New York Health Policy Monitor is a practitioner-focused newsletter covering legislation affecting healthcare delivery, financing, and public health in New York State.
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Prepared by Isaac Michaels, DrPH · December 23, 2025 · 16 min read
On December 19, 2025, the Governor took action on a large volume of legislation, signing numerous health-related bills into law while also issuing several vetoes. Among the newly enacted laws are measures that authorize increased equity withdrawals for certain nursing homes (S5369), regulate insurer use of virtual credit cards for provider payments (A3986), and require warning labels on addictive social media feeds (S4505).
Conversely, several significant bills were vetoed. These include proposals that would have required public notice for hospital closures (S1226), mandated insurance coverage for outpatient care by creative arts therapists (A3319), prohibited Medicaid prior authorization for certain HIV medications (A26), and established new requirements for protecting personal health information (S929).
In addition to these executive actions, a number of new health-related bills were introduced and referred to committee on the same day, addressing topics from Medicaid coverage for GLP-1 agonists (A9360) to the creation of a health benefit and cost commission (A9367).
Topics: Telehealth & Digital Health
Sponsor: Alex Bores (Assembly — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 2
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: Signed by Governor
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Senate Version: S2105
Latest Vote: Floor — June 11, 2025 (Aye: 59; Nay: 0;
Excused: 4)
Summary: This law authorizes an
insurer to pay a provider’s reimbursement claim using a credit card,
virtual credit card, or electronic funds transfer that imposes a fee on
the provider. It defines a ‘virtual credit card’ as a single-use series
of numbers for a fixed dollar amount for paying a health care
claim.
Affected Entities: Health insurers, health care
providers, third-party payment processors.
Practical Implications: This law provides regulatory
clarity on the use of virtual credit cards for claim payments. Providers
may see continued use of payment methods that include processing fees,
impacting revenue cycle management. Insurers using these payment models
must ensure their practices align with the specific definitions and
provisions outlined in the law.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3986/
Topics: Workforce & Licensing
Sponsor: Judy Griffin (Assembly — Democrat, Long
Island)
Co-sponsors: 47
Sponsorship: Bipartisan
Status: Signed by Governor
Action Date: December 18, 2025
Senate Version: S6244
Latest Vote: Floor — June 10, 2025 (Aye: 58; Nay: 0;
Excused: 5)
Summary: This law, the
‘Lieutenant Joseph Banish mental health act’, establishes a law
enforcement peer support program and makes communications within that
program confidential, with certain exceptions. It defines terms and
outlines when disclosure is permitted.
Affected Entities: Law enforcement agencies, law
enforcement officers, mental health providers.
Practical Implications: Law enforcement agencies can
now establish peer support programs with statutory confidentiality
protections. This may encourage more officers to seek mental health
support. Agencies and program administrators will need to develop
policies that align with the law’s specific confidentiality rules and
its exceptions, ensuring peer counselors are trained on these legal
boundaries.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6721/
Topics: Behavioral Health / Substance Use; Workforce
& Licensing
Sponsor: David Weprin (Assembly — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 1
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: Signed by Governor
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Senate Version: S6897
Latest Vote: Floor — June 12, 2025 (Aye: 59; Nay: 0;
Excused: 4)
Summary: This law requires that
payment rates for rehabilitation and opioid treatment services be based
on fee schedules published by the Office of Addiction Services and
Supports (OASAS).
Affected Entities: Addiction treatment providers,
health insurers, Medicaid managed care plans, OASAS.
Practical Implications: This law standardizes
reimbursement for certain addiction treatment services, tying them to
official OASAS fee schedules. Providers may see more predictable payment
rates, while insurers and managed care plans must ensure their payment
systems are aligned with the specified schedules, potentially requiring
updates to contracts and claims processing logic.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7038/
Sponsor: Billy Jones (Assembly — Democrat, North
Country)
Co-sponsors: 3
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: Signed by Governor
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Senate Version: S7818
Latest Vote: Floor — June 10, 2025 (Aye: 58; Nay: 0;
Excused: 5)
Summary: This law permits the
commissioner of health to designate local health officials to request
copies of reports and records related to a death.
Affected Entities: Department of Health, local health
departments, medical examiners, coroners.
Practical Implications: This law may streamline the
process for local health departments to obtain necessary records for
public health surveillance and investigation. Localities may need to
establish clear protocols with the state DOH for the designation of
officials and the handling of sensitive records.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7411/
Topics: Hospital Finance & Regulation; Behavioral
Health / Substance Use; Pharmaceuticals & Rx Policy; Public Health /
Prevention
Sponsor: Andrew Gounardes (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 6
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: Signed by Governor
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Assembly Version: A5346
Latest Vote: Floor — June 12, 2025 (Aye: 59; Nay: 0;
Excused: 4)
Summary: This law requires social
media platforms with features like addictive feeds, autoplay, infinite
scroll, or push notifications to display warning labels. The
commissioner of mental health is directed to design the
label.
Affected Entities: Social media companies, Office of
Mental Health.
Practical Implications: Social media platforms
operating in New York will be required to implement warning labels on
their services. This will necessitate technical changes to user
interfaces and compliance with the specific label design developed by
the Office of Mental Health. This represents a new regulatory
requirement for tech companies focused on public mental
health.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4505/
Topics: Hospital Finance & Regulation; Workforce
& Licensing; Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Cordell Cleare (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: Signed by Governor
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Assembly Version: A1464
Latest Vote: Floor — June 04, 2025 (Aye: 58; Nay: 0;
Excused: 5)
Summary: This law streamlines
oversight of continuing care retirement communities by transferring
powers and duties from the Continuing Care Retirement Community Council
directly to the Commissioner of Health, and repeals related
provisions.
Affected Entities: Continuing care retirement
communities (CCRCs), Department of Health.
Practical Implications: This law centralizes regulatory
authority over CCRCs within the Department of Health. CCRCs will now
interact directly with DOH for oversight functions previously handled by
a separate council. This could change reporting structures, approval
processes, and the primary points of contact for regulatory matters,
aiming for more efficient oversight.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4585/
Sponsor: Robert Jackson (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 1
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: Signed by Governor
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Assembly Version: A1847
Latest Vote: Floor — June 13, 2025 (Aye: 59; Nay: 0;
Excused: 4)
Summary: This law provides a
performance-of-duty disability presumption for paid, competitive civil
service members of a paid sanitation department who contract
leptospirosis, resulting in total or partial disability or death. The
presumption applies if a pre-employment physical examination did not
reveal evidence of the condition.
Affected Entities: Municipal sanitation departments,
sanitation workers, public retirement systems.
Practical Implications: This law simplifies the process
for sanitation workers to qualify for disability retirement benefits if
they are diagnosed with leptospirosis. Municipalities and public
retirement systems will need to update their disability determination
procedures to incorporate this new presumption, which may affect
disability claims processing and potentially the systems’ financial
liabilities.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4824/
Topics: Workforce & Licensing; Public Health /
Prevention
Sponsor: Brad Hoylman-Sigal (Senate — Democrat, New
York City)
Co-sponsors: 16
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: Signed by Governor
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Assembly Version: A5480
Latest Vote: Floor — May 22, 2025 (Aye: 37; Nay: 20;
Excused: 5)
Summary: This law protects
individuals and entities in New York who provide or receive legally
protected health activities, such as reproductive and gender-affirming
care, from out-of-state criminal or civil liability or professional
sanctions.
