New York Cancer Action Center

The New York State Senate began its wrap up of the 2026 legislative session by advancing bipartisan legislation (Senate Bill 172b) that would improve New Yorkers’ access to paid medical leave through the state’s Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) Program. Despite overwhelming support from the Assembly majority conference, the companion legislation (Assembly Bill 9571a) is not expected to be taken up before the Assembly adjourns. Advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) are expressing their disappointment that the Assembly may allow the effort to fail for the third year in a row.

After months of debate, state lawmakers have finalized New York’s state budget, opting to preserve access to biomarker testing for Medicaid enrollees. The adopted budget changed language in the historic biomarker testing law, initially passed in 2023, to clarify biomarker testing is covered when it is medically necessary. The law will retain the most important criteria used for determining when testing is to be covered, drawing praise from cancer survivors and patient advocates.

Earlier today, a coalition of patient advocates, legislative champions, public health leaders and concerned cancer survivors, led by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), came together to applaud the Senate and call on Governor Hochul and Assembly leadership to join the Senate in preserving Medicaid enrollees’ access to biomarker testing.

The one-house budget proposals revealed a clear divide in the Legislature’s approach to the equitable treatment of disease. The New York State Senate flatly rejected the governor’s proposal to roll back Medicaid coverage criteria for biomarker testing, heeding the calls of cancer survivors, patient advocates and public health organizations, like the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). The Assembly took a more mixed approach accepting parts of the Governor’s proposed language while rejecting others.