Int. No. 922
By Council Members Zhuang, Louis, Epstein and Morano
A Local Law in relation to requiring the department of health and mental hygiene to conduct a study on healthcare facilities and older adults
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Study and report on healthcare facilities and older adults. a. Definitions. For purposes of this local law, the following terms have the following meanings:
City. The term “city” means the city of New York.
Commissioner. The term “commissioner” means the commissioner of the department of health and mental hygiene.
Community district. The term “community district” means a geographic area established pursuant to chapter 69 of the New York city charter.
Department. The term “department” means the department of health and mental hygiene.
Healthcare facility. The term “healthcare facility” means a health-related service provider, hospital, nursing home, out-patient lodge, residential health care facility, and any other facility the commissioner deems relevant.
Health-related service. The term “health-related service” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision 10 of section 2801 of the public health law.
Hospital. The term “hospital” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision 10 of section 2801 of the public health law.
Hospital service. The term “hospital service” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision 10 of section 2801 of the public health law.
Nursing home. The term “nursing home” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision 10 of section 2801 of the public health law.
Older adult. The term “older adult” means a person 60 years of age or older.
Out-patient lodge. The term “out-patient lodge” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision 10 of section 2801 of the public health law.
Residential health care facility. The term “residential health care facility” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision 10 of section 2801 of the public health law.
b. Study. The commissioner, in coordination with the commissioner for the aging, shall study the geographic distribution of healthcare facilities in relation to the distribution of older adults living in the city. Such study shall include the following:
1. An identification of the specific healthcare needs of older adults living in the city;
2. The development of criteria for what constitutes sufficient healthcare facility capacity to meet the specific needs of older adults in the community district in which each such facility is located;
3. An evaluation of healthcare facility capacity and capabilities specific to caring for the older adult population in the community district in which each such facility is located;
4. Information on which such facilities accept Medicare or Medicaid;
5. A survey and evaluation of the extent to which such facilities provide services responsive to the racial, ethnic, and economic demographics of older adults living in the community districts in which such facilities are located; and
6. An analysis of the barriers faced by older adults in each community district in accessing such facilities, including infrastructure and transportation barriers, cost of healthcare provided at such facilities, language or other cultural barriers, and any other barriers identified by the commissioner.
c. Report. No later than 1 year after the effective date of this local law, the department shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council a report on the study conducted pursuant to subdivision b of this local law. Such report shall include a map or visual representation weighing healthcare facility locations and capacities in comparison to the number and distribution of older adults in each community district, and shall include an analysis of whether sufficient facility capacity to meet the specific needs of older adults exists in each community district. Such report shall also include recommendations for city agencies and healthcare facilities to improve access to healthcare facilities for older adults living in each community district, including, but not limited to, recommendations as necessary on expanding access to linguistically and culturally competent care for specific older adult populations.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
CP
LS #22489
5/15/2026 11:37 AM