Albany, New York – As hospitals nationwide face increasing pressure to eliminate essential health services without public notice, the New York State Legislature has once again passed the Hospital Transparency Act (A3862/S3486). Sponsored by Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and State Senator Michelle Hinchey, this bill would require general hospitals to disclose the full range of services they provide, including gender-affirming care, abortion, and end-of-life options.

After being vetoed by Governor Kathy Hochul in December 2024, the Hospital Transparency Act was reintroduced in response to growing concerns over federal executive actions targeting LGBTQ+ health rights and reproductive freedom. These national pressures have already led some New York hospitals to quietly restrict or halt care, leaving patients scrambling to find facilities that still provide these services. The Hospital Transparency Act would create a centralized, publicly accessible repository of such service denials, empowering patients to make informed decisions before medical emergencies arise.

The bill defines these denials as hospital rule-based exclusions– bureaucratic policies set by

non-medical personnel that prevent general hospitals from providing services they are licensed to offer. Such exclusions can be written, unwritten, or imposed by external authorities, and may restrict care based on characteristics protected under New York’s Human Rights Law, including race, gender identity, or sexual orientation. However, the bill makes clear that these exclusions do not apply to denials resulting from lack of equipment, hospital capacity, or insurance coverage.

“Hospitals across New York are already scaling back on healthcare under growing national pressure,” said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic. “Patients should never have to guess where to turn to for lifesaving care, including reproductive health services. Transparency is a necessity, and I urge Governor Hochul to sign this bill into law and protect healthcare access for all New Yorkers.”

Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “Behind closed doors, hospitals in New York can quietly cave to federal pressure and eliminate lifesaving healthcare this administration deems unworthy – without public notice, without accountability, and with devastating consequences for New Yorkers who need care. It’s already happening. We needed the Hospital Transparency Act when it was vetoed last year – and we need it more than ever today to help protect healthcare access. We’re proud to see it pass both houses again and strongly urge the Governor to sign it into law.”

The Hospital Transparency Act would also require the New York State Department of Health to annually publish exclusions for each general hospital and include this information in patients’ bills of rights. The Department must report on how these exclusions impact access across racial, geographic, and economic demographics. As hospital mergers continue, this bill will empower patients and advocates to identify and address gaps in care, as well as respond to growing healthcare deserts.

“Too often, New Yorkers are left in the dark about what care is available at their local hospitals—especially when it comes to reproductive and gender-affirming health services. This bill is a vital step toward ensuring that every patient throughout our state can make informed decisions about their health care. We applaud Assemblymember Rozic and Senator Hinchey for their leadership on this issue and urge Governor Hochul to stand with patients across the state who deserve clarity, dignity, and access to the full spectrum of medical care, and sign this legislation without delay,” said Georgana Hanson, Executive Vice President, Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts.

“This legislation could not be more urgent. Following Trump’s unlawful and cruel anti-trans executive orders, hospitals around New York began canceling gender-affirming care appointments in violation of state law. In response, distraught families and advocates have repeatedly asked for a list of which hospitals are denying care in order to determine whether and where it is still being offered. This bill will deliver this critical information so that people can find the care they need,” said Allie Bohm, Senior Policy Counsel at the New York Civil Liberties Union. “New Yorkers deserve the freedom to control their bodies, and that includes the ability to access needed health care. This commonsense bill takes a first step to make that vision a reality in New York, and this Pride month, we urge the Governor to sign it into law immediately.”

The bill now awaits action by Governor Hochul. Enacting this legislation would reinforce New York’s commitment to transparency in healthcare and ensure that all residents have the information they need to access essential medical services.