Healthcare

in committee · New York · Assembly May 12, 2025

A 7832: Relates to physical therapist assistants

Provides that supervision by a licensed physical therapist of a physical therapist assistant shall be continuous but shall not require the physical presence of the licensed physical therapist at the time and place where services are being performed; requires a licensed physical therapist to be available for consultation with the physical therapist assistant or the patient within a reasonable amount of time.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables flexible supervision for physical therapist assistants, improving access to physical therapy services without requiring physical presence of supervising therapists.85% confidence

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1651: Relates to special provisions for not-for-profit sales

This bill (S 1651) amends New York's general business law to regulate how physicians dispense hearing aids. It prohibits licensed physicians (including otolaryngologists) from selling hearing aids for profit and requires them to provide free repairs or service on any hearing aid they dispensed. The law applies specifically to physicians who currently dispense hearing aids, mandating compliance with additional sections of the law regarding their practice. The bill does not affect general not-for-profit organizations, as its focus is solely on medical professionals' hearing aid dispensing practices.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits physician profit from hearing aid sales and mandates free repairs, improving patient access and protecting rights in hearing healthcare services.90% confidence

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6934: Provides state assistance and support to members of Gold Star families; repealer

Enacts the "Gold Star Families Support Act"; provides a member of a Gold Star family with state paid health insurance; removes provisions relating to veterans with disabilities; expands employment of veterans to employment of veterans and members of a Gold Star family; establishes the Gold Star family tuition fund to be distributed to any public or private educational institution from grades pre-K through graduate and post-graduate school shall be deposited with any school providing free tuition to a member of a Gold Star family; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes Gold Star family tuition fund covering pre-K through graduate education, directly funding educational access and expanding tuition support.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly provides state paid health insurance to Gold Star families, expanding health coverage.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Insurance

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jun 10, 2025

S 6413: Relates to establishing a state amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and motor neuron disease (MND) registry

Requires the department of health to establish a registry for the collection of information on the incidence and prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and motor neuron disease (MND) in the state; requires that every physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant and general hospital that diagnoses or treats a patient diagnosed with ALS or MND give notice to the department of cases of ALS or MND coming under their care; requires that patients diagnosed with ALS or MND be provided with written and verbal notice regarding the collection of information and patient data on ALS and MND and provides a method for patients to opt out of the collection of data; provides for duties of the department and the commissioner of health in relation thereto.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes ALS/MND registry for public health data collection, supporting disease tracking and future healthcare planning90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals

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

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jun 13, 2025

A 8086: Directs counties to develop and maintain comprehensive county emergency medical system plans

Directs counties, in coordination with their regional emergency medical services councils, to develop and maintain comprehensive county emergency medical system plans that provide for coordinated emergency medical systems within such counties.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates coordinated emergency medical system planning, enhancing access and infrastructure for emergency healthcare services under public health programs.85% confidence

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Apr 27, 2026

S 7894: Establishes a master of social work paid field practicum pilot program

Establishes a master of social work paid field practicum pilot program to provide a stipend to students who are enrolled in a master of social work program for the first 450 hours of field practicum completed towards such masters' degree; requires the office of mental health to complete a report making recommendations on how to expand the pilot program to increase the number of social workers in the state, improve representation in the field of social work, mitigate student debt and improve labor conditions for social workers upon graduation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides stipends to MSW students (higher education), reducing debt and expanding social work workforce relevant to educational access.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds MSW field work stipends to increase social workers, directly supporting mental health services as required by mental health office report95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3325: Relates to limiting exemptions from immunizations; repealer

Limits exemptions from immunization requirements by local governments and private entities to medical exemptions; repeals religious exemptions for certain post-secondary students.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill limits immunization exemptions to medical only, repealing religious exemptions for students, strengthening public health vaccination requirements.95% confidence

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly May 19, 2026

A 7285: Relates to the first responder peer support program act

This bill establishes the "First Responder Peer Support Program Act" to create a statewide grant program for peer-to-peer mental health support services. It directly affects first responders - including firefighters, police officers, EMTs, 911 operators, and correctional officers - by providing funding for local programs offering trauma-informed training and mental health resources. Key provisions include requiring standardized training on trauma, suicide prevention, and resilience; mandating strict confidentiality for participants; and prohibiting disclosure of personal information to employers. Grants are allocated to eligible local entities, with annual reports tracking program use without identifying individuals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health peer support for first responders via state grants, providing trauma training and resources - directly supports mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 994: Relates to the protection of mental health practitioners

Imposes a duty to protect upon mental health practitioners; requires reasonable efforts to modify aspects of treatment in order to reduce or eliminate the risk of harm, initiating procedures for hospitalization, notifying the intended victim or victims, or notifying law enforcement officials when a person directly communicates a threat of serious, imminent harm to self or against a readily identifiable person or persons, and the threat includes both a serious intent to act and the ability to carry out the threat; does not require a mental health practitioner to take any action which, in the exercise of reasonable professional judgment, would endanger such mental health practitioner or increase the danger to a potential victim or victims.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill imposes duty on mental health practitioners to protect patients from harm, aligning with patient safety and mental health service protection indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track