Includes digital health care service platforms in the definition of temporary health care services agency.
Summary
This bill amends the Public Health Law to expand the definition of a “temporary health care services agency” to expressly include digital health care service platforms and other technology-based entities that use apps or similar tools to connect health care entities with individuals who will provide health care services. The bill updates existing language that focused on providing or procuring temporary health care personnel so that it also covers entities that enable health care entities to engage individuals to perform health care services.
The bill also revises related reporting, documentation, and contract-disclosure provisions to reflect this broader framework. Agencies covered by the law would still need to document that individuals meet applicable licensing, training, and continuing education requirements, maintain procedures for advance notice and no-shows, and submit contracts and invoices to the Department of Health. The measure takes effect immediately.
Impact
The bill would broaden the scope of state regulation over temporary health care staffing by bringing digital staffing platforms and similar technology-based intermediaries within the statutory definition of a temporary health care services agency. As a result, these platforms would be subject to the same compliance obligations as traditional staffing agencies, including documentation, contract submission, and operational requirements under sections 2999-ii, 2999-jj, and 2999-kk of the Public Health Law. It would also clarify that the law applies to individuals engaged to provide health care services, not just personnel formally assigned through conventional staffing arrangements.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong support for the bill, with unanimous favorable votes in both the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and the Assembly Rules Committee. No committee transcript excerpts are available, but the vote totals suggest broad agreement with the bill’s goal of updating health care staffing rules for digital and app-based platforms.
Contention
The bill appears aimed at closing a regulatory gap between traditional temporary staffing agencies and newer technology-based platforms, which may be the main area of policy concern. Potential contention could involve whether app-based or digital intermediaries should be regulated like staffing agencies, and whether the expanded definition could impose additional compliance burdens on technology companies, health care entities, or both. The text also preserves exclusions for individuals providing only their own services on a temporary basis and for licensed home care agencies, indicating an effort to limit the bill’s reach to intermediary platforms rather than all temporary health care arrangements.
Amends the definition of "health care personnel" to define the term "temporary services" as health care services contracted for an initial term of less than twenty-four continuous months; requires a temporary health care services agency to annually submit to the department of health copies of all contracts between the agency and a health care entity to which it assigns or refers health care personnel.
Amends the definition of "health care personnel" to define the term "temporary services" as health care services contracted for an initial term of less than twenty-four continuous months; requires a temporary health care services agency to annually submit to the department of health copies of all contracts between the agency and a health care entity to which it assigns or refers health care personnel.
Includes both the birth family and the foster family of children in foster care, and other families receiving child welfare services from the authorized agency or the local departments of social services in the case of authorized agencies in the definition of family for purposes of services provided by voluntary foster care agency health facilities.
Includes both the birth family and the foster family of children in foster care, and other families receiving child welfare services from the authorized agency or the local departments of social services in the case of authorized agencies in the definition of family for purposes of services provided by voluntary foster care agency health facilities.
Providing for the regulation of supplemental nursing services agencies and healthcare workers platforms by the secretary for aging and disability services.
Providing for the regulation of supplemental nursing services agencies and healthcare workers platforms by the secretary for aging and disability services.
Requires insurers to pay a licensed home care services agency for work provided by a personal care aide or a home health aide with temporary protected status or other visa status; requires the licensed home services agency to have made a good faith effort to establish the employment eligibility of personal care aide or a home health aide consistent with federal regulation and statutes.