NY S00505

Commissioner of Health must review policies and practices at state and local correctional facilities at least annually for compliance with medical standards regarding HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, COVID-19, emerging infectious diseases, women's health, transgender health, chronic conditions, geriatric care, discharge planning, and substance use disorders.

Department of Health personnel are authorized to inspect facilities, review medical records and protocols, interview providers and patients, and review medical grievances to assess quality and adequacy of care.

Upon completion of reviews, the Department of Health must either approve policies or direct the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to implement corrective plans addressing deficiencies; the commissioner must monitor implementation and conduct further reviews as needed.

All written review reports must be made public without individual patient identifying information and posted on the Department of Health's website.

Department of Health must conduct a biennial study of health care staffing at correctional facilities examining staffing adequacy in specialty areas, challenges such as salary and geographic factors, and impact on service availability, with the first study due within one year of enactment.