Affected Entities: Health care providers, hospitals,
clinics, patients seeking reproductive or gender-affirming
care.
Practical Implications: This law creates legal ‘safe
harbor’ protections for providers in New York offering care that may be
illegal in other states. Health systems and providers offering these
services may need to update their legal and compliance policies to
understand the scope of these protections, particularly regarding
out-of-state data requests, subpoenas, or extradition
attempts.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4914/
Topics: Long-Term Care / Nursing Homes; Health Equity /
Access
Sponsor: Gustavo Rivera (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 1
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: Signed by Governor
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Assembly Version: A2051
Latest Vote: Floor — June 10, 2025 (Aye: 58; Nay: 0;
Excused: 5)
Summary: This law authorizes
certain non-public residential health care facilities to make increased
equity withdrawals and establishes a fund for nursing home worker
recruitment and safety.
Affected Entities: Non-public nursing homes, nursing
home operators, health care worker unions.
Practical Implications: This law alters the financial
regulations for some nursing homes, potentially allowing operators
greater flexibility in accessing facility equity. These facilities will
need to navigate the new rules for withdrawals and understand the
mechanics of the newly established worker recruitment and safety fund,
which could introduce new funding streams or application
processes.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5369/
Topics: Hospital Finance & Regulation; Workforce
& Licensing; Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Julia Salazar (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: Signed by Governor
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Assembly Version: A8871
Latest Vote: Floor — June 12, 2025 (Aye: 36; Nay: 23;
Excused: 4)
Summary: This comprehensive law
enacts multiple reforms related to correctional services. Key provisions
require timely disclosure of video footage in cases of inmate death,
mandate camera coverage standards, direct a study on deaths in custody,
establish autopsy report requirements, increase oversight commission
membership, expand access for the correctional association, and toll the
statute of limitations for civil actions by individuals formerly in
state custody.
Affected Entities: Department of Corrections and
Community Supervision, State Commission of Correction, Attorney
General’s Office, local correctional facilities.
Practical Implications: Correctional facilities will
face significant new operational requirements regarding video
surveillance, record keeping, and reporting to external bodies like the
Attorney General and the State Commission of Correction. The law
mandates procedural changes for death notifications and autopsies and
expands access for oversight entities, requiring facilities to revise
policies and training to ensure compliance with these extensive new
accountability measures.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8415/
Topics: Pharmaceuticals & Rx Policy
Sponsor: Linda Rosenthal (Assembly — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: Vetoed
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Senate Version: S5534
Latest Vote: Floor — June 12, 2025 (Aye: 57; Nay: 2;
Excused: 4)
Summary: This bill would have
prohibited Medicaid service providers from requiring prior authorization
for antiretroviral drugs used for the treatment or prevention of HIV or
AIDS.
Affected Entities: Medicaid managed care plans,
Department of Health, HIV/AIDS patients and providers.
Practical Implications: The veto of this bill means
that Medicaid managed care plans can continue to use prior authorization
and other utilization management tools for antiretroviral medications.
Providers will need to continue following existing plan-specific
procedures to secure these drugs for their patients, and the proposed
‘no prior auth’ policy will not be implemented.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A26/
Topics: Workforce & Licensing
Sponsor: Harry B. Bronson (Assembly — Democrat, Finger
Lakes)
Co-sponsors: 19
Sponsorship: Bipartisan
Status: Vetoed
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Senate Version: S1001
Latest Vote: Floor — June 10, 2025 (Aye: 56; Nay: 2;
Excused: 5)
Summary: This bill would have
required certain insurance policies that cover other mental health
services to also cover outpatient care provided by creative arts
therapists.
Affected Entities: Creative arts therapists, health
insurers, patients seeking mental health services.
Practical Implications: The Governor’s veto prevents
the expansion of mandated insurance coverage for creative arts
therapists at this time. Payers are not required to add this coverage to
their mental health benefits, and therapists in this field will continue
to navigate the existing reimbursement landscape, which may not include
coverage from all commercial plans.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3319/
Topics: Hospital Finance & Regulation; Behavioral
Health / Substance Use; Workforce & Licensing; Public Health /
Prevention; Health Equity / Access
Sponsor: Gustavo Rivera (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 16
Sponsorship: Bipartisan
Status: Vetoed
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Assembly Version: A6004
Latest Vote: Floor — May 20, 2025 (Aye: 56; Nay: 5;
Excused: 1)
Summary: This bill would have
required general hospitals to provide public notice and facilitate
public engagement when planning to close entirely or to close a
maternity, mental health, or substance use care unit.
Affected Entities: General hospitals, Department of
Health, community health advocates.
Practical Implications: The Governor’s veto means that
current regulations regarding hospital closures remain in effect without
the additional public notice and engagement requirements proposed by
this bill. Hospitals planning service changes will continue to follow
existing DOH procedures, which may not include a mandatory public
comment component for specific unit closures.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1226/
Topics: Hospital Finance & Regulation; Public Health
/ Prevention
Sponsor: Michelle Hinchey (Senate — Democrat, Capital
Region)
Co-sponsors: 21
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: Vetoed
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Assembly Version: A3862
Latest Vote: Floor — June 06, 2025 (Aye: 34; Nay: 19;
Excused: 10)
Summary: This bill would have
required the Commissioner of Health to collect a list of ‘rule-based
exclusions’ from each hospital and publish this information on the
Department of Health’s website.
Affected Entities: Hospitals, Department of Health,
patients, health care consumers.
Practical Implications: By vetoing this bill, the
Governor has prevented the creation of a new, centralized public
database of hospital service exclusions. Hospitals will not be subject
to this specific reporting mandate, and existing methods for patients to
obtain information about a hospital’s scope of services will remain
unchanged for now.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3486/
Topics: Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Robert Jackson (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: Vetoed
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Assembly Version: A8356
Latest Vote: Floor — June 13, 2025 (Aye: 59; Nay: 0;
Excused: 4)
Summary: This bill would have
provided a line-of-duty disability presumption for deputy sheriff
members of a retirement system in certain cities who develop a health
impairment caused by diseases of the lung.
Affected Entities: Deputy sheriffs in certain cities,
public retirement systems.
Practical Implications: The Governor’s veto means that
the existing process for determining line-of-duty disability for deputy
sheriffs with lung conditions remains unchanged. The proposed
presumption, which would have made it easier to qualify for such
benefits, will not go into effect. Retirement systems will continue to
evaluate these cases on an individual basis.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S7748/
Topics: Hospital Finance & Regulation
Sponsor: Liz Krueger (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 11
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: Vetoed
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Assembly Version: A2141
Latest Vote: Floor — January 21, 2025 (Aye: 49; Nay:
10; Excused: 4)
Summary: This bill would have
established requirements for the protection of health information,
including mandating written consent or a designated necessary purpose
for processing an individual’s health data and setting standards for
communications.
Affected Entities: Health care providers, health tech
companies, any entity handling health information.
