Provides that insurance policies which provide hospital, surgical or medical coverage shall provide coverage for hysterectomies; provides that such coverage shall include inpatient hospital coverage for a minimum period of seventy-two hours after surgery.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A6007
SPONSOR: Cook (MS)
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to coverage of hysterec-
tomies
 
PURPOSE:
To require policies which provide hospital, surgical or medical coverage
to also provide coverage for hysterectomies including inpatient hospital
coverage for a minimum period of seventy-two hours after surgery.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Amends subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law by
adding a new paragraph 33.
§ 2. Amends subsection (1) of section 3221 of the insurance law by
adding a new paragraph 19.
§ 3. Amends section 4303 of the insurance law by adding a new subsection
qq).
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Certain health insurance carriers, health maintenance organizations,
health plans, and hospitals have been restricting coverage and care with
respect to the length of hospital stay following hysterectomies in ways
that jeopardize the life and health of women and violate reasonable
professional standards. The provisions of this act are necessary to
provide a reasonable and uniform standard of coverage and care to
protect the public health.
The intent of this legislation is to require policies. which provide
hospital, surgical or medical coverage to include inpatient hospital
coverage for a minimum period of seventy-two hours after surgery.
Hysterectomies are invasive surgical procedures which require ample time
from which to recover.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Previously Introduced. 2019/20 A.68.80 - S.3307; 2021/22 A.3182
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6007
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 30, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. COOK, AUBRY, WEPRIN, GUNTHER -- Multi-Sponsored
by -- M. of A. SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to coverage of hysterec-
tomies
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is
2 amended by adding a new paragraph 39 to read as follows:
3 (39) (A) Every policy which provides hospital, surgical or medical
4 coverage, or similar comprehensive type coverage, shall provide coverage
5 for all cost for hysterectomies. Such coverage shall include inpatient
6 hospital coverage for a minimum period of seventy-two hours after
7 surgery.
8 (B) Such coverage may be subject to annual deductibles and coinsurance
9 as may be deemed appropriate by the superintendent and as are consistent
10 with those established for other benefits within a given policy.
11 (C) Coverage under this paragraph shall not restrict or eliminate
12 existing coverage provided by the policy and nothing in this paragraph
13 shall be construed to deny or restrict in any way any existing right or
14 benefit provided under law or by contract.
15 § 2. Subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by
16 adding a new paragraph 22 to read as follows:
17 (22) (A) Every group or blanket policy delivered or issued for deliv-
18 ery in this state which provides hospital, surgical or medical coverage,
19 or similar comprehensive type coverage, shall provide coverage for all
20 cost for hysterectomies. Such coverage shall include inpatient hospital
21 coverage for a minimum period of seventy-two hours after surgery.
22 (B) Such coverage may be subject to annual deductibles and coinsurance
23 as may be deemed appropriate by the superintendent and as are consistent
24 with those established for other benefits within a given policy.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08229-01-3
A. 6007 2
1 (C) Coverage under this paragraph shall not restrict or eliminate
2 existing coverage provided by the policy and nothing in this paragraph
3 shall be construed to deny or restrict in any way any existing right or
4 benefit provided under law or by contract.
5 § 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new
6 subsection (uu) to read as follows:
7 (uu) 1. Every medical expense indemnity corporation, hospital service
8 corporation and health service corporation which provides hospital,
9 surgical or medical coverage, or similar comprehensive type coverage,
10 shall provide coverage for all cost for hysterectomies. Such coverage
11 shall include inpatient hospital coverage for a minimum period of seven-
12 ty-two hours after surgery.
13 2. Such coverage may be subject to annual deductibles and coinsurance
14 as may be deemed appropriate by the superintendent and as are consistent
15 with those established for other benefits within a given policy.
16 3. Coverage under this subsection shall not restrict or eliminate
17 existing coverage provided by the policy and nothing in this subsection
18 shall be construed to deny or restrict in any way any existing right or
19 benefit provided under law or by contract.
20 § 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
21 it shall have become a law and shall apply to all policies entered into
22 or renewed on and after such effective date.