New York S 10253: Relates to veterans health care

Bill Text

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S10253 Summary:

BILL NOS10253 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A10142

&nbsp

SPONSORMARTINEZ

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

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Add §18-a, Veterans' Services L

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Relates to veterans' health care; creates a veteran health care review to ensure veterans and their families have access to health and mental health treatment, including for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, military sexual trauma, reproductive and mental health conditions, and suicide prevention.

Go to top S10253 Actions:

BILL NOS10253 

&nbsp

05/08/2026REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

Go to topS10253 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS10253 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS10253 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 10253

 IN SENATE

 May 8, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi-
 ty and Military Affairs

 AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to veterans
 health care

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

 1 Section 1. The veterans' services law is amended by adding a new
 2 section 18-a to read as follows:
 3 § 18-a. Veteran health care review. 1. The department, in consultation
 4 with the department of health, shall undertake a study regarding veter-
 5 an health care as provided in this section. Such study shall be
 6 completed and reported to the legislature on or before December thirty-
 7 first, two thousand twenty-seven.
 8 2. The veteran health care review shall comprehensively study efforts
 9 that can be made to improve veterans' health care in the state includ-
 10 ing, but not be limited to:
 11 (a) increasing access by veterans and their families to health
 12 care coverage and services;
 13 (b) leveraging existing resources and structures in areas where veter-
 14 ans and their families are able to easily access such resources;
 15 (c) ensuring the needs of veterans and their families are incorpo-
 16 rated in all state efforts to expand access to affordable, quality
 17 health care;
 18 (d) ensuring veterans and their families have access to mental
 19 health treatment, including for post-traumatic stress disorder,
 20 depression, anxiety, military sexual trauma, reproductive and mental
 21 health conditions, and suicide prevention;
 22 (e) increasing primary, reproductive and mental health care services
 23 and resources for women veterans;
 24 (f) identifying all federal and other health benefits, coverage, and
 25 services available to veterans and their families; and
 26 (g) more effectively coordinating with other local, state, and federal
 27 departments and agencies, health care providers, and health insurance

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD04144-01-5

 S. 10253 2

 1 programs to help veterans and their beneficiaries apply for coverage
 2 under such programs, including helping veterans overcome barriers within
 3 the health care system, to ensure enrollment in health plans and effec-
 4 tive delivery and coordination of health services.
 5 3. As part of the study, the department shall also:
 6 (a) evaluate whether the needs of veterans and their families are met
 7 by existing health care and veterans' programs;
 8 (b) examine the existing health care services and resources available
 9 to women veterans, assess if the existing services and resources are
 10 serving the needs of women veterans, and provide recommendations to
 11 further expand access to additional health care services and resources
 12 for women veterans;
 13 (c) provide recommendations for steps that could be taken to increase
 14 access to affordable, quality health care;
 15 (d) consider the effects of designating health care navigators who
 16 would assist veterans in navigating the complexities of accessing health
 17 care benefits and services;
 18 (e) evaluate the extent to which veterans in the state are experienc-
 19 ing delays in the receipt of health care services and ways to provide
 20 assistance to those veterans having difficulty receiving