Healthcare

in committee · New York · Senate Feb 27, 2026

S 5296: Establishes Nicole's law, which provides for treatment of individuals with self-inflicted, life-threatening injuries

S 5296, "Nicole's Law," requires hospitals in the state to implement specific protocols for patients admitted with self-inflicted, life-threatening injuries like suicide attempts or drug overdoses. Hospitals must review a patient's history of such injuries, contact family/caregivers for background, and extend inpatient stays based on prior incidents. Upon discharge, hospitals must provide families with 48-hour notice, hold care planning meetings, connect patients to community-based mental health services, and schedule follow-up checks. The law also mandates clinical trials to offer crisis resources and referrals if participants disclose past suicide attempts. This directly affects hospitals, patients with repeated self-harm, and community mental health providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to implement mental health protocols for self-harm cases, enhancing patient care and community referrals per bill summary95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate May 20, 2026

S 514: Relates to the mandatory coverage of hearing aids by insurers and other organizations

This bill requires large group health insurance plans to cover hearing aids for policyholders who receive a medical evaluation and have them fitted by a licensed hearing aid provider. It mandates coverage for the cost of hearing aids (up to $2,500 per ear every 36 months) but prohibits insurers from denying coverage based on brand, style, or technology. The law applies to all large group medical, major medical, or comprehensive health insurance policies and ensures coverage for in-network providers. It directly affects insured individuals with hearing loss and the insurers offering these plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for hearing aids, expanding patient access to essential health services under specified cost limits and prohibiting coverage denials.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6686: Requires pre-admission notification of policies authorizing the refusal to follow directives in health care proxies that are contrary to a hospital's operating principles

Requires pre-admission notification of policies authorizing the refusal to follow directives in health care proxies that are contrary to a hospital's operating principles.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to notify patients about policy conflicts with healthcare proxies, protecting patient autonomy and informed consent in care decisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5798: Relates to access to prescription drugs for chronic weight management

Requires managed care providers and the medical assistance program shall cover prescription drugs approved by the federal food and drug administration for chronic weight management in adults with obesity with at least one weight-related condition.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates coverage of FDA-approved weight management drugs under insurance, expanding access to treatment for obesity-related conditions.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2033: Establishes a deferred compensation health insurance premium deduction

Establishes a tax deduction for a taxpayer who is a beneficiary of a deferred compensation plan and who elects to make a distribution of such deferred compensation in order to pay for qualified health insurance premiums, in an amount equal to six thousand dollars.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax deduction for health insurance premiums using deferred compensation, providing tax relief to eligible taxpayers under state tax policy.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides tax deduction for health insurance premiums, reducing out-of-pocket costs and improving affordability for individuals with deferred compensation plans.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8604: Provides additional support to medically fragile children

This bill requires health insurers to review coverage requests for medically fragile children differently, considering their unique medical needs rather than using standard adult guidelines. It mandates case-by-case decisions for services like skilled nursing, therapy, and home health care to help these children reach age-appropriate functional capacity. Insurers must pay for inpatient hospital or residential care days when specialized home services aren't available or when waiting for a residential facility bed. The law directly affects children with complex medical conditions requiring 24/7 care, their families, and health insurers managing Medicaid or private plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to cover specialized care for medically fragile children, expanding access and protecting patient rights under healthcare coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Hospitals Medicaid

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 2113: Relates to Medicaid accountable care organizations

Senate Bill 2113 allows Medicaid accountable care organizations (ACOs) comprised of private physician practices to purchase group health insurance for their members and employees. The bill amends insurance law to create a new category for these specific ACO policies, requiring the organizations to be established for purposes other than just obtaining insurance and to have been active for at least two years. These policies must cover a minimum of 100 individuals at the time of issue and can be funded by the ACO, members, or both. It also exempts qualifying ACO policies from certain small group rating rules, enabling them to access experience-rated health insurance.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables Medicaid ACOs to purchase group insurance, expanding coverage options for members/employees through new insurance category requirements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 584: Relates to the ability for school districts to implement telehealth school-based mental health clinics

Grants school districts the ability to implement telehealth school-based mental health clinics; establishes the student mental telehealth reimbursement fund; relates to funding the student mental telehealth reimbursement fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes student mental telehealth reimbursement fund, allocating state funds for school-based mental health services as a public health program.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes telehealth mental health clinics in schools and creates a reimbursement fund, directly enhancing student mental health services and access within educational settings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes telehealth mental health clinics in schools with dedicated funding, directly expanding access to mental health services through school-based care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Mental Health Telehealth

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1903: Restricts consecutive hours of work for health care workers

This bill limits health care workers, including nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel, to their regularly scheduled work hours without mandatory overtime. Exceptions allow longer shifts only during declared emergencies (like natural disasters or public health crises), federal/state emergency declarations, or when completing an ongoing medical/surgical procedure. It specifically excludes doctors, residents, and security staff from this definition. The law aims to protect patient safety by preventing excessive staff fatigue through concrete scheduling limits. Employers cannot use on-call time to bypass these restrictions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareLimits mandatory overtime for nurses/assistive staff to protect patient safety, aligning with support indicators like preventing burnout-related errors.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRestricts mandatory overtime for nurses/UAPs to improve workplace safety and protect labor rights, directly aligning with worker protection indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Public Health Labor Standards

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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

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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