Healthcare

passed · New York · Senate Apr 22, 2026

S 2057: Enacts the "beauty justice act"

Enacts the "beauty justice act"; provides for the regulation of ingredients in personal care products and cosmetics; prohibits the sale of personal care products and cosmetic products containing certain restricted products.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates harmful cosmetic ingredients, a public health measure to protect consumers from health risks, aligning with public health programs under healthcare.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

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 Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · New York · Senate Apr 20, 2026

S 5340: Allows medical assistants to administer vaccines

This bill allows medical assistants in outpatient clinics to draw and administer vaccines under direct supervision by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. It specifically permits this for vaccines recommended by federal health authorities (like the CDC), requiring medical assistants to complete required training and receive adequate oversight. The law directly affects medical assistants, clinics, and healthcare providers who administer routine vaccines, expanding their scope of practice for vaccination tasks. Key provisions include mandatory federal vaccine recommendations, required training, and supervision requirements to ensure patient safety. The bill does not change vaccine types or eligibility but modifies who can legally administer them in office settings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands vaccine administration scope to medical assistants under supervision, increasing access to routine immunizations without restricting services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

Track

passed · New York · Senate Apr 16, 2026

S 354: Expands the healthcare services provided by telehealth

This bill expands telehealth healthcare coverage by requiring insurers and government programs to reimburse telehealth services at the same rate as in-person visits, with specific exceptions. It ensures telehealth providers are paid equally for most services, though they won't be reimbursed for facility costs (like clinic fees) that weren't incurred during virtual visits. Mental health services delivered via telehealth - covered under specific mental hygiene laws - must receive full in-person reimbursement rates unless a commissioner deems them inappropriate. New telehealth modalities, provider types, or locations require federal funding approval. The bill aims to make telehealth financially equivalent to in-person care for most covered services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal reimbursement for telehealth vs in-person visits, expanding access and requiring full coverage for mental health services under mental hygiene laws.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates equal reimbursement for telehealth services, directly advancing technology-enabled healthcare access and removing financial barriers to telehealth adoption.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

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 Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · New York · Senate Apr 16, 2026

S 3575: Relates to establishing a uterine fibroids awareness and education program

Establishes a uterine fibroids awareness and education program on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of uterine fibroids and the elevated risk for minority women.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes uterine fibroids awareness/education program targeting minority health disparities, aligns with public health education initiatives to improve patient access to information.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · New York · Senate Apr 13, 2026

S 5538: Relates to automatic eligibility for early intervention services for children found to have elevated venous blood lead levels

This bill (S 5538) automatically qualifies children with elevated blood lead levels (5 mcg/dl or higher in venous blood tests) for early intervention services under New York's public health law. It amends the definition of "disability" to include such lead exposure, ensuring these children receive support without additional screening or evaluation. The key mechanism adds lead levels to the list of conditions that trigger automatic eligibility for services like therapy or developmental support. This change directly affects young children diagnosed with lead exposure, streamlining access to critical early care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAutomatically qualifies children with lead exposure for early intervention services, expanding access to public health programs without additional screening or evaluation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

Track

passed · New York · Senate Apr 1, 2026

S 5047: Provides for offering reward or incentive programs

S 5047 allows health insurers and certain corporations to offer reward programs for wellness, preventative care, and health management initiatives to policyholders. The bill permits incentives like discounts or cash rewards, but caps total annual value at $600 per insured member. It also permits insurers to adjust premiums to reflect commission costs within ranges filed with regulators, without violating existing anti-inducement rules. This applies specifically to accident and health insurance policies, not life insurance, and excludes certain community-rated policies. The law aims to support health-focused programs while maintaining clear financial limits for insurers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables wellness/reward programs for preventative care, promoting healthier behaviors and aligning with healthcare access goals without restricting coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

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 absent

Track

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 Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track