Practical Implications: The Governor’s veto means that
New York will not, at this time, implement this specific new framework
for health information privacy beyond existing state and federal laws
like HIPAA. Entities that handle health data will not need to make
operational changes to comply with this bill’s proposed consent and
processing requirements.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S929/
Topics: Workforce & Licensing
Sponsor: Leroy Comrie (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: December 17, 2025
Summary: This bill exempts multi-service health clubs
from the provision that no contract for services shall require a total
annual payment of more than three thousand six hundred
dollars.
Affected Entities: Multi-service health clubs,
consumers.
Practical Implications: If enacted, certain health
clubs could offer memberships and service contracts exceeding the
current annual cap of $3,600. This could allow for new, higher-priced
membership tiers that bundle more services, but would remove a consumer
protection cap on contract values for these specific types of
businesses.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8015/
Topics: Workforce & Licensing
Sponsor: Amy Paulin (Assembly — Democrat,
Mid-Hudson)
Co-sponsors: 1
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Summary: This bill expands the definition of ‘family’
to include birth families, foster families, and other families receiving
child welfare services for the purposes of services provided by
voluntary foster care agency health facilities.
Affected Entities: Voluntary foster care agencies,
local departments of social services, child welfare service
providers.
Practical Implications: If enacted, voluntary foster
care agency health facilities may need to update their policies and
service delivery models to accommodate a broader definition of ‘family’,
potentially impacting care coordination and family engagement strategies
for children in foster care.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A2726/
Topics: Hospital Finance & Regulation
Sponsor: Amy Paulin (Assembly — Democrat,
Mid-Hudson)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Senate Version: S8558
Summary: This bill would require hospitals to report
cases of poisoning that occur within the hospital or are presented to
the hospital to both the Department of Health and the regional poison
control center.
Affected Entities: Hospitals, Department of Health,
regional poison control centers.
Practical Implications: If enacted, this would create a
new mandatory reporting requirement for hospitals. Facilities would need
to establish internal workflows, likely within their emergency
departments and patient safety offices, to identify and report poisoning
cases to two separate entities. This could require updates to E.H.R.
systems and staff training on the new protocol.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9355/
Topics: Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Marianne Buttenschon (Assembly — Democrat,
Mohawk Valley)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Senate Version: S5071
Summary: This bill seeks to increase the maximum
individual award amounts for the state’s physician loan repayment and
physician practice support programs to incentivize practice in
underserved areas.
Affected Entities: Physicians, health care facilities
in underserved areas, Department of Health.
Practical Implications: If enacted, the increased award
amounts could make state loan repayment programs more attractive to
physicians, potentially improving recruitment and retention for
facilities in designated underserved areas. Program administrators would
need to update application materials and award procedures to reflect the
higher funding levels.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9359/
Topics: Medicaid & Managed Care; Pharmaceuticals
& Rx Policy; Workforce & Licensing
Sponsor: Angelo Santabarbara (Assembly — Democrat,
Capital Region)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Summary: This bill would require Medicaid coverage for
FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonist medications when prescribed for
obesity, metabolic disorders, or autism-related compulsive eating
behaviors.
Affected Entities: Medicaid managed care plans,
Department of Health, pharmaceutical manufacturers, Medicaid
beneficiaries.
Practical Implications: If enacted, this would mandate
a significant expansion of Medicaid pharmacy benefits, potentially
leading to substantial cost increases for the state and managed care
plans. Plans would need to update their formularies and utilization
management criteria to comply. Providers would have a clearer pathway to
obtaining these medications for Medicaid patients with the specified
conditions.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9360/
Topics: Hospital Finance & Regulation;
Pharmaceuticals & Rx Policy; Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Josh Jensen (Assembly — Republican, Finger
Lakes)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Summary: This bill proposes the creation of the New
York Health Benefit and Cost Commission. The commission would be tasked
with reviewing and reporting on the utilization, health effects, and
premium impact of existing and proposed mandated health
benefits.
Affected Entities: State Legislature, Department of
Health, health insurers, patient advocacy groups.
Practical Implications: If enacted, this commission
would introduce a new formal review process for any legislation
proposing new health insurance mandates. This could affect the
legislative process for such bills, as the commission’s reports on cost
and access could influence debates. Health plans and providers would
likely be key stakeholders providing data to the
commission.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9367/
Topics: Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Jonathan Rivera (Assembly — Democrat, Western
New York)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Summary: This bill directs the commissioner of health
to establish best practice protocols for screening children aged four
and younger for vision problems.
Affected Entities: Department of Health, pediatricians,
primary care providers, ophthalmologists.
Practical Implications: If enacted, pediatric and
primary care providers would likely be expected to adopt state-issued
best practice protocols for early childhood vision screening. This may
require updates to clinical workflows, staff training on new screening
methods or referral pathways, and adjustments to electronic health
record templates to document compliance.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9374/
Topics: Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Josh Jensen (Assembly — Republican, Finger
Lakes)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Summary: This bill would provide for expanded
enrollment opportunities through the NY State of Health marketplace via
state tax returns and would allow first-time enrollees to sign up for
coverage at any time.
Affected Entities: NY State of Health, tax preparers,
uninsured individuals, health insurers.
Practical Implications: If enacted, this could create a
new, streamlined pathway for health insurance enrollment, potentially
increasing the number of insured individuals. Health plans and the state
marketplace would need to develop operational workflows to process
enrollments originating from tax filings.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9378/
Topics: Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Jo Anne Simon (Assembly — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Senate Version: S7894
Summary: This bill would establish a master of social
work paid fieldwork pilot program, providing a stipend to students for
their first 450 hours of required fieldwork. It also requires the Office
of Mental Health to report on recommendations for expanding the program
to address social worker shortages, improve diversity, and mitigate
student debt.
Affected Entities: Schools of social work, social work
students, Office of Mental Health, health and human service
agencies.
Practical Implications: If enacted and funded, this
pilot could alleviate financial barriers for social work students,
potentially increasing the pipeline of professionals. Host agencies for
fieldwork might see more applicants. The OMH report could lay the
groundwork for a larger, permanent program, influencing future workforce
development strategies in the behavioral health and social services
sectors.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9379/
Topics: Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Josh Jensen (Assembly — Republican, Finger
Lakes)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Summary: This bill would authorize the creation of New
York health care savings accounts, allowing state residents to save
money for qualified health care expenses with certain tax
advantages.
Affected Entities: New York residents, financial
institutions, employers, Department of Taxation and
Finance.
Practical Implications: If enacted, this would
establish a new tax-advantaged savings vehicle in New York. Financial
institutions could choose to offer these accounts, requiring them to
develop new products and administrative procedures. Employers might
incorporate these accounts into their benefits offerings. The Department
of Taxation and Finance would need to establish rules for their tax
treatment.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9384/
Topics: Workforce & Licensing; Public Health /
Prevention
Sponsor: Josh Jensen (Assembly — Republican, Finger
Lakes)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Summary: This bill would authorize the NY State of
Health marketplace to award grants to entities to serve as navigators,
assisting individuals with applications for health
insurance.
Affected Entities: NY State of Health, community-based
organizations, insurance brokers, uninsured individuals.
