A01645 Summary:

BILL NO    A01645 

SAME AS    Same as S 2356

SPONSOR    Bing (MS)

COSPNSR    Titone, Gabryszak, Rivera N, Cahill, Boyland, Rivera J, Lupardo

MLTSPNSR   Galef, Jaffee, Koon, Lopez V, Mayersohn, Pheffer, Reilly, Towns

Amd SS3216, 3221 & 4303, Ins L

Prohibits limitations in health insurance contracts or policies with respect to
coverage of massage therapy performed by a licensed massage therapist.

A01645 Actions:

BILL NO    A01645 

01/07/2009 referred to insurance
01/06/2010 referred to insurance

A01645 Votes:

A01645 Memo:

 BILL NUMBER:  A1645

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to
prohibiting certain limitations or exclusions regarding massage
therapy

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :  The purpose of this bill is to
provide for the coverage of massage therapy services in health
insurance policies.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :  Section 1. Amends Section 3216 of
the Insurance Law to require individual policies for hospital,
surgical or medical care to include massage therapy provided by a
licensed massage therapist within the lawful scope of practice.

Section 2 amends Subsection (k) of section 3221 of the Insurance Law
to require group health insurance policies that provide reimbursement
for hospital, surgical or medical care to include coverage for massage
therapy services provided by a licensed massage therapist.

Section 3 amends Section 4303 of the Insurance Law to provide coverage
for massage therapy services performed by a licensed massage therapist
under health service or medical indemnity corporation contracts.

 JUSTIFICATION :  Presently, various health professionals such as
Chiropractors, Acupuncturists, Registered Nurses and Physical
Therapists are able to perform therapeutic massage when prescribed by
a physician, even though their training in most cases does not exceed
ten to fifteen hours in this particular field. By the time massage
school graduates sit for their state exam, they have already completed
between 672 and 1,000 hours of intensive training.

It appears to be in the best interest of the health care consumer, as
well as that of the physician who prescribes specific massage
treatment plans, to have such treatments performed by the licensed
health professional who currently has the highest degree of training
and expertise, namely the licensed massage therapist.

As of this date the profession of massage is the only licensed health
profession in New York which is not listed with the New York Insurance
Law. This legislation would add massage therapy as a regular component
of health care policies in the state. It provides a greater range of
options for the public and promotes the practice of massage therapy
services in New York.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2007-08: A.8562/S.2749 Referred to Assembly Insurance Committee.
Referred to Senate Insurance Committee

 FISCAL IMPLICATION TO NEW YORK STATE :  To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :  This act shall take effect 90 days after it becomes
law and will include policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified,
altered or amended on or after that date.