S1478

The New York State Senate passed S1478, sponsored by Sen. Hinchey, directing the Commissioner of Health to conduct a study of the delivery of services to individuals with traumatic brain injury. The bill passed on a roll call vote, 61-0. The measure, which takes effect immediately, proceeded without recorded debate.

The New York State Senate passed legislation Tuesday directing state health officials to conduct a comprehensive study of traumatic brain injury services across the state. Senate Print 1478, sponsored by Sen. Hinchey, requires the Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities to examine regional delivery of TBI care. The bill passed on a 60-0 roll call vote. Sen. Hinchey spoke in support, citing the case of a 16-year-old constituent who had to relocate from the Hudson Valley to Long Island—and later to Oklahoma—to receive adequate care for a traumatic brain injury sustained in a pedestrian accident. She noted that 2.5 million people are impacted by traumatic brain injuries and stressed the need to ensure equitable access to services regardless of where New Yorkers live. The legislation creates the first-ever mandated study between the two agencies to address what Hinchey characterized as a significant gap in the state's TBI service delivery system.