BILL NUMBER: S790
SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the veterans' services law and the public health law, in
relation to veteran maternity care; to repeal certain provisions of the
veterans' services law relating thereto; and to amend a chapter of the
laws of 2024 amending the veterans' services law and the public health
law relating to establishing a maternity care coordination program for
pregnant and postpartum veterans, as proposed in legislative bills
numbers S. 9259 and A. 8162-A, in relation to the effectiveness thereof
 
PURPOSE:
This is a chapter amendment that makes changes to provisions of L.2024,
c.623.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This legislation amends the underlying chapter by requiring the women
veterans coordinator to liaison with commissioners of health and mental
health, hospitals, government health officials, obstetricians, midwives,
pediatricians, and veterans and veterans advocates in effectuating the
veteran maternity care program. The legislation expanded the coordina-
tor's responsibilities as a liaison while striking the subsection allow-
ing for the convening of a working group. It also strikes the require-
ment that the coordinator develop a system for referral linkage and
rapid consultation and makes other technical changes to the program.
The legislation also amends the underlying chapter by striking the
subsections on establishing standard protocols and training for health
care providers treating pregnant veterans and addressing elevated risks
for veterans and the collaboration with the maternal mortality review
board. It also strikes a section regarding communication about health
and support matters with family members of the veteran due to patient
confidentiality concerns.
The legislation also amends the underlying bills, S. 9259 and A.
8162-A, effective date to one year after becoming law.
 
EXISTING LAW:
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Pursuant to approval memo 61 of 2024, the Executive stated that changes
were necessary to address unbudgeted costs, protect patient privacy, and
ensure only medically trained coordinators inform practice of maternal
care. This legislation is a negotiated change to the underlying chapter
that addresses those concerns.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Chapter amendment to Chapter 623 of the Laws of 2024. S.9259 was substi-
tuted by A.8162-A, which was passed by the Assembly and Senate, respec-
tively, in May and June 2024.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, sections one,
two, three and four of this act shall take effect on the same date and
in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the veter-
ans' services law and the public health law relating to establishing a
maternity care coordination program for pregnant and postpartum veter-
ans, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 9259 and A. 8162-A,
takes effect.