Skip to content
A2723Assembly2017-2018 SessionSame asS789

Update Palliative Care Definition

Official title

“Relates to conforming the definition of palliative care throughout the public health law”

Sponsor Richard GottfriedAD-75+4 co-sponsorsAffects Health
Status
In Senate Committee
Health
Impact
3/10
Low
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 5 of 7

In Senate · Health

What's happening

This bill updates the definition of palliative care in New York law to include care for patients with life-limiting conditions and illnesses.

Why it matters

  1. Broader Access to Palliative Care. By updating the definition to include "life-limiting conditions and illnesses" rather than only "advanced and progressive disease," the bill could expand eligibility, allowing more patients—such as those with chronic but not imminently terminal illnesses—to receive palliative care services.

  2. Focus on Quality of Life. The revised language emphasizes interdisciplinary care aimed at relieving physical, psychosocial, and spiritual distress, putting a greater focus on holistic support for both patients and their families.

  3. Potential Health System Impact. With more patients eligible for palliative care, healthcare providers (including hospices, home health agencies, and others) may need to adapt their programs, potentially increasing the availability and integration of palliative care across diverse care settings.

The daily · weekday mornings

Albany, before your first meeting.

Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.

Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.

Who cares

Headline styles

Update Palliative Care Definition

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Richard Gottfried

Assembly Member · Assembly District 75

History

  1. Referred to health
  2. Delivered to senate
  3. Passed assembly
  4. Ordered to third reading cal.216
  5. Returned to assembly
  6. Died in senate
  7. Referred to health
  8. Delivered to senate
  9. Passed assembly
  10. Advanced to third reading cal.102
  11. Reported
  12. Reported referred to codes
Show 1 earlier action
  1. Referred to health

Companion bill

The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.

S789Senate

Update Palliative Care Definition

In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Marisol Alcantara

Impact 3 · Low0% to pass

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

2723

2017-2018 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

January 23, 2017

Introduced by M. of A. GOTTFRIED, SEPULVEDA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health

AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to the definition of palliative care

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Section 4012-b of the public health law, as added by chapter 195 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:

§ 4012-b. Hospice palliative care [program for persons with advanced and progressive disease]. 1. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this article to the contrary, a hospice may also offer a program of palliative care for patients with advanced [and progressive disease] life-limiting conditions and illnesses and their families. Such a program may be provided by a hospice issued a certificate of approval pursuant to section [forty hundred] four thousand four of this article, acting alone or under contract with a certified home health agency, long term home health care program, licensed home care services agency or AIDS home care program, as such terms are defined in section thirty-six hundred two of this chapter. Nothing in this section shall preclude the provision of palliative care by any other health care provider otherwise authorized to provide such services.

2. For the purposes of this section [the following terms shall mean:

(a) "Advanced and progressive disease" means a medical condition which is irreversible and which will continue indefinitely, where there is no reasonable hope of maintaining life.

(b)] "Palliative care" means the active, interdisciplinary care of patients with advanced, life-limiting illness, focusing on relief of distressing physical and psychosocial symptoms and meeting spiritual needs. Its goal is achievement of the best quality of life for patients and families.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD00014-01-7

Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.