Healthcare

passed · New York · Senate Jun 4, 2026

S 1965: Restores medical futility as a basis for DNR

This bill restores a specific medical futility standard as a basis for Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders under New York's Family Health Care Decisions Act (FHCDA) and surrogate court procedures. It allows two physicians to determine that resuscitation would be medically futile - meaning it would not restore heart or breathing function or would lead to repeated cardiac arrests before death - without requiring court approval for patients lacking decision-making capacity. This directly affects patients in end-of-life situations, particularly those with developmentally disabilities, by providing a clearer pathway for DNR orders when resuscitation is deemed ineffective. The change amends existing laws to reintroduce this criterion, which was removed when the FHCDA replaced New York's former DNR law in 2010.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestores physician determination of medical futility for DNR without court approval, streamlining end-of-life care decisions and protecting patient rights under FHCDA.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 4, 2026

S 8426: Prevents discrimination by insurers based on an individual's mental health or substance use disorder

Prevents discrimination by insurers based on an individual's mental health or substance use disorder; incorporates into law federal enforcement rules set forth in the federal mental health parity and addiction equity act of 2008.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents insurer discrimination against mental health/substance use disorder patients, enforcing parity and protecting patient rights under federal law.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents insurer discrimination on mental health/substance use, ensuring equal access to benefits, aligns with expanding worker benefits under employment standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed both · New York · Assembly Jun 3, 2026

A 10310: Requires residential health care facilities to maintain hospice agreements to ensure access to hospice services for eligible residents

This bill (A 10310) requires residential health care facilities to maintain written agreements with licensed hospice programs. It directly affects facilities caring for residents eligible for hospice services, mandating coordination on key areas like timely referrals, care planning, medication management, and emergency response. The agreements must address six specific coordination points, including roles of facility and hospice staff and after-hours communication. Facilities that fail to comply face enforcement under health law, and the Department of Health will provide implementation guidance and model contracts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hospice agreements to improve access and coordination for eligible residents, directly advancing healthcare access and patient care standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 3, 2026

S 2666: Relates to the provision of breast pumps to certain incarcerated birth parents and allowing children to remain with their incarcerated birth parent for a period of time

Relates to the provision of breast pumps and related collection and storage materials to certain incarcerated nursing birth parents who are confined in or committed to an institution or local correctional facility with or without their child subject to specific time limitations; requires institutions and local correctional facilities to provide pumps and related materials to such incarcerated birth parents; requires the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to issue an annual report on data relating to incarcerated birth parents.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates correctional facilities to provide breast pumps and allow infant visits, supporting family reunification and rehabilitation - key criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates provision of breast pumps (medical device) for incarcerated nursing parents, directly improving maternal/infant health access in correctional facilities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed both · New York · Assembly Jun 3, 2026

A 9026: Requires the testing of baby food and infant formula for toxic heavy metals and the disclosure of such test results

This bill (A 9026, "Baby Food Safety and Transparency Act") requires baby food manufacturers sold in the state to test products for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury at least monthly using accredited labs. Manufacturers must publicly disclose test results via QR codes on labels showing metal levels and linking to FDA health information. Products exceeding state-established safety limits (based on federal standards) cannot be sold. The law directly affects baby food manufacturers and aims to increase transparency for parents, supplementing but not replacing federal requirements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentTests baby food for environmental pollutants (arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury), requiring disclosure to protect public health from contamination linked to environmental pollution sources.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates toxic metal testing in baby food to protect infant health, directly advancing public health safety standards under healthcare policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 3, 2026

S 1911: Relates to notices of non-renewal provided to a health care professional by a health care plan

This bill clarifies rules for health care plans (like insurance companies and HMOs) when ending contracts with health care professionals (doctors, nurses, etc.). It requires plans to provide written reasons for termination and allow a 30-day review by a panel of three licensed peers before finalizing termination, except in cases of fraud or imminent patient harm. The bill also prohibits termination for protected actions, such as advocating for patients, filing complaints, or requesting a review. These changes apply to all health care professionals licensed in New York under current law, ensuring fairer processes for contract disputes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects healthcare professionals from arbitrary termination for patient advocacy, ensuring continuity of care and patient rights through mandated peer review and written justification.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects health care professionals from retaliatory termination for patient advocacy and complaint-filing, directly advancing worker rights protections in employment contexts.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed both · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 614: Provides for enrollment in medical assistance programs for incarcerated individuals

Provides for enrollment of eligible incarcerated persons in the medical assistance for needy persons program; provides for enrollment of incarcerated individuals in other medical assistance programs, where eligible.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides medical assistance access for released inmates, supporting reintegration and reducing recidivism through healthcare continuity post-release.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides presumptive eligibility for medical assistance upon release from correctional facilities, expanding healthcare access for a vulnerable population by enabling enrollment without delay.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 3188: Limits physician charges for missed appointments by patients

Relates to physician charges for missed appointments by patients; bars physicians from charging fees if a patient arrives on time for appointment but was not seen; requires written policy about missed appointments be prominently posted in patient waiting room and included in bills mailed to patients.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBars physicians from charging patients for missed appointments when they arrived on time, protecting patient rights and preventing unfair fees in healthcare billing practices.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed both · New York · Assembly Jun 2, 2026

A 622: Relates to mandatory health insurance coverage for acupuncture services

This bill requires large group health insurance plans in New York to cover acupuncture services when prescribed by qualified healthcare providers (as defined under Education Law §8211). It applies to plans covering physician office services or comprehensive medical coverage, mandating coverage for acupuncture treatments but allowing reasonable cost-sharing like deductibles or co-pays. The law does not require full coverage without cost-sharing, only that plans include acupuncture as a covered service under specified conditions. It affects insurers offering large group plans and patients relying on such coverage for acupuncture treatments. The bill takes effect 90 days after enactment for new or renewed policies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for acupuncture services, expanding patient access to medical treatments under defined conditions without restricting benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 1, 2026

S 9497: Requires insurers to cover the substitution of a brand name prescription drug when the federal food and drug administration has declared that there is a supply issue with a generic drug

Requires insurers to cover the substitution of a brand name prescription drug when the federal food and drug administration has declared that there is a supply issue with a generic drug.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires insurers to cover brand name drugs during generic shortages, improving patient access to necessary medications and protecting healthcare continuity.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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