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 No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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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 No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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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 No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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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 No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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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 No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Apr 16, 2026

S 1912: Relates to medical assistance coverage for medically tailored meals

This bill requires state medical assistance programs to cover medically tailored meals and medical nutrition therapy for people with chronic conditions. It directly affects individuals with limited daily living abilities who need specialized nutrition to manage illnesses like diabetes or heart disease, as ordered by healthcare providers. The law mandates coverage for nutritional assessments, counseling, and prescribed meals provided by certified dietitians or nutritionists. Implementation requires the health commissioner to adopt regulations within 180 days of the bill's enactment, with federal funding participation required for these services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates state medical assistance funding for medically tailored meals, increasing public healthcare spending on essential services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates state medical assistance programs to cover medically tailored meals and therapy for chronic conditions, expanding health coverage and improving patient access to specialized nutrition services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Apr 1, 2026

S 2648: Relates to insurance coverage for dental night guards

Provides that dental insurance coverage shall include coverage for night guards; defines dental night guards; provides that dental night guards shall be covered under Medicaid.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates dental insurance coverage for night guards, including Medicaid, expanding health coverage under insurance policies.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 30, 2026

S 707: Relates to certain data required in an annual report on the administration of managed long term care plans

This bill (S 707) requires managed long term care plans in New York to include specific data in annual reports to the state Department of Health, replacing previous biannual reporting. It mandates detailed metrics on service utilization (like hours of personal care), expenditures (broken down by service type), complaint resolution rates, timely access to care, and rebalancing efforts shifting care from nursing homes to home-based settings. These reports must be published annually on the Department’s website in an interactive format for public comparison, covering statewide and regional data. The changes directly affect managed care plans (which provide long-term care services), the Department of Health (which collects and publishes the data), and enrollees (whose care quality and access are measured).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates detailed data reporting on service utilization, rebalancing to home-based care, and access metrics to improve long-term care oversight and patient access.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 24, 2026

S 438: Establishes the prescription drug supply chain transparency act

Establishes the prescription drug supply chain transparency act; requires pharmacy services administrative organizations, pharmacy switch companies and rebate aggregators to register with the insurance department and to provide certain disclosures relating to the ownership and activities of such entities; relates to deposits into the pharmacy benefit manager regulatory fund.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires pharmacy entities to disclose ownership/activities, enhancing supply chain transparency to protect patient access and safety in drug coverage.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 24, 2026

S 3689: Prohibits the eviction of tenants for using medical marihuana for a certified medical use

Bill S 3689 amends the real property actions and proceedings law to protect tenants using medical marihuana. It prohibits landlords from evicting a tenant from a residential unit solely because of their certified medical use of medical marihuana. The bill establishes this as a defense for tenants in eviction proceedings. However, it also clarifies that landlords retain their legal rights to recover possession for any other lawful grounds not related to medical marihuana use.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects tenants using medical marijuana for certified medical use from eviction, safeguarding patient access to healthcare treatment and aligning with patient rights protection in healthcare.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly protects tenant rights by prohibiting eviction for certified medical marijuana use, directly strengthening tenant protections under housing policies.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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