Healthcare

in committee · New York · Senate Jun 10, 2025

S 6413: Relates to establishing a state amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and motor neuron disease (MND) registry

Requires the department of health to establish a registry for the collection of information on the incidence and prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and motor neuron disease (MND) in the state; requires that every physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant and general hospital that diagnoses or treats a patient diagnosed with ALS or MND give notice to the department of cases of ALS or MND coming under their care; requires that patients diagnosed with ALS or MND be provided with written and verbal notice regarding the collection of information and patient data on ALS and MND and provides a method for patients to opt out of the collection of data; provides for duties of the department and the commissioner of health in relation thereto.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes ALS/MND registry for public health data collection, supporting disease tracking and future healthcare planning90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 10, 2025

S 1804: Requires insurance coverage for certain inhalers at no cost

S 1804 requires health insurance plans in New York to cover one rescue inhaler and one maintenance inhaler for asthma treatment at no cost to the patient, eliminating deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. This applies to all comprehensive health insurance policies (including major medical, group, and health service corporation plans) that cover prescription drugs. The law specifically mandates coverage for inhalers prescribed by a physician or licensed provider, with a limited exception for high-deductible plans that would otherwise disqualify enrollees from health savings accounts. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, for all new or renewed policies after that date. It directly affects New Yorkers with asthma who rely on insurance for inhaler access.

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

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 10, 2025

S 7129: 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 HealthcareCreates veteran health care review to ensure access to mental health treatment, PTSD care, and suicide prevention services, advancing healthcare access for veterans.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill creates a veteran health care review to ensure access to mental health, PTSD, and suicide prevention treatment, directly advancing healthcare access for veterans.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 10, 2025

S 8206: Extends authorization for certain health care professionals licensed to practice in other jurisdictions to practice in this state in connection with an event sanctioned by the New York Road Runners

Extends authorization for certain health care professionals licensed to practice in other jurisdictions to practice in this state in connection with an event sanctioned by the New York Road Runners.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables temporary cross-jurisdictional practice for healthcare providers at a public event, improving access to health services during the event.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 10, 2025

S 6288: 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 HealthcareMandates language assistance to improve patient access to hospital services, directly advancing healthcare accessibility for non-English speakers.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 10, 2025

S 3654: Requires health insurers to provide coverage for speech therapy for stuttering

This bill requires health insurance plans in New York to cover speech therapy for stuttering when recommended by a physician. It applies to all medical, major medical, and comprehensive insurance policies, mandating full coverage for both habilitative (learning new skills) and rehabilitative (regaining skills) speech therapy provided by licensed professionals. Insurers cannot limit coverage by visit count or duration for this service. The bill excludes coverage if therapy is already provided through school-based plans (like IEPs), but allows supplemental coverage outside schools with a physician referral.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for speech therapy, expanding access to necessary healthcare services for stuttering patients.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 9, 2025

S 8011: Amends chapter 668 of the laws of 1977, amending the volunteer firefighters' benefit law relating to disability due to disease or malfunction of the heart or coronary arteries, in relation to the effectiveness

This bill extends the expiration date for disability benefits under New York's volunteer firefighters' benefit law for heart-related conditions. It specifically updates the effective period of provisions covering firefighters disabled by heart disease or coronary artery issues, moving the end date from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2030. The change directly affects volunteer firefighters who qualify for these disability benefits due to qualifying heart conditions. The bill does not alter eligibility criteria or benefit amounts - it only prolongs the current law's validity.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends disability benefits for volunteer firefighters with heart conditions, maintaining healthcare support for qualifying medical conditions without reducing coverage.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends disability benefits for volunteer firefighters with heart conditions, ensuring continued financial support for service-related health issues under workers' compensation framework.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 9, 2025

S 8179: Extends current exemptions of income and resources for public assistance programs

This bill extends existing income and resource exemptions for public assistance programs under the 1997 welfare reform law. It changes the expiration date of these exemptions from August 22, 2025, to August 22, 2027. The extension ensures that individuals and families receiving benefits like SNAP or Medicaid will continue to qualify without losing eligibility due to income changes during this period. The bill also includes a retroactive provision to cover the period starting August 22, 2025, if enacted after that date. This change directly affects low-income households enrolled in state public assistance programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends income/resource exemptions for SNAP/Medicaid eligibility, preserving public assistance funding continuity without interruption or cost increases.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends Medicaid eligibility exemptions, preventing loss of healthcare coverage for low-income individuals by maintaining income/resource thresholds.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 9, 2025

S 8251: Relates extending provisions of law relating to physical therapy assistant services in public and private primary and secondary schools

This bill extends the existing law authorizing physical therapy assistants to provide services in public and private primary and secondary schools, keeping the provision active until June 30, 2030 (previously set to expire in 2025). It directly affects physical therapy assistants working in school settings, ensuring they can continue delivering these services without interruption. The key change is updating the expiration date to 2030, maintaining current access to school-based physical therapy support.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends access to school-based physical therapy services (a student support service) by preventing expiration, maintaining educational access and continuity for students in K-12 settings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends school-based physical therapy services until 2030, maintaining access to healthcare for students. Directly supports healthcare access in educational settings.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 6, 2025

S 7622: Extends certain provisions authorizing certain mental health practitioners to engage in diagnosis and the development of assessment-based treatment plans

Extends certain provisions authorizing certain mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychoanalysts to engage in diagnosis and the development of assessment-based treatment plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends diagnostic and treatment authority to mental health practitioners, expanding access to mental health services per indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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