Healthcare

passed · New York · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 29: Relates to the reporting of lyme and tick-borne disease infection after death

This bill requires coroners, pathologists, medical examiners, and other qualified medical professionals to report cases of Lyme or other tick-borne diseases discovered during post-mortem examinations to the state health department. It directly affects medical examiners and public health officials by mandating timely reporting of such cases. The key provision specifies that reporting must follow methods set by the health commissioner, ensuring standardized data collection. The goal is to improve public health tracking of tick-borne disease fatalities without changing treatment or prevention policies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates reporting of tick-borne disease cases to health department for improved public health data collection, strengthening disease surveillance and response efforts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 4547: Relates to judicial diversion programs; repealer

S 4547 establishes a dedicated "diversion part" in every county court to handle judicial diversion cases for eligible defendants. It directly affects individuals charged with specific class B, C, D, or E felonies (excluding certain serious offenses like class A felonies) who have a qualifying mental health or substance use diagnosis. The bill requires a clinical evaluation by licensed professionals to determine if diversion is appropriate, including recommendations for evidence-based treatment (like counseling or medication) instead of incarceration. It repeals outdated provisions about alcohol/substance use evaluations and clarifies eligibility criteria for this program.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates judicial diversion programs requiring clinical evaluations and evidence-based treatment for eligible defendants, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration for mental health/substance use cases.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates clinical evaluations and evidence-based treatment referrals for mental health/substance use cases in judicial diversion, directly advancing access to mental health services through the court system.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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died · New York · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 1305: Relates to hospital care for mastectomy, lumpectomy, and lymph node dissection patients

Requires that general hospitals that provide mastectomy surgery, lymph node dissection or lumpectomy provide information to such patients concerning options for breast reconstruction.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to provide breast reconstruction options info to patients, enhancing patient autonomy and access to care per healthcare policy standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 4, 2026

S 8334: Relates to insurance reimbursement for vaccination for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

S 8334 requires health insurance plans to cover all recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (SARS-CoV-2), adding it to a list of mandatory immunizations already covered by New York insurance law. This affects insurance companies, healthcare providers, and patients by mandating reimbursement for the vaccine without cost-sharing. The bill amends multiple sections of New York’s insurance and social services laws to include "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2" in required coverage, aligning with federal standards for biological products. It applies to all insurance contracts effective January 1 after the law takes effect.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for COVID-19 vaccine without cost-sharing, expanding patient access to essential healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 1618: Enacts the "New York affordable drug manufacturing act"

Enacts the "New York affordable drug manufacturing act" to direct the commissioner of health to enter into partnerships to increase competition, lower prices, and address shortages in the market for generic prescription drugs, to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for public and private purchasers, taxpayers, and consumers, and to increase patient access to affordable drugs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates partnerships to lower drug prices, reduce costs for consumers, and increase patient access to affordable medications - directly advancing healthcare affordability.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 4950: Relates to the payment for services at addiction treatment centers operated by the office of addiction services and supports

Requires that services at addiction treatment centers operated by the office of addiction services and supports shall not be refused at such centers if a person is unable to pay.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents refusal of addiction treatment services based on inability to pay, ensuring access to care for all patients regardless of financial status.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 371: Relates to creating a wholesale prescription drug importation program

Creates a wholesale prescription drug importation program which complies with federal standards and regulations for the purpose of generating substantial savings for consumers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates prescription drug importation program to generate consumer savings, directly improving affordability and access to medications under healthcare policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 3203: Preserves access to affordable drugs

Relates to preserving access to affordable drugs; provides that an agreement resolving or settling, on a final or interim basis, a patent infringement claim, in connection with the sale of a pharmaceutical product, shall be presumed to have anticompetitive effects if a nonreference drug filer receives anything of value from another company asserting patent infringement and if the nonreference drug filer agrees to limit or forego research, development, manufacturing, marketing, or sales of the nonreference drug filer's product for any period of time.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill preserves drug affordability by presuming anticompetitive patent settlements that limit generic drug access, directly advancing patient access to affordable medications per healthcare topic definition.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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died · New York · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 6266: Establishes a quality incentive program for managed care providers

Establishes a quality incentive program for managed care providers that is distributed based on managed care providers' performance in meeting quality objectives.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates quality incentives for managed care providers to meet performance goals, improving healthcare service quality and aligning with patient care standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 11, 2026

S 317: Requires anti-bias training for every medical student, medical resident and physician assistant student in the state

Requires anti-bias training for every medical student, medical resident and physician assistant student in the state; requires the department of health to make an annual report on the implementation and effectiveness of such training.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates anti-bias training for medical students in higher education, enhancing curriculum standards within educational institutions.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires anti-bias training for medical students/residents to improve equitable care delivery, aligning with patient access and rights protections in healthcare policy.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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