Practical Implications: If enacted, this could provide
a formal grant mechanism to fund navigator programs, potentially
expanding the availability of in-person enrollment assistance. Community
organizations could have a new funding opportunity, and the marketplace
would need to establish and manage the grant application and award
process.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9405/
Topics: Behavioral Health / Substance Use
Sponsor: Carrie Woerner (Assembly — Democrat, Capital
Region)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Senate Version: S4747
Summary: This bill proposes an intensive addiction
recovery and mental health integrated services pilot program. It would
fund two three-year demonstration programs to provide intensive,
integrated services for individuals with significant co-occurring
disorders and frequent treatment episodes.
Affected Entities: Behavioral health providers, Office
of Mental Health, Office of Addiction Services and
Supports.
Practical Implications: If enacted and funded, this
would create a competitive opportunity for two providers to launch
demonstration programs for high-need individuals. Interested
organizations would need to develop proposals that meet the program’s
criteria for integrated services. The success of the pilot could inform
future state policy on funding and structuring care for individuals with
co-occurring disorders.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9409/
Topics: Long-Term Care / Nursing Homes
Sponsor: Andrew Hevesi (Assembly — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Summary: This bill would create the ‘family essential
program’ within the Office for the Aging. The program would provide
advocacy, collaboration, and education infrastructure for essential
family caregivers in nursing homes and other long-term care
communities.
Affected Entities: Office for the Aging, long-term care
facilities, family caregivers.
Practical Implications: If enacted, this would
establish a new state-level program focused on family caregivers.
Long-term care facilities might be expected to collaborate with this
program, potentially by disseminating information or participating in
educational initiatives. It could create a new resource and advocacy
channel for family members of residents in long-term care.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9412/
Topics: Long-Term Care / Nursing Homes
Sponsor: Amy Paulin (Assembly — Democrat,
Mid-Hudson)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Summary: This bill would establish a special needs
assisted living demonstration program, authorizing up to three assisted
living programs in the state to serve individuals with special needs,
such as dementia or cognitive impairments.
Affected Entities: Assisted living programs, Department
of Health, individuals with dementia or cognitive
impairments.
Practical Implications: If enacted, this would create
an opportunity for up to three assisted living providers to develop and
operate specialized programs under a state demonstration. Interested
providers would need to apply and meet specific criteria set by the
state. The program could serve as a model for future regulatory
frameworks for special needs assisted living residences.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9418/
Topics: Workforce & Licensing; Public Health /
Prevention
Sponsor: Alex Bores (Assembly — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Summary: This bill makes numerous technical corrections
to state law by removing and updating outdated terms and provisions. It
repeals references to, among other things, county tuberculosis
hospitals, subversive persons in public schools, telegraph companies,
and fireproof booths for moving pictures. The bill aims to modernize
statutory language across many sections of law.
Affected Entities: State agencies, legal professionals,
local governments.
Practical Implications: If enacted, this ‘housekeeping’
bill would not have significant direct operational impact but would
modernize New York’s statutes. Legal and compliance departments in
health care and other sectors may benefit from the removal of archaic
and potentially confusing language, ensuring that the law reflects
contemporary practices and terminology.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9423/
Topics: Hospital Finance & Regulation
Sponsor: Kwani O’Pharrow (Assembly — Democrat, Long
Island)
Co-sponsors: 1
Sponsorship: Bipartisan
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Senate Version: S8443
Summary: This bill provides that if an active or
retired police officer enrolled in a health insurance plan dies by
suicide, their surviving dependents will be entitled to continue that
coverage for ninety days.
Affected Entities: Municipalities, public employee
health plans, families of police officers.
Practical Implications: If enacted, public health
benefit administrators would need to modify their procedures to ensure
the continuation of health coverage for 90 days for dependents in these
specific circumstances. This would require coordination between the
employing entity’s human resources department, the benefits
administrator, and the surviving family members.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9428/
Topics: Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Marianne Buttenschon (Assembly — Democrat,
Mohawk Valley)
Co-sponsors: 4
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: December 19, 2025
Summary: This bill directs the commissioner of health,
in consultation with the commissioner of the office of general services,
to study the use of solid antimicrobial materials for touch surfaces in
public building construction.
Affected Entities: Department of Health, Office of
General Services, public building contractors.
Practical Implications: If enacted, this would initiate
a state-level review of building materials with potential public health
implications. The study’s findings could inform future building codes or
procurement standards for public facilities, potentially impacting
contractors and material suppliers. No immediate operational changes
would be required until the study is complete and recommendations are
made.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9429/
Methodology: This newsletter is generated from structured legislative data (as of December 23, 2025) and reviewed for completeness, internal consistency, and non-speculative language. Co-sponsor counts reflect the total number of legislators listed as co-sponsors across both the Assembly and Senate.
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Prepared by Isaac Michaels, DrPH · January 09, 2026 · 28 min read
As of January 9, 2026, legislative activity includes several health-related bills moving to the Assembly floor for consideration. Among them are measures to expand availability of opioid reversal agents (A265), establish a review board for cesarean births (A1541), and increase penalties for public health law violations in facilities (A1118).
Numerous new bills were also introduced. In Medicaid policy, a notable proposal (S8838) would require managed care plans to reimburse for durable medical equipment at 100% of the state fee schedule. Another pair of bills (S8751, A9169) would create a commission to study providing New York-funded health services to eligible individuals residing in the Dominican Republic.
Other introductions focus on behavioral health, such as replacing the term ‘addict’ with ‘person with substance use disorder’ in state law (S8758), and public health, including a proposal to create a psilocybin assisted therapy pilot program for veterans and first responders (A3845).
Topics: Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Amy Paulin (Assembly — Democrat,
Mid-Hudson)
Co-sponsors: 29
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: Assembly Floor Calendar
Action Date: January 07, 2026
Senate Version: S5744
Summary: Raises the monetary penalties for violations
of the public health law and provides support for the nursing home
quality improvement demonstration program.
Affected Entities: All health care facilities regulated
under public health law, particularly nursing homes
Practical Implications: This bill would raise the
financial stakes for non-compliance with public health laws. Health care
facilities would face higher potential fines for deficiencies found
during surveys. The increased penalty revenue is directed to a quality
improvement program, which could create new funding opportunities for
nursing homes. Facilities would need to weigh the increased financial
risk of non-compliance in their operational planning.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1118/
Topics: Long-Term Care / Nursing Homes
Sponsor: Amy Paulin (Assembly — Democrat,
Mid-Hudson)
Co-sponsors: 29
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: Assembly Floor Calendar
Action Date: January 07, 2026
Senate Version: S893
Summary: Relates to the use of antipsychotic
medications in nursing homes, imposing time and documentation limits and
requiring informed consent in certain situations.
Affected Entities: Nursing homes, long-term care
pharmacies, attending physicians, residents and their
families
Practical Implications: This bill would impose stricter
requirements on nursing homes for prescribing antipsychotic medications.
Facilities would need to enhance their protocols for documentation,
physician review, and obtaining informed consent. This could require
additional staff training and administrative time to ensure compliance,
with the goal of reducing inappropriate use of these medications in the
resident population.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1461/
Topics: Hospital Finance & Regulation
Sponsor: Amy Paulin (Assembly — Democrat,
Mid-Hudson)
Co-sponsors: 18
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: Assembly Floor Calendar
Action Date: January 07, 2026
Summary: Creates a multidisciplinary board of experts
to review the rate of cesarean births at hospitals in the state and
requires the board to issue reports.
