File #: Int 1047-2024    Version: Name: Establishing a sleep apnea screening pilot program and public education and outreach campaign.
Type: Introduction Status: Enacted (Mayor's Desk for Signature)
Committee: Committee on Health
On agenda: 9/26/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law in relation to establishing a sleep apnea screening pilot program and public education and outreach campaign
Sponsors: Shaun Abreu, Lynn C. Schulman, Farah N. Louis, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Chi A. Ossé, Julie Menin, Sandy Nurse, Nantasha M. Williams, Kamillah Hanks, Shekar Krishnan, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Chris Banks, Mercedes Narcisse, Crystal Hudson, Carmen N. De La Rosa, Julie Won, Rita C. Joseph, Carlina Rivera , David M. Carr, Joann Ariola
Council Member Sponsors: 20
Summary: The bill would require the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), or another agency designated by the Mayor with the appropriate subject matter expertise, to establish a 3-year pilot program that provides access to sleep apnea screenings at no cost as well as access to home sleep apnea tests, if deemed appropriate. The bill would require DOHMH to prioritize individuals without insurance. This bill would also require DOHMH to publish a report on the pilot program’s effectiveness and whether it should be made permanent, and to conduct a public education and outreach campaign on sleep apnea and the pilot program’s availability. The bill would take effect immediately.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1047-B, 2. Summary of Int. No. 1047-A, 3. Summary of Int. No. 1047, 4. Int. No. 1047, 5. September 26, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 6. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 9-26-24, 7. Committee Report 12/2/24, 8. Hearing Testimony 12/2/24, 9. Hearing Transcript 12/2/24, 10. Proposed Int. No. 1047-A - 3/4/25, 11. Proposed Int. No. 1047-B - 3/18/25, 12. Committee Report 3/26/25, 13. Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council, 14. Fiscal Impact Statement - OMB, 15. Committee Report - Stated Meeting, 16. March 26, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
3/26/2025BShaun Abreu City Council Approved by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
3/26/2025*Shaun Abreu Committee on Health Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/26/2025*Shaun Abreu Committee on Health Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/26/2025*Shaun Abreu Committee on Health Amended by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/26/2025BShaun Abreu Committee on Health Approved by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
12/2/2024*Shaun Abreu Committee on Health Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
12/2/2024*Shaun Abreu Committee on Health Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
9/26/2024*Shaun Abreu City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
9/26/2024*Shaun Abreu City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Int. No. 1047-B

 

By Council Members Abreu, Schulman, Louis, Gutiérrez, Ossé, Menin, Nurse, Williams, Hanks, Krishnan, Sanchez, Banks, Narcisse, Hudson, De La Rosa, Won, Joseph, Rivera, Carr and Ariola

 

A Local Law in relation to establishing a sleep apnea screening pilot program and public education and outreach campaign

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

                     Section 1. Sleep apnea screening program and public education and outreach campaign. a. Definitions. For purposes of this local law, the following terms have the following meanings:

Department. The term “department” means the department of health and mental hygiene or another agency designated by the mayor that has appropriate subject matter expertise relating to sleep apnea screening, testing, and treatment.

Health care professional. The term “health care professional” means an individual duly licensed or otherwise authorized to practice a health profession pursuant to applicable law, including, but not limited to, a physician, a registered professional nurse, a nurse practitioner, or a physician assistant.

Home sleep apnea test. The term “home sleep apnea test” means any non-invasive test or device cleared or approved by the federal food and drug administration to diagnose or evaluate a risk of sleep apnea.

Patient. The term “patient” means an individual who seeks sleep apnea screening or a home sleep apnea test.

Sleep apnea. The term “sleep apnea” means a sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts.

Sleep apnea screening. The term “sleep apnea screening” means screening tools that assess individual risk of sleep apnea, including, but not limited to, the STOP-BANG questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the 4-Variable screening tool.

b. Sleep apnea screening pilot program. The department shall establish a pilot program to conduct sleep apnea screenings for patients at no cost to the patient. Such program shall prioritize providing such screenings to uninsured patients. If the results of such sleep apnea screening indicate sleep apnea or a risk for sleep apnea, such program shall offer appropriate services to the patient utilizing applicable or available health insurance. If the patient does not have health insurance or the financial capacity to pay, such program shall apply a sliding fee scale to reduce the cost of such services, including the cost of home sleep apnea tests if a health care professional determines that such test is appropriate. If after applying the sliding fee scale, the patient is still unable to pay for such services, such program shall offer such services at no cost to the patient.

c. Implementation. The pilot program required by subdivision b of this section shall commence no later than 180 days after the effective date of this law. The duration of such program shall be 3 years.

d. Sleep apnea screening report. No later than 1 year after the end of the pilot program established pursuant to subdivision b of this section, the department shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council, and post on its website, a report on such program. Such report shall not contain personally identifiable information. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:

1. The total number of patients screened through such program, disaggregated by the age range of the patient screened, the borough in which the patient resides, the race and ethnicity of the patient screened, and whether the patient had insurance;

2. The total number of patients referred or connected to health care professionals or other services following the sleep apnea screening;

3. The total number of patients that were provided with a home sleep apnea test in accordance with subdivision b of this section; and

4. Any challenges with establishing or administering such program and recommendations as to whether to establish a permanent sleep apnea screening program.

e. Public education and outreach. Prior to and throughout the duration of the pilot program established pursuant to subdivision b of this section, the department shall establish and implement an outreach and education campaign to raise awareness about sleep apnea. In conducting such outreach the department shall utilize social media, internet, digital kiosks, and other appropriate mediums as determined by the department, and shall advise the public on the health risks associated with sleep apnea, common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea, and information on how to access health care for sleep apnea, including, but not limited to, such sleep apnea screening pilot program. Materials for such outreach campaign shall be made available in the designated citywide languages as defined in section 23-1101 of the administrative code of the city of New York.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

 

SOS

LS #13701/13702

3/18/2025 6:16pm