Bill > A00121

This bill amends the New York Public Health Law to strengthen pre-admission notification requirements for hospital policies that may allow refusal to follow health care proxy directives. Specifically, the bill requires hospitals to inform patients or their health care agents about policies that could potentially conflict with a patient's advance care instructions prior to admission. In emergency situations, hospitals are now permitted to provide this information as soon as reasonably possible after admission, but must also provide a written explanation in the patient's medical record about why the information was not disclosed before admission. The key change is removing the previous language that made pre-admission notification optional ("if reasonably possible") and replacing it with a more structured requirement that ensures patients or their representatives are fully informed about potential limitations on their health care proxy directives. This amendment applies to two sections of the public health law and will take effect 60 days after becoming law, aiming to improve transparency and patient understanding of hospital policies that might restrict their chosen medical decision-makers.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A121