Affected Entities: Hospitals with maternity services,
obstetricians, NYS Department of Health
Practical Implications: If enacted, hospitals would be
subject to a new layer of oversight regarding their C-section rates. The
board’s reviews and reports could lead to public scrutiny and
recommendations for quality improvement. Hospitals may need to dedicate
resources to reporting data to the board and responding to its findings,
potentially influencing clinical protocols and peer review processes
related to obstetric care.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1541/
Topics: Behavioral Health / Substance Use;
Pharmaceuticals & Rx Policy
Sponsor: Phil Steck (Assembly — Democrat, Capital
Region)
Co-sponsors: 15
Sponsorship: Bipartisan
Status: Assembly Floor Calendar
Action Date: January 07, 2026
Summary: Requires the Department of Health to make
available any formulation and dosage of an opioid reversal agent that
has been approved by the federal Food and Drug
Administration.
Affected Entities: NYS Department of Health,
community-based organizations, pharmacies, first responders
Practical Implications: This bill could broaden the
types of opioid reversal agents, like naloxone, available through state
programs. If enacted, DOH would need to update its procurement and
distribution protocols to include all FDA-approved formulations, such as
different nasal sprays or injectables. This could increase options for
community distribution programs and first responders.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A265/
Topics: Hospital Finance & Regulation; Workforce
& Licensing
Sponsor: Jo Anne Simon (Assembly — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 3
Sponsorship: Bipartisan
Status: Assembly Floor Calendar
Action Date: January 07, 2026
Senate Version: S8532
Summary: Directs the commissioner of the Office of
Mental Health to create regulations for the release of certain patient
records.
Affected Entities: NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH),
mental health providers, patients, health information management
professionals
Practical Implications: This bill would require OMH to
establish formal regulations governing the release of patient records,
potentially clarifying and standardizing current practices. Providers
and health information departments within the OMH system would need to
adhere to these new regulations, which could affect response times,
permissible disclosures, and patient access protocols.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5546/
Sponsor: Ron Kim (Assembly — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 21
Sponsorship: Bipartisan
Status: Assembly Floor Calendar
Action Date: January 07, 2026
Senate Version: S5955
Summary: Requires mandatory coverage of acupuncture
services under certain health insurance policies.
Affected Entities: Health insurers, licensed
acupuncturists, employers, patients
Practical Implications: If enacted, this bill would
expand covered benefits for many health insurance plans in New York.
Insurers would need to update their policies, establish or expand their
networks of acupuncturists, and process claims for these services.
Licensed acupuncturists could see an increase in insured patients,
potentially expanding their practices. This could impact plan premiums
for employers and individuals.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A622/
Topics: Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Carrie Woerner (Assembly — Democrat, Capital
Region)
Co-sponsors: 8
Sponsorship: Bipartisan
Status: Assembly Floor Calendar
Action Date: January 07, 2026
Summary: Requires coroners to create a protocol for
referring deaths that occur outside a hospital to the designated organ
procurement organization. This includes calls for donor registry
verification and a suitability determination.
Affected Entities: County coroners, organ procurement
organizations (OPOs), tissue and eye banks
Practical Implications: This legislation would
standardize the process for donation referrals from coroners’ cases.
Coroners’ offices would need to develop and implement a formal protocol
for contacting OPOs. This could increase the number of potential eye and
tissue donors by ensuring timely referrals from deaths occurring outside
of hospital settings, requiring OPOs to have capacity to handle these
referrals.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6824/
Topics: Hospital Finance & Regulation
Sponsor: Harry B. Bronson (Assembly — Democrat, Finger
Lakes)
Co-sponsors: 2
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: Assembly Floor Calendar
Action Date: January 07, 2026
Senate Version: S7327
Summary: Grants peace officer status to specified
security officers at Highland Hospital but does not authorize them to
carry firearms.
Affected Entities: Highland Hospital, hospital security
personnel
Practical Implications: If passed, designated security
officers at Highland Hospital would gain peace officer status, which
grants them certain authorities, such as the power to make arrests and
issue summonses, without authorizing them to carry firearms. The
hospital would need to ensure these officers receive the required
training and certification, and update its security policies to reflect
their enhanced legal status.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7345/
Sponsor: Paula Kay (Assembly — Democrat,
Mid-Hudson)
Co-sponsors: 2
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: Assembly Floor Calendar
Action Date: January 07, 2026
Senate Version: S7786
Summary: Authorizes the Department of Veterans’
Services to collaborate with federal VA offices, DOH, and the state
Office for the Aging to create educational materials for veterans and
their families about accessing home and community-based services
(HCBS).
Affected Entities: NYS Department of Veterans’
Services, home care agencies, veterans
Practical Implications: This legislation aims to
improve veterans’ awareness of available long-term care options. If
enacted, state agencies would collaborate to produce new informational
resources. Home care providers and HCBS experts may be consulted in this
process and could see an increase in inquiries and referrals from
veterans seeking to utilize their benefits for in-home
care.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7627/
Topics: Telehealth & Digital Health
Sponsor: Jen Lunsford (Assembly — Democrat, Finger
Lakes)
Co-sponsors: 7
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: Assembly Floor Calendar
Action Date: January 07, 2026
Senate Version: S998
Summary: Allows mental and behavioral health services
to be provided via telemedicine within the workers’ compensation system,
and permits one in-person visit within twelve months unless it would
cause undue hardship.
Affected Entities: Workers’ compensation insurers,
behavioral health providers, injured workers
Practical Implications: This would formally authorize
and structure the use of telehealth for behavioral health in the
workers’ compensation system. Providers could offer services to injured
workers remotely, increasing access. Insurers and the Workers’
Compensation Board would need to update their policies and billing codes
to accommodate telehealth services, including the requirement for a
periodic in-person visit.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A949/
Topics: Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Roxanne J. Persaud (Senate — Democrat, New
York City)
Co-sponsors: 13
Sponsorship: Bipartisan
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Latest Vote: Floor — March 19, 2025 (Aye: 60; Nay: 0;
Excused: 3)
Summary: Creates a rare disease
advisory council to identify best practices, raise awareness, evaluate
barriers to care access, and make recommendations to the legislature and
governor.
Affected Entities: NYS Department of Health, academic
medical centers, patient advocacy groups, pharmaceutical
manufacturers
Practical Implications: The creation of this council
would provide a formal state-level venue for addressing issues related
to rare diseases. If formed, providers, researchers, and patient
advocates could engage with the council to inform its recommendations on
policy, research funding, and access to diagnostics and treatments. The
council’s reports could influence future legislation and state health
priorities.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1287/
Topics: Hospital Finance & Regulation; Workforce
& Licensing; Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Cordell Cleare (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 6
Sponsorship: Bipartisan
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Summary: Increases the personal needs allowance for
eligible individuals and requires the amount to be adjusted annually
based on the consumer price index.
