Healthcare

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5332: Relates to invoking coverage of a health insurance plan for long term care for an incapacitated individual

Bill S 5332 allows an insured individual's spouse or domestic partner to activate their long-term care health insurance coverage if the insured becomes incapacitated and did not previously execute a power of attorney for this purpose. This authority begins when the insured is determined to lack decision-making capacity, and it ceases if they regain capacity. The bill applies to long-term care health insurance plans issued or renewed after the effective date, aiming to facilitate access to care coverage for incapacitated individuals through their partners.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves barrier for activating long-term care insurance upon incapacity, improving access to healthcare coverage for vulnerable individuals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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signed · New York · Assembly Dec 19, 2025

A 7038: Requires rates paid for rehabilitation and opioid treatment be pursuant to certain fee schedules published by the office of addiction services and supports

Requires rates paid for rehabilitation and opioid treatment be pursuant to certain fee schedules published by the office of addiction services and supports.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSets fee schedules for rehabilitation and opioid treatment, supporting criminal justice reform through structured funding of treatment programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates fee schedules for opioid treatment rehabilitation rates, ensuring standardized reimbursement and access to critical healthcare services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New York · Senate Dec 19, 2025

S 5369: Authorizes increased equity withdrawals by certain non-public residential health care facilities

Authorizes increased equity withdrawals by certain non-public residential health care facilities; establishes the nursing home worker recruitment and safety fund.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes nursing home worker recruitment/safety fund, improving staffing and safety in healthcare facilities, directly supporting healthcare services.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes nursing home worker recruitment and safety fund, directly improving workplace safety standards for healthcare workers.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New York · Assembly Dec 19, 2025

A 3986: Relates to the use of virtual credit cards by insurers and certain health care plans

Authorizes an insurer to pay a claim for reimbursement made by a provider using a credit card, virtual credit card or electronic funds transfer payment method that imposes on the provider a free or similar charge to process the payment; defines "virtual credit card" as a single-use series of numbers linked to a fixed dollar amount and provided by an insurer to a provider for the purpose of paying a claim for health care services performed by the provider; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes payment processing fees for healthcare providers when insurers use virtual credit cards, reducing administrative costs and supporting provider financial stability.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

vetoed · New York · Assembly Dec 19, 2025

A 26: Prohibits Medicaid from requiring prior authorization for certain HIV medications

Prohibits Medicaid service providers from requiring prior authorization for antiretroviral prescription drugs for the treatment or prevention of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves prior authorization barriers for HIV medications, improving patient access to critical treatments under Medicaid.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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vetoed · New York · Senate Dec 19, 2025

S 929: Provides for the protection of health information

Provides for the protection of health information; establishes requirements for communications to individuals about their health information; requires either written consent or a designated necessary purpose for the processing of an individual's health information.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects patient health information privacy via consent requirements, directly advancing patient rights safeguards in healthcare policy.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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vetoed · New York · Senate Dec 19, 2025

S 3486: Relates to providing information to patients and the public on hospital rule-based exclusions

Relates to providing information to patients and the public on hospital rule-based exclusions; requires the commissioner of health to collect from each hospital a list of its hospital rule-based exclusions and publish such information on the department's website.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates transparency on hospital exclusions, enabling informed patient decisions and protecting rights through public disclosure of coverage barriers.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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signed · New York · Assembly Dec 19, 2025

A 7411: Permits the commissioner of health to designate local health officials to request copies of certain reports and records

This bill allows New York's Commissioner of Health to authorize local health officials to request death-related records, including autopsy and toxicology reports, from coroners or medical examiners. It requires these officials to provide copies within three business days of record completion. The change directly affects local health departments and coroners' offices by expanding who can access these death records for public health purposes. The law specifically covers records related to deaths, streamlining access for health investigations without altering existing record-keeping requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables faster access to death records for public health monitoring, strengthening data collection for disease tracking and prevention efforts.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

vetoed · New York · Assembly Dec 19, 2025

A 2177: Removes emergency medical services from the limit on real property tax levies by local governments

This bill (A 2177) removes the cost of emergency medical services (EMS) from the property tax levy limit that local governments (like cities and towns) must follow. It directly affects municipalities that fund EMS services, allowing them to cover these costs without triggering the tax cap. The key change adds a specific exemption in law, so EMS expenditures no longer count toward the maximum tax levy allowed under current rules. This provides local governments with more budget flexibility for essential emergency response services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts EMS costs from tax levy cap, increasing budget flexibility for essential public services without raising taxes.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts EMS costs from tax limits, enabling stable local funding for emergency medical services, directly supporting healthcare delivery.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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vetoed · New York · Senate Dec 19, 2025

S 1226: Requires public notice and public engagement when a general hospital seeks to close entirely or a unit that provides maternity, mental health or substance use care

Requires public notice and public engagement when a general hospital seeks to close entirely or a unit that provides maternity, mental health or substance use care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires public notice before closing mental health/maternity units, protecting access to critical healthcare services and preventing service disruptions.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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