Bill > S03486

This bill requires the New York State Commissioner of Health to collect and publicly disclose hospital "rule-based exclusions," which are defined as criteria or policies that restrict a hospital from providing certain types of care or serving specific patient categories. Specifically, the bill mandates that each general hospital must provide an annual list of its rule-based exclusions to the state health department, which will then publish these exclusions on its website in a standardized, patient-friendly format. The bill aims to increase transparency about healthcare access by requiring hospitals to disclose restrictions that might limit patient care, and it mandates that the commissioner submit a report every five years analyzing how these exclusions impact patients' ability to access comprehensive care across different demographic groups. Additionally, the bill requires health insurance documents and hospital patient rights statements to include explanations of rule-based exclusions and link to the state health department's website. The legislation was motivated by concerns about hospital consolidation and the reduction of healthcare services in some regions, with the goal of helping patients better understand potential limitations in their local healthcare options. Importantly, the bill explicitly states that it does not permit discrimination in healthcare and does not reduce hospitals' liability for potential violations of state or federal law.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3486