Affected Entities: Residential health care facilities,
Medicaid recipients, social services agencies
Practical Implications: If passed, facilities managing
resident funds would need to adjust the personal needs allowance amounts
for eligible individuals. This would affect resident financial planning
and facility accounting procedures. State and local social services
agencies would need to update their systems to reflect the new allowance
amounts and implement the annual cost-of-living adjustment.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4744/
Topics: Workforce & Licensing; Public Health /
Prevention
Sponsor: Monica Martinez (Senate — Democrat, Long
Island)
Co-sponsors: 2
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Assembly Version: A2685
Summary: Authorizes licensed limited-scope
radiographers to practice at urgent care centers under supervision. It
defines ‘limited-scope radiographer’ as someone licensed to perform
radiography on chests, extremities, skulls/sinuses, and spines at these
centers.
Affected Entities: Urgent care centers, radiologic
technologists, workforce licensing bodies
Practical Implications: If enacted, this could expand
the scope of practice for limited-scope radiographers and potentially
alleviate staffing shortages in urgent care centers. Urgent care
operators might gain flexibility in staffing their imaging services.
Educational programs and licensing boards would need to ensure that
standards and supervision requirements are clearly defined for this
practice setting.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S684/
Topics: Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Cordell Cleare (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 1
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Assembly Version: A8048
Summary: Directs the commissioner of health to create
or approve a supplemental payment rate for pediatric practices that
implement the HealthySteps model, which integrates a child development
specialist into the primary care team.
Affected Entities: Pediatric primary care practices,
Medicaid managed care plans, NYS Department of Health
Practical Implications: This bill would create a
financial incentive for pediatric practices to adopt an integrated
behavioral and developmental health model. If passed, practices could
receive enhanced Medicaid reimbursement to support the costs of hiring
and integrating specialists. This could improve access to early
childhood developmental services and would require DOH to establish a
new rate methodology.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S7833/
Sponsor: Cordell Cleare (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Summary: Allows for expanded non-medical in-home
services, non-institutional respite, case management, and ancillary
services without requiring a prescription or physician’s order, and
repeals associated cost-sharing requirements.
Affected Entities: Home care agencies, managed
long-term care plans, Area Agencies on Aging, seniors
Practical Implications: This bill could lower barriers
to accessing certain long-term care supports. If passed, entities that
authorize these services could do so without first obtaining a
physician’s order, potentially speeding up access for consumers.
Removing cost-sharing could make these services more affordable.
Agencies and plans would need to update their authorization processes
and billing systems to reflect these changes.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8742/
Topics: Pharmaceuticals & Rx Policy
Sponsor: Cordell Cleare (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Summary: Directs the commissioner of health to produce
and publish a report on the utilization, activity, and future cost and
enrollment projections for the elderly pharmaceutical insurance coverage
program, and to deliver it to the governor and legislative
leaders.
Affected Entities: NYS Department of Health, NYS Office
for the Aging
Practical Implications: This bill mandates a reporting
requirement for the Department of Health. While it doesn’t change the
EPIC program itself, the resulting report could inform future policy
decisions regarding program funding, eligibility, and benefits. Pharmacy
providers, senior advocates, and health plans may use the report’s data
for strategic planning and advocacy.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8743/
Topics: Hospital Finance & Regulation; Public Health
/ Prevention
Sponsor: Cordell Cleare (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Summary: Establishes a technical assistance center to
help with the implementation of age-friendly health systems and relates
to hospital performance data.
Affected Entities: Hospitals, health systems, geriatric
care providers, NYS Department of Health
Practical Implications: If passed, this act would
promote the ‘4Ms’ framework (What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and
Mobility) in hospitals. The technical assistance center would serve as a
resource for providers seeking to implement these practices. Hospitals
may be encouraged or required to report on age-friendly care metrics,
potentially affecting quality improvement priorities and public
reporting strategies.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8744/
Topics: Medicaid & Managed Care; Public Health /
Prevention
Sponsor: Luis R. Sepúlveda (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Summary: Enacts the ‘New York-Dominican health
partnership act’ to create a commission that will study and develop a
framework for authorizing New York state-funded health services for
eligible seniors and individuals with disabilities residing in the
Dominican Republic.
Affected Entities: NYS Department of Health, NYS Office
for the Aging, Medicaid program, community-based organizations serving
Dominican communities
Practical Implications: This bill proposes a study, not
an immediate program change. If the commission is established, it could
lead to recommendations for a pilot program or legislative changes.
Health plans, providers, and advocacy groups serving the Dominican
diaspora may have an opportunity to provide input to the commission
regarding eligibility, service delivery, and cross-border coordination
of care.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8751/
Topics: Behavioral Health / Substance Use; Public Health
/ Prevention
Sponsor: Nathalia Fernandez (Senate — Democrat, New
York City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Assembly Version: A9474
Summary: Amends state law to replace the term ‘addict’
with the term ‘person with substance use disorder’.
Affected Entities: State agencies, healthcare
providers, legal professionals
Practical Implications: This bill mandates a change in
statutory language, reflecting a shift to person-first terminology. If
enacted, state agencies, health care facilities, and legal entities
would need to update all official documents, forms, and regulations to
comply. This is primarily an administrative and compliance change,
reinforcing clinical best practices in official language.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8758/
Sponsor: Michelle Hinchey (Senate — Democrat, Capital
Region)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Assembly Version: A9494
Summary: Permits criminal actions to be moved to a
mental health court in an adjacent county and allows for the case to
revert to the original court if the defendant does not comply with the
mental health court program.
Affected Entities: County court systems, mental health
service providers, district attorneys’ offices
Practical Implications: This could increase options for
counties without a dedicated mental health court. It would require
inter-county coordination for judicial, probationary, and treatment
services. Behavioral health providers may see an expanded referral base
from neighboring counties, and court systems would need to establish
protocols for transferring cases and monitoring compliance across
jurisdictions.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8762/
Topics: Behavioral Health / Substance Use
Sponsor: Nathalia Fernandez (Senate — Democrat, New
York City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Assembly Version: A9453
Summary: Requires employers to include opioid
antagonists in first aid kits where such kits are required by federal
law, and amends the effective date.
Affected Entities: All employers subject to federal
first aid kit requirements
Practical Implications: If enacted, this would create a
new workplace safety requirement for many employers in New York.
Businesses would need to procure and maintain a supply of opioid
antagonists, such as naloxone, and potentially train staff on its use as
part of their first aid response protocols. This could involve updates
to HR policies and safety procedures.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8770/
Topics: Pharmaceuticals & Rx Policy
Sponsor: Jamaal Bailey (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Assembly Version: A9507
Summary: Relates to cost sharing requirements for high
deductible health plans and health savings accounts and addresses the
effectiveness of related laws.
Affected Entities: Health insurers, employers offering
high deductible health plans (HDHPs), consumers with HDHPs
Practical Implications: This bill appears to be a
chapter amendment or follow-up legislation concerning cost-sharing in
HDHPs. If it alters rules for deductibles, co-insurance, or
out-of-pocket maximums, health insurers would need to adjust plan
designs and member-facing materials. Employers and consumers would need
to understand how these changes affect their health care costs and
savings account contributions.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8772/
Topics: Workforce & Licensing
Sponsor: Rachel May (Senate — Democrat, Central New
York)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Assembly Version: A9477
Summary: Allows registered dental hygienists with a
collaborative agreement with a dentist to perform certain dental hygiene
services at health facilities within voluntary foster care
agencies.
