Requires Medicaid to cover gender-affirming care regardless of federal funding; prohibits discriminatory practices by health care entities including hospitals, certain professionals, and insurers; requires insurance coverage for services or treatments for gender dysphoria or gender incongruence.
S 8902 amends New York's social services law to ensure that medical assistance recipients (such as Medicaid beneficiaries) cannot access school-based health center services through managed care programs until at least April 1, 2026. The bill adds a specific provision requiring these services to be provided outside of managed care arrangements during that period. This directly affects medical assistance recipients who use school-based health centers and the managed care organizations that coordinate their care. The law takes effect immediately, but the amendment expires when the underlying section of the law is repealed.
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.
Prohibits the use of restraints on and the use of force against incarcerated individuals during labor and incarcerated individuals who have experienced different pregnancy outcomes, absent extraordinary circumstances, and on pregnant and post-pregnancy persons during a custodial interrogation; provides for certain exceptions for restraints to be used and in such case limits the use to wrist restraints.
Removes the requirement that consent for the payment of certain medical services must occur after such services are administered; requires the superintendent of financial services and the commissioner of health to develop a uniform form for consent for payment; provides that any non-conforming form shall be prohibited and unenforceable.
Establishes the New York dignity in pregnancy and childbirth act; requires hospitals and other facilities that provide perinatal care to implement an evidence-based implicit bias program for all health care providers involved in the perinatal care of patients within those facilities; requires the department of health to publish reports on maternal morbidity and pregnancy related deaths.
This bill increases civil penalties for violations of public health laws. It raises the base penalty from $2,000 to $3,000 per violation, with higher penalties for repeat offenses ($10,000) or violations causing serious harm ($20,000). Nursing home and hospital operators face increased penalties of $5,000 per violation, with excess funds from nursing home penalties directed to a quality improvement program. The changes apply to violations affecting public health safety and redirect collected penalties to specific state health initiatives.
Expands protections regarding violations of safety conditions in adult care facilities; provides penalties for safety violations and operating without a valid license; prohibits reductions in fines in certain circumstances where a patient is endangered or harmed.
This bill amends a previous resolution to update the list of recipients for state funding dedicated to community public health programs in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It authorizes the transfer of these funds to specific state departments or agencies with approval from the Senate's temporary president and the budget director. The legislation requires that any distribution of money follow a plan detailing either a specific list of grantees with their amounts or a clear allocation method, which must be approved by a majority vote of the Senate. Additionally, the bill explicitly includes a grant of $20,000 to HANAC, Inc. as part of the updated funding schedule.
This bill updates the list of organizations receiving state funding for adult and youth mental health programs in the 2025-26 fiscal year. It specifically allocates money to various non-profit groups and community agencies that provide services such as crisis intervention, behavioral support, and outpatient care. The legislation allows these funds to be transferred between state departments with approval from the Senate leadership and budget director, ensuring the money is distributed according to a specific plan. Additionally, it requires that the final list of recipients and their amounts be included in a Senate resolution approved by a majority vote before the funds are spent.
