Healthcare

died · New York · Senate May 5, 2026

S 3364: Establishes an office of the state medical fund ombudsperson and a medical indemnity fund advisory panel

Establishes an office of the state medical indemnity fund ombudsperson and a medical indemnity fund advisory panel to advocate for, assist and represent the interests of qualified plaintiffs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes ombudsperson to advocate for medical malpractice plaintiffs, protecting patient rights within healthcare dispute resolution.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

in committee · New York · Senate May 5, 2026

S 5071: Increases the maximum amount of individual awards for the physician loan repayment program and physician practice support program

Increases the maximum amount of individual awards for the physician loan repayment program and physician practice support program to encourage physicians to practice in underserved areas.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases funding for physician loan repayment to attract doctors to underserved areas, improving healthcare access and provider availability.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

in committee · New York · Senate May 5, 2026

S 1917: Establishes an emergency insulin program

This bill establishes a state-run emergency insulin program to provide affordable access to analog insulins (life-saving prescription medications for managing type 1 and insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes) for uninsured or underinsured individuals at risk of serious health complications. It creates an emergency insulin program trust fund (funded by state appropriations and contributions from insulin manufacturers) to cover costs, allowing pharmacies with 20+ locations and certain facilities to dispense insulin without individual prescriptions through a sliding-scale cost-sharing system capped at $100 for a 30-day supply. The program must be operational by April 1, 2026, and requires the health commissioner to report annually on program participation, insulin types distributed, costs, and public-private partnerships. The bill directly affects vulnerable diabetic patients and healthcare providers participating in the program, focusing on immediate emergency access rather than long-term coverage changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds emergency insulin program via state appropriations, increasing public health spending and creating a dedicated trust fund per bill's summary.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates state-run emergency insulin program to provide affordable access to life-saving medication for uninsured/underinsured diabetics, directly improving patient access and funding critical healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

in committee · New York · Senate May 5, 2026

S 4744: Increases personal needs allowance amounts

This bill increases monthly personal needs allowances for residents in specific care facilities. It raises the amount from $55 to $140 per month for residents of residential health care facilities (like nursing homes), and from $35 to $89 per month for residents of developmental disability or mental health facilities. Veterans with reduced VA pensions in nursing homes will receive allowances matching their pension amount (capped at $196/month). These changes apply to individuals eligible for federal Supplemental Security Income or state payments, effective January 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly increases state spending on care facility allowances by raising monthly payments, directly funding public services for vulnerable residents.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases monthly allowances for nursing home and mental health facility residents, enhancing financial support for care needs within healthcare facilities.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly increases personal needs allowances for veterans in nursing homes with reduced VA pensions, matching their pension amount (capped at $196).95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · New York · Senate May 4, 2026

S 2398: Requires genetic testing results only be received by patients and health care providers providing direct care while health insurance companies only receive a record that the genetic testing was performed

Requires genetic testing results only be received by patients and health care providers providing direct care while health insurance companies only receive a record that the genetic testing was performed; provides insurers cannot require access to genetic testing results and cannot take adverse action against someone for not providing genetic testing results.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestricts insurers from accessing genetic test results, preventing discrimination and protecting patient privacy in healthcare coverage, aligning with patient rights protection indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · New York · Senate Apr 29, 2026

S 6494: Requires health insurance policies to include coverage for doula services as required coverage for maternity care

This bill requires all health insurance policies in New York to cover doula services as part of mandated maternity care. It directly affects health insurers and policyholders by adding doulas (non-medical birth support professionals) to the list of covered services alongside hospital stays and midwife care. The key provision amends insurance law to mandate that maternity coverage includes doula services for at least 48 hours post-birth (or 96 hours for C-sections), without duplicating physician or midwife services already provided. This applies to all new, renewed, or modified policies issued 180 days after the law takes effect.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for doula services in maternity care, expanding patient access to non-medical birth support without cost-sharing.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · New York · Senate Apr 28, 2026

S 3356: Enacts the lab services accessibility act

This bill creates the "Lab Services Accessibility Act," which modifies New York's public health law to expand exemptions for clinical laboratories providing specific public health services. It directly affects clinical laboratories and health service providers operating under public health programs, such as pregnancy testing, sexually transmitted infection screening, pandemic response, and care for underserved populations. Key provisions (Section 3) add new payment exemptions, allowing services for these programs to be covered without triggering certain regulatory requirements - specifically, by entities like hospitals, insurers, or public health initiatives. The law aims to streamline access to essential lab services by clarifying payment pathways for priority health needs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands access to lab services for public health programs (pregnancy testing, STI screening, pandemic response) via payment exemptions, improving care for underserved populations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · New York · Senate Apr 22, 2026

S 940: Establishes mandatory minimum medicaid coverage for hospital confinement for childbirth

Requires all insurance policies and health maintenance organization contracts to provide coverage for maternity patients and their newborns for hospital stays of at least 48 hours following childbirth by natural delivery and 96 hours following childbirth by caesarean section; provides such coverage for patients who are recipients of medicaid.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates minimum Medicaid coverage for childbirth hospital stays, expanding access to maternity care and ensuring insurance coverage for essential postpartum care.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · New York · Senate Apr 22, 2026

S 2057: Enacts the "beauty justice act"

Enacts the "beauty justice act"; provides for the regulation of ingredients in personal care products and cosmetics; prohibits the sale of personal care products and cosmetic products containing certain restricted products.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates harmful cosmetic ingredients, a public health measure to protect consumers from health risks, aligning with public health programs under healthcare.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · New York · Senate Apr 22, 2026

S 3581: Provides lead service line identification for certain water systems

This bill requires public water systems serving specific residential areas (like those with 15+ year-round residents or 25+ regular users) to identify lead service lines. It directly affects these water systems and property owners/tenants in those areas. Key provisions include: water systems must inspect properties for lead lines after obtaining consent, with non-owner occupants allowed to consent if owners don't respond within 30 days; inspections must occur within 60 days of consent. The bill focuses solely on identifying lead pipes - not replacing them - and clarifies that non-owner occupants aren't liable for consenting to inspections.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires lead service line identification to reduce water contamination, directly addressing pollution control in environmental protection.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAddresses lead exposure risk in public water systems, a public health concern directly impacting community health outcomes under healthcare topic.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track