Affected Entities: Foster care agencies, dental
hygienists, dentists
Practical Implications: This bill could expand access
to preventative dental care for children in foster care. If enacted, it
would create a new practice setting for dental hygienists under
collaborative agreements. Foster care agencies could integrate oral
health services directly into their facilities, potentially improving
health outcomes for a vulnerable population but requiring them to
establish partnerships with dental professionals.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8784/
Sponsor: Monica Martinez (Senate — Democrat, Long
Island)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Assembly Version: A9490
Summary: Directs the Department of Veterans’ Services
to work with the Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the
Department of Health to find effective ways to inform veterans about
volunteer opportunities with local fire departments and EMS
providers.
Affected Entities: NYS Department of Veterans’
Services, volunteer fire departments, volunteer ambulance
corps
Practical Implications: This legislation aims to
bolster recruitment for volunteer emergency services by targeting
veterans. It would require inter-agency coordination to develop and
disseminate informational materials. For local volunteer agencies, this
could create a new pipeline for skilled and dedicated applicants,
helping to address staffing challenges in the volunteer emergency
services sector.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8785/
Sponsor: James Skoufis (Senate — Democrat,
Mid-Hudson)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Assembly Version: A9508
Summary: Provides that rental vehicle companies or
peer-to-peer car sharing programs may act as an agent for an authorized
insurer for accident and health insurance covering shared vehicle owners
and drivers, and for other coverages approved by the superintendent of
financial services.
Affected Entities: Rental vehicle companies,
peer-to-peer car sharing platforms, insurance carriers, NYS Department
of Financial Services
Practical Implications: This bill could create new
insurance distribution channels. If enacted, insurers could partner with
rental and car-sharing companies to offer health and accident policies
at the point of rental. This would require these companies to implement
processes for insurance sales and compliance, and insurers would need to
develop products suitable for this market.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8786/
Topics: Behavioral Health / Substance Use; Workforce
& Licensing
Sponsor: Jamaal Bailey (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Assembly Version: A9509
Summary: Requires the Office of Addiction Services and
Supports (OASAS) and the Office of Mental Health (OMH) to publish
information used for calculating Medicaid payment rates for certain
treatments in a prescribed manner.
Affected Entities: Behavioral health providers, OASAS,
OMH, Medicaid managed care plans
Practical Implications: This bill would increase
transparency in the rate-setting process for behavioral health services.
For providers, this could offer greater predictability and insight into
how their Medicaid rates are determined, aiding in financial planning
and advocacy. State agencies would need to develop and maintain a
public-facing system for disseminating this rate
information.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8800/
Topics: Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: April Baskin (Senate — Democrat, Western New
York)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Assembly Version: A9513
Summary: Authorizes local health officials to request
copies of specified reports and records related to a death.
Affected Entities: Local health departments, coroners,
medical examiners, hospitals
Practical Implications: This bill would expand the
authority of local health officials to access records for death
investigations. If enacted, coroners, medical examiners, and healthcare
facilities may see an increase in record requests from these officials.
This could impact health information management workflows and
inter-agency data sharing protocols, potentially aiding public health
surveillance and mortality reviews.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8801/
Topics: Medicaid & Managed Care; Public Health /
Prevention; Health Equity / Access
Sponsor: Gustavo Rivera (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Assembly Version: A9471
Summary: Alters the conditions under which non-public
residential health care facilities can withdraw equity or assets
amounting to five percent of total annual revenue from patient care
services without first notifying the commissioner of
health.
Affected Entities: Non-public residential health care
facilities, NYS Department of Health
Practical Implications: This legislation could alter
the financial oversight process for non-public residential health care
facilities. If passed, facility operators would need to ensure
compliance with the modified notification thresholds for equity or asset
withdrawals, potentially affecting capital planning and financial
transactions.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8804/
Topics: Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Shelley Mayer (Senate — Democrat,
Mid-Hudson)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Assembly Version: A9440
Summary: Requires counties, with their regional
emergency medical services councils, to create and maintain
comprehensive emergency medical system plans. It also directs the
Department of Health to provide a model plan for guidance and to review
county plans.
Affected Entities: County governments, local health
departments, regional emergency medical services councils (REMSCOs), NYS
Department of Health
Practical Implications: If enacted, counties would be
required to develop and maintain coordinated EMS plans. This may
necessitate new collaborations between county officials and regional EMS
councils, potentially leading to standardized protocols, resource
allocation strategies, and system-wide performance metrics. Local health
departments and EMS providers would likely be involved in the planning
process.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8806/
Topics: Pharmaceuticals & Rx Policy
Sponsor: Liz Krueger (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Assembly Version: A9501
Summary: Specifies that professional liability insurers
cannot deny coverage or raise rates based on the legal use or
prescription of certain gender-affirming care drugs. It also sets
procedures for out-of-state warrants for electronic data related to
legally protected health activities.
Affected Entities: Healthcare providers, professional
liability insurers, technology companies hosting health
data
Practical Implications: This bill could provide legal
and financial protections for clinicians offering gender-affirming care
in New York. Insurers would need to review their underwriting and rating
policies to ensure compliance. Healthcare organizations would also need
to be aware of the new procedures for handling out-of-state warrants for
patient data, potentially requiring updates to legal and IT
protocols.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8807/
Topics: Telehealth & Digital Health; Public Health /
Prevention
Sponsor: Jeremy Cooney (Senate — Democrat, Finger
Lakes)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Assembly Version: A9510
Summary: Relates to the use of ‘virtual credit cards’
by insurers and certain health care plans for provider payments and
addresses the effective date of related provisions.
Affected Entities: Health insurers, health care
providers, revenue cycle management companies
Practical Implications: This bill would likely place
restrictions on how and when health plans can use virtual credit cards
to pay providers, which often carry transaction fees. If passed,
providers could see a reduction in payment processing fees, impacting
their revenue cycle. Health plans would need to adjust their payment
processes, potentially shifting to other electronic or check-based
payment methods.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8817/
Topics: Workforce & Licensing; Public Health /
Prevention
Sponsor: Gustavo Rivera (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Summary: Sets requirements for medical professionals
and health care facilities that provide medication to patients for
medical aid in dying and extends the effective date of related
provisions.
Affected Entities: Hospitals, hospices, physicians,
pharmacists
Practical Implications: If medical aid in dying is
legalized, this bill would establish the specific operational
guardrails. Healthcare facilities would need to develop policies and
procedures for provider participation, patient requests, and pharmacy
dispensing. Clinicians would have to adhere to strict documentation and
consultation requirements. This would have significant ethical, legal,
and operational implications for all involved providers.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8835/
Topics: Medicaid & Managed Care
Sponsor: Gustavo Rivera (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 32
Sponsorship: Bipartisan
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Summary: Ensures payment parity for durable medical
equipment (DME) providers by requiring Medicaid managed care
organizations to reimburse them at a rate no less than one hundred
percent of the Medicaid DME and complex rehabilitation technology fee
schedule for the same item or service.
