New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed new legislation as part of the fiscal year 2025 budget to provide pregnant women with an additional 20 hours of paid sick leave (PTO) for prenatal care in addition to existing sick leave.
This move is part of Hochul’s ongoing efforts to support new parents and improve maternal health outcomes in the state. She has previously implemented 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave benefits for over 80% of the state workforce and extended postpartum coverage for Medicaid and Child Health Plus enrollees up to a full year after pregnancy.
The budget also includes financial incentives for hospitals to reduce the number of unnecessary C-sections and eliminates cost-sharing for certain pregnancy-related expenses, such as prenatal and postpartum visits, for Essential Plan and Qualified Health Plan enrollees.
“No one should ever have to fear seeking care because of the costs it will impose or time missed from work,” Hochul said. “From supporting pregnant moms to reducing insulin costs, we are taking action to ensure New Yorkers can access the care they need.”
In addition to expanded parental time off, other health-related initiatives included in Hochul’s executive budget include new policies to protect low-income individuals seeking medical care, elimination of insulin cost-sharing for any New Yorker on state-regulated health insurance plans, and a $37 billion Medicaid investment plan to support the state’s healthcare system.
Hochul’s cost-cutting insulin legislation has been touted as “the most expansive prohibition against insulin cost-sharing in the country.” The new legislation aims to provide financial relief to New Yorkers and improve adherence to life-saving medications, Hochul said.
The budget also includes new legislation to protect low-income New Yorkers from medical debt lawsuits by banning hospitals from suing patients earning less than 400% of the federal poverty level, or $120,000 for a family of four. The legislation also expands hospital financial assistance programs for low-income New Yorkers; limits the size of monthly payments and interest charged for medical debt; implements other protections to improve access to financial assistance; and mitigates the effects of medical debt on New Yorkers.
