Senator Sanders' Bills Regarding Health Signed Into Law by Governor Cuomo

Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) is proud to announce that three of his bills were signed into law last week by Governor Andrew Cuomo. This legislation relates to improving nursing home care, tackling the opioid epidemic and clarifying the definition of palliative care. 

More information on the bills are below:

S4583 - Requires nursing homes to provide potential residents with their policy on granting physician privileges prior to the execution of a residency agreement.

“Potential nursing home residents have a right to know which physicians will be available to provide care prior to signing a residency agreement,” Sanders said. “Many individuals enter nursing homes having pre-existing relationships with doctors in their community. Whether or not those physicians already have or have the opportunity to be granted privileges may play an important role in choosing a nursing facility.”

S4650 – This bill requires the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to provide quarterly reports on the status and outcomes of various initiatives to address the heroin and opioid epidemic.

“The more we understand this epidemic, the better prepared we will be to address the negative impacts it has on our city, state and nation,” Sanders said. “The only way to tell if the methods we are currently using are working, and working well, is to periodically evaluate them.”

S4582 - Relates to conforming the definition of palliative care under hospice provisions to be the same as under other public health law provisions. Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This bill will add a definition for and update other references to palliative care in the hospice law.

“This type of care is very important because it aims to provide the relief of symptoms associated with serious illnesses, including managing the stress associated with them,” Sanders said. “By clarifying the current law, this legislation will aim to improve the quality of life for both patients and their families."