Affected Entities: Durable medical equipment providers,
Medicaid managed care organizations, NYS Department of
Health
Practical Implications: This bill would directly impact
revenue for DME providers and medical expenses for Medicaid MCOs. If
enacted, MCOs would need to adjust their payment systems and provider
contracts to meet the 100% fee schedule floor. DME providers could see
increased and standardized reimbursement, potentially improving access
to equipment for Medicaid beneficiaries.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8838/
Topics: Workforce & Licensing
Sponsor: Gustavo Rivera (Senate — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Senate Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Summary: Permits individuals to register in the ‘donate
life registry’ when filing their personal income tax
electronically.
Affected Entities: NYS Department of Taxation and
Finance, NYS Department of Health, Donate Life New York
State
Practical Implications: If passed, this would integrate
organ donor registration into the state’s tax filing system. The
Department of Taxation and Finance would need to modify its electronic
filing software and processes. This could significantly increase the
number of registered donors, impacting the operational workflow of organ
procurement organizations which would need to manage a higher volume of
registrations and verifications.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8841/
Topics: Pharmaceuticals & Rx Policy; Workforce &
Licensing
Sponsor: Patrick Burke (Assembly — Democrat, Western
New York)
Co-sponsors: 7
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Senate Version: S1801
Summary: Creates a pilot program for psilocybin
assisted therapy for veterans and first responders in New York state and
establishes a fund for the program.
Affected Entities: Veterans’ services organizations,
first responder groups, mental health providers, NYS Department of
Health
Practical Implications: If enacted, this bill could
create a new, state-sanctioned therapeutic pathway. Health systems and
providers interested in psychedelic-assisted therapy would need to
monitor the development of program rules, funding availability, and
certification requirements. It may require coordination between state
health agencies and veterans’ services organizations to implement the
pilot and evaluate its outcomes.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3845/
Topics: Medicaid & Managed Care; Workforce &
Licensing; Public Health / Prevention
Sponsor: Amy Paulin (Assembly — Democrat,
Mid-Hudson)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Summary: Concerns Medicaid reimbursement rates for
private duty nursing and requires the Department of Health to publish a
private duty rate schedule.
Affected Entities: Home care agencies, private duty
nurses, Medicaid recipients requiring nursing services, NYS Department
of Health
Practical Implications: If enacted, this bill could
affect the financial viability of providing private duty nursing to
Medicaid patients. The publication of a rate schedule would provide
transparency for home care agencies. Any change in the rate itself could
impact agency staffing, nurse compensation, and the availability of
these specialized services for medically fragile
individuals.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4162/
Topics: Medicaid & Managed Care; Public Health /
Prevention
Sponsor: George Alvarez (Assembly — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 1
Sponsorship: Partisan
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Senate Version: S8751
Summary: Enacts the ‘New York-Dominican health
partnership act’ to create a commission that will study and develop a
framework for authorizing New York state-funded health services for
eligible individuals residing in the Dominican Republic, exploring a
pilot with the Dominican public health insurer (SeNaSa).
Affected Entities: NYS Department of Health, NYS Office
for the Aging, Medicaid program, community-based organizations serving
Dominican communities
Practical Implications: This bill proposes a study, not
an immediate program change. If the commission is established, it could
lead to recommendations for a pilot program. Health plans, providers,
and advocacy groups serving the Dominican diaspora may have an
opportunity to provide input to the commission regarding eligibility,
service delivery, and cross-border coordination of care through a
potential partnership with SeNaSa.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9169/
Sponsor: Linda Rosenthal (Assembly — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Senate Version: S8816
Summary: Prohibits certain substances from being used
in menstrual products and relates to the effective date of these
restrictions.
Affected Entities: Manufacturers and retailers of
menstrual products
Practical Implications: This bill would impose new
regulatory requirements on the manufacturing and sale of menstrual
products in New York. If passed, manufacturers would need to review
their product formulations and supply chains to ensure compliance with
the restricted substances list. Retailers would be responsible for
ensuring the products they sell meet state standards.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9503/
Topics: Pharmaceuticals & Rx Policy
Sponsor: David Weprin (Assembly — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Senate Version: S8772
Summary: Relates to cost sharing requirements for high
deductible health plans and health savings accounts and addresses the
effectiveness of related laws.
Affected Entities: Health insurers, employers offering
high deductible health plans (HDHPs), consumers with HDHPs
Practical Implications: This bill appears to be a
chapter amendment or follow-up legislation concerning cost-sharing in
HDHPs. If it alters rules for deductibles, co-insurance, or
out-of-pocket maximums, health insurers would need to adjust plan
designs and member-facing materials. Employers and consumers would need
to understand how these changes affect their health care
costs.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9507/
Sponsor: David Weprin (Assembly — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Senate Version: S8786
Summary: Provides that rental vehicle companies or
peer-to-peer car sharing programs may act as an agent for an authorized
insurer for accident and health insurance covering shared vehicle owners
and drivers, and for other coverages approved by the superintendent of
financial services.
Affected Entities: Rental vehicle companies,
peer-to-peer car sharing platforms, insurance carriers, NYS Department
of Financial Services
Practical Implications: This bill could create new
insurance distribution channels. If enacted, insurers could partner with
rental and car-sharing companies to offer health and accident policies
at the point of rental. This would require these companies to implement
processes for insurance sales and compliance, and insurers would need to
develop products suitable for this market.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9508/
Topics: Behavioral Health / Substance Use; Workforce
& Licensing
Sponsor: David Weprin (Assembly — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Senate Version: S8800
Summary: Requires the Office of Addiction Services and
Supports (OASAS) and the Office of Mental Health (OMH) to publish
information used for calculating Medicaid payment rates for certain
treatments in a prescribed manner.
Affected Entities: Behavioral health providers, OASAS,
OMH, Medicaid managed care plans
Practical Implications: This bill would increase
transparency in the rate-setting process for behavioral health services.
For providers, this could offer greater predictability and insight into
how their Medicaid rates are determined, aiding in financial planning
and advocacy. State agencies would need to develop and maintain a
public-facing system for disseminating this rate
information.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9509/
Topics: Telehealth & Digital Health; Public Health /
Prevention
Sponsor: Alex Bores (Assembly — Democrat, New York
City)
Co-sponsors: 0
Status: In Assembly Committee
Action Date: January 08, 2026
Senate Version: S8817
Summary: Relates to the use of ‘virtual credit cards’
by insurers and certain health care plans for provider payments and
addresses the effective date of related provisions.
Affected Entities: Health insurers, health care
providers, revenue cycle management companies
Practical Implications: This bill would likely place
restrictions on how and when health plans can use virtual credit cards
to pay providers, which often carry transaction fees. If passed,
providers could see a reduction in payment processing fees, impacting
their revenue cycle. Health plans would need to adjust their payment
processes, potentially shifting to other electronic or check-based
payment methods.
Source:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9510/
Methodology: This newsletter is generated from structured legislative data (as of January 09, 2026) and reviewed for completeness, internal consistency, and non-speculative language. Co-sponsor counts reflect the total number of legislators listed as co-sponsors across both the Assembly and Senate.
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