Healthcare

signed · New York · Senate Dec 12, 2025

S 6693: Modernizes the practice of podiatry

This bill modernizes podiatry practice by expanding podiatrists' scope to include specific ankle surgical procedures. It allows podiatrists with "standard" or "advanced" ankle surgery privileges to perform defined treatments like ankle fracture fixation, fusion, and arthroscopy, while clarifying anatomical boundaries (e.g., procedures limited to the ankle joint and below the tibial tuberosity). The bill creates a new "limited permit" for podiatrists to train under supervision for advanced surgery qualifications. It directly affects licensed podiatrists seeking expanded surgical authority and patients requiring ankle care, without altering broader medical practice rules. The changes require department-issued privileges and specify exact surgical capabilities within defined anatomical limits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands podiatrists' scope to include advanced ankle surgeries, improving patient access to specialized care without requiring referrals to other specialists.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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 | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New York · Senate Dec 5, 2025

S 3355: Includes digital health care service platforms in the definition of temporary health care services agency

This bill amends New York's public health law to explicitly include digital health care platforms (e.g., app-based services connecting workers with facilities) in the legal definition of "temporary health care services agency." It directly affects digital health staffing platforms and health care facilities that use them, requiring these platforms to verify workers' licenses and training before assignments. Key provisions mandate submitting contracts with health facilities to the state within five business days and documenting staff qualifications. The law ensures digital platforms face the same regulatory standards as traditional staffing agencies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates license verification for digital health platforms, enhancing patient safety and regulatory compliance in healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New York · Assembly Dec 5, 2025

A 7563: Relates to the removal of actions to certain courts in an adjoining county

This bill allows criminal cases in counties outside cities with over one million residents to be transferred to specialized mental health courts in neighboring counties. It requires the defendant's motion, consent from both district attorneys, and excludes family violence cases where the accused and victim are family members. The transfer cannot take effect for five days unless the receiving court agrees to accept the case earlier. This creates a formal process for connecting defendants with treatment-focused courts in adjacent jurisdictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates formal process to transfer eligible criminal cases to mental health courts, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through specialized diversion.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes formal process for transferring criminal defendants to mental health courts, expanding access to mental health treatment services as part of the healthcare system.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New York · Senate Dec 5, 2025

S 7223: Relates to authorizing the city of New York to transfer and convey certain city owned property to the Bedford-Stuyvesant volunteer ambulance corps

This bill authorizes New York City to transfer ownership of a specific parcel of city-owned land at 727 Greene Avenue in Brooklyn (Block 1614, Lots 1, 79, and 80) to the Bedford-Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps (BSVAC) at no cost. The transfer enables BSVAC to build a permanent facility to support its emergency medical services, community health programs, and EMS training for the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. The land must be used exclusively for ambulance services, emergency response, community health initiatives, and related programs, with ownership reverting to the city if these purposes are not maintained. The bill recognizes BSVAC’s longstanding service to the community and became law after being signed by the governor on December 5, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes land transfer to ambulance corps for permanent facility, enabling expanded emergency medical services and community health programs in Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

vetoed · New York · Senate Dec 5, 2025

S 8265: Relates to ensuring continued access to backup devices for patients with cochlear implants

This bill requires health insurance to cover backup cochlear implant devices for patients during initial implantation and for all future replacements or upgrades (typically needed every 3-5 years). It directly affects patients with cochlear implants who currently lack access to backup devices after their initial device is installed. The law mandates that large group health insurance policies provide this coverage as long as the patient uses the implant, including for necessary upgrades, while allowing standard deductibles and copays. The bill was passed by the legislature but vetoed by the governor on December 5, 2025, so it has not become law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for backup cochlear devices, expanding patient access to necessary medical equipment previously lacking coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

vetoed · New York · Assembly Dec 5, 2025

A 1988: Enacts the "age-friendly health system enhancement act"

Establishes an age-friendly health system technical assistance center to provide assistance in relation to age-friendly health systems; relates to hospital performance data.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates technical assistance center for age-friendly health systems, improving hospital performance data and patient care for seniors, aligning with healthcare enhancement indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

vetoed · New York · Assembly Dec 5, 2025

A 5155: Relates to veterans health care

Relates to veterans' health care; creates a veteran health care review to ensure veterans and their families have access to health and mental health treatment, including for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, military sexual trauma, reproductive and mental health conditions, and suicide prevention.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates veteran health care review to ensure access to mental health, PTSD, and suicide prevention services, expanding coverage and access for veterans95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates veteran health care review to ensure access to mental health, PTSD, suicide prevention, and reproductive care, advancing healthcare access for veterans.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · New York · Senate Nov 21, 2025

S 4892: Relates to physical therapist assistants

Provides that supervision by a licensed physical therapist of a physical therapist assistant shall be continuous but shall not require the physical presence of the licensed physical therapist at the time and place where services are being performed; requires a licensed physical therapist to be available for consultation with the physical therapist assistant or the patient within a reasonable amount of time.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows flexible supervision for physical therapist assistants, improving access to physical therapy services without requiring physical presence of supervising therapists.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New York · Assembly Nov 21, 2025

A 128: Requires insurance coverage for inhalers at no cost

This bill requires most health insurance plans in New York to cover one rescue inhaler and one maintenance inhaler for asthma treatment at no cost to the patient. It applies to all medical, major medical, and comprehensive health insurance policies that cover prescription drugs, directly affecting asthma patients who rely on these medications. Insurers must provide this coverage without deductibles, copayments, or other cost-sharing, with a narrow exception only for high-deductible plans that would otherwise disqualify patients from health savings accounts. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, for all new or renewed policies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost coverage for asthma inhalers, removing financial barriers and improving patient access to essential medications under insurance coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare