Healthcare

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4716: Prohibits the withholding of state funding for service providers for people with developmental disabilities due to the receipt of certain COVID-19 federal funds

Prohibits the withholding of state funding for service providers for people with developmental disabilities due to the receipt of certain COVID-19 federal funds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents defunding of disability service providers receiving federal pandemic funds, ensuring continued healthcare access for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3185: Requires a school nurse to be on the premises during school hours in any school having an enrollment of 100 pupils or more

This bill requires all public schools with 100 or more enrolled students to have a registered professional nurse physically present on-site during all school hours. It amends education law to mandate that school boards ensure this nurse is available to assist with student health needs, including emergencies and health instruction. The requirement directly affects schools meeting the enrollment threshold, ensuring consistent health support for students during school days.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school nurses for health support, directly enhancing student safety and access to care during school hours, aligning with education health program strengthening.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school nurses on-site for student health needs during school hours, improving access to health services in schools per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jun 4, 2026

A 4706: Relates to modernizing the chiropractic scope of practice; repealer

This New York bill (A 4706) modernizes chiropractic practice by expanding what licensed chiropractors can legally do. It specifically allows chiropractors to perform diagnostic clinical lab tests related to neuromuscular health, provide nutritional counseling, and dispense approved supplements like vitamins and minerals - activities previously restricted. The bill also clarifies that chiropractors may use X-rays, physical therapies, and certain non-invasive treatments while maintaining clear limits: they cannot prescribe drugs, treat infectious diseases, perform surgery, or use ionizing radiation beyond diagnostic X-rays. This directly affects licensed chiropractors and their patients in New York, updating their scope to include modern wellness and diagnostic practices within existing legal boundaries.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands chiropractor scope to include diagnostic tests, nutrition counseling, and supplements, enhancing patient access to neuromuscular health services without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4596: Relates to criminal history records of maintenance employees in adult residential health and assisted living facilities

This bill requires background checks for maintenance employees at adult residential health and assisted living facilities. It defines "maintenance employees" broadly to include janitors, security staff, beauticians, and groundskeepers (but excludes volunteers), and mandates that the Department of Health can access their criminal history records. Courts must notify the Department of Health within seven days of any conviction involving these employees, and providers must submit fingerprints when requesting records. The law applies directly to facilities like assisted living centers and residential health care providers, ensuring background checks cover maintenance staff who previously fell outside standard requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires background checks for facility maintenance staff to prevent criminal access to vulnerable populations, enhancing safety protocols in criminal justice-related settings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures resident safety in healthcare facilities by requiring background checks for maintenance staff in adult residential health facilities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1367: Relates to health care proxy information on driver's licenses; repealer

This bill requires New York driver's license applicants to see clear questions about health care proxies and living wills on their applications. It mandates checkboxes labeled "yes" or "skip this question" with space for a health care agent's name and similar wording for living wills. The commissioner must include these sections on all applications and maintain related documents at license offices. The bill repeals an outdated section of the vehicle and traffic law to implement these changes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires healthcare proxy/living will questions on driver's licenses, facilitating advance care planning and protecting patient rights in healthcare decisions.90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7689: Prohibits insurers from cancelling life insurance policies where certain medical information is provided to the insurer at the time of application

This bill requires life insurance applicants to provide medical history at application through a physician's statement or medical records. If insurers accept the application based on this disclosure, they cannot later cancel the policy or reject the application due to the disclosed medical conditions. It directly protects applicants with pre-existing health conditions who voluntarily share their medical history upfront. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents life insurance cancellation for disclosed pre-existing conditions, protecting patient rights and advancing fair insurance coverage under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed · New York · Senate May 29, 2026

S 4850: Includes second degree relatives in certain criteria for breast cancer screenings to be covered under insurance plans

Provides that individuals may receive breast cancer screenings under an insurance plan when such individual has a second degree relative with a prior history of breast cancer.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands insurance coverage for breast cancer screenings to include second-degree relatives, increasing preventive care access for at-risk patients.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3600: Decriminalizes possession of controlled substances, establishes the drug decriminalization task force; repealer

Eliminates criminal and civil penalties for possession of controlled substances; establishes the drug decriminalization task force to develop recommendations for reforming state laws, regulations and practices so that they align with the stated goal of treating substance use disorder as a disease, rather than a criminal behavior.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDecriminalizes drug possession, treats substance use as health issue not crime, aligns with reform goals to reduce criminalization and prioritize treatment over punishment.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly treats substance use disorder as a disease (not criminal), removing barriers to healthcare access and aligning with public health approaches to treatment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1722: Relates to reducing pharmacy benefit manager costs

This bill requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to use a pass-through pricing model for health insurance plans, meaning they can only charge health insurers for actual drug costs, dispensing fees paid to pharmacies, and a capped administrative fee. PBMs must disclose and pass through all rebates, discounts, and other financial benefits they receive from drug manufacturers to health plans, and they are prohibited from using "spread pricing" (charging health plans more than the actual pharmacy payment plus a reasonable fee). The bill defines "pharmacy benefit manager" as entities that contract with pharmacies on behalf of health insurers or plans to manage drug benefits. These requirements apply to all health insurers offering coverage under New York's insurance laws and are subject to oversight by the state insurance department.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareForces PBMs to pass rebates to insurers, reducing hidden costs in drug pricing and lowering overall healthcare expenses for plans.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7094: Enacts the reproductive health care facilities and religious worship access act

Enacts the reproductive health care facilities and religious worship access act; provides that the crime of criminal interference with health care services or religious worship shall be established by the mens rea of knowingly injuring, intimidating or interfering with a person obtaining or providing or assisting in obtaining or providing reproductive health services or a place of religious worship; includes in the definition of such crime engaging in a course of conduct or repeatedly committing acts within twenty-five feet of the premises of a reproductive health care facility or a place of religious worship; defines such premises; provides for a civil cause of action for any person harmed by conduct constituting such a crime.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill criminalizes interference with reproductive health services access, protecting patient rights and access to care under healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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