certain Medicaid enrollees.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes Medicaid coverage for complex care assistants, expanding access to private duty nursing services for enrollees.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4169: Establishes the office of nutrition and fitness

Establishes the office of nutrition and fitness to protect the public from preventable diseases causally related to obesity by developing and implementing a plan to educate and encourage health and nutrition in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates public health office focused on obesity prevention through nutrition education, directly advancing healthcare prevention goals by addressing a major public health issue.95% confidence

Track

died · New York · Senate Feb 4, 2026

S 355: Provides for program eligibility for plans comparable to Medicare part D

Relates to program eligibility for plans comparable to Medicare part D; provides for analysis of health plans by the department of health to determine whether such health plans meet or exceed the Medicare part D standard; requires the department of health, in consultation with the department of financial services, to notify prescription drug insurers of the provisions of this act.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires health plans to meet or exceed Medicare Part D standards, strengthening prescription drug coverage access and patient protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Prescription Drugs

Track

passed · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 4500: Enacts the consumer wheelchair repair bill of rights act

Enacts the "consumer wheelchair repair bill of rights act" requiring manufacturers to make available certain documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools necessary for repairing equipment; establishes a timely repair for wheelchair program; deems all wheelchair repairs needed within 5 years of initial prescription medically necessary.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures timely wheelchair repairs, extends warranties, and deems repairs medically necessary - improves access to essential medical equipment.90% confidence

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3885: Prohibits segregated confinement of children in a detention facility

This bill prohibits detention facilities from placing children in "segregated confinement" (cell confinement for more than 17 hours daily) under any circumstances, except during facility-wide emergencies or for medical/mental health treatment. It directly affects children detained under New York's Family Court Act or Criminal Procedure Law who are held in certified detention facilities. The law defines "segregated confinement" specifically and excludes room confinement authorized by the Office of Children and Family Services when a child poses a serious immediate danger to themselves or others. The bill amends the Family Court Act and Executive Law to implement this ban, taking effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits harmful solitary confinement of minors in detention, directly advancing criminal justice reform by protecting vulnerable populations and aligning with rehabilitation-focused policies.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly permits mental health treatment as an exception to segregation, supporting access to mental health services for detained children.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Juvenile Justice

Track

passed · New York · Senate May 13, 2026

S 6463: Authorizes the transfer of pregnant and postpartum incarcerated individuals to residential treatment facilities

Authorizes the transfer of pregnant and postpartum incarcerated individuals to residential treatment facilities; requires annual reporting on the number of such incarcerated individuals transferred.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes transfers to treatment facilities for pregnant/postpartum inmates, promoting rehabilitation and reducing harmful incarceration practices within corrections reform.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareTransfers incarcerated pregnant/postpartum individuals to residential treatment facilities, improving healthcare access for a vulnerable population.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Women's Health

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5975: Directs the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to promulgate and implement rules authorizing the use of automated patient dispensing and storage systems in correctional facilities

Directs the commissioner of corrections and community supervision, in consultation with the commissioner of health, the commissioner of education, the commissioner of mental health, and the state board of pharmacy, to promulgate and implement rules and regulations authorizing the use of automated patient dispensing and storage systems for distribution of prescription and non-prescription drugs and medical devices in correctional facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes automated medication systems in correctional facilities, improving prescription access and distribution for inmates, directly enhancing healthcare service delivery within a healthcare setting.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

Track

signed · New York · Assembly Dec 10, 2025

A 387: Requires general hospitals to provide language assistance services

Requires general hospitals to provide language assistance services; requires general hospitals to develop a language assistance program to ensure meaningful access to the general hospital's services and reasonable accommodation for all patients who require language assistance.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires language assistance to ensure meaningful access to hospital services, directly improving patient access to healthcare for non-English speakers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals