Add §2500-l, Pub Health L; amd §§3216, 3221 & 4303, Ins L
 
Provides for universal newborn nurse home visiting services; requires health insurance coverage for universal newborn nurse home visiting services; authorizes the department of health to apply for certain waivers; directs the superintendent of financial services to require an insurer, health carrier or health benefit plan to notify enrollees annually of universal newborn nurse home visiting services.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A6526
SPONSOR: Solages
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to universal newborn
nurse home visiting services; to amend the insurance law, in relation to
requiring health insurance coverage for universal newborn nurse home
visiting services; authorizing the department of health to apply for
certain waivers; and directing the superintendent of financial services
to require an insurer, health carrier or health benefit plan to notify
enrollees annually of universal newborn nurse home visiting services
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the bill is to provide for universal newborn nurse home
visiting services and require health insurance coverage for universal
newborn nurse home visiting services.
 
SUMMARY:
Section 1. Amends the public health law by adding a new section 2500-1.
Section 2. Amends subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law by
adding a new paragraph 39.
Section 3. Amends subsection (k) of section 3221 of the insurance law by
adding a new paragraph 23.
Section 4. Amends section 4303 of the insurance law by adding a new
subsection (uu).
Section 5. Allows for federal financial participation.
Section 6. Requires insurers to notify enrollees of coverage.
Section 7. Sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Health insurance coverage for newborn nurse home visiting services is
incredibly important for parents and their newborns. Home visiting
services provide valuable support, education, and guidance to parents
during a critical time in their child's development. However, without
insurance coverage, these services can be expensive and out of reach for
many families.
With proper coverage, new parents will be able to access the resources
and support they need to ensure that their newborn receives the best
possible care. This can include assistance with breastfeeding, monitor-
ing the baby's development, and providing education on infant care and
safety. Newborn nurse home visiting services help parents detect any
potential health issues early on, reducing the risk of complications or
hospital readmissions.
Newborn nurse home visiting services play an important role in combating
the maternal health crisis in New York, particularly among women of
color. At-home visits help to prevent adverse childhood experiences,
support positive parenting, promote child development and school read-
iness, and improve overall maternal and child health outcomes  
1. This
bill extends access to free newborn nurse home visiting services, as
well as maternal education to every new birthing person, regardless of
socioeconomic status, race, or ethnicity which will work to dismantle
the generational damage done by an inequitable health care system.
 
RACIAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
Insurance coverage for newborn nurse home visiting services can be
particularly important for women of color. This community faces higher
rates of maternal mortality and morbidity compared to white women, and
may face additional barriers to accessing quality healthcare services.
By ensuring that these services are covered by health insurance, more
mothers of color can have access to the resources and support they need
to support their own health and the health of their newborns.
Newborn nurse home visiting services provide culturally sensitive care
to reverse biases and disparities in care that they may receive in other
healthcare settings. By providing education, guidance, and support
during pregnancy and after childbirth, nurses can help reduce the risk
of complications and improve overall health outcomes for women of color
and their newborns. Insurance coverage for these services can help
ensure that all women, regardless of their income, have access to the
resources they need to support their health and well-being.
 
GENDER JUSTICE IMPACT:
Health insurance coverage for newborn nurse home visiting services can
have several positive impacts on women's health and well-being as it
improves the accessibility and affordability of these services. Newborn
nurse home visiting services can provide mother's with education and
support, helping them to better understand and manage their own health,
and the health of their newborn. This is particularly important for
women who may face additional barriers to accessing quality healthcare,
such as those living in rural or low-income areas.
Health insurance coverage for newborn nurse home visiting services can
reduce the financial burden of care, which can be particularly important
for women who may be struggling financially, or who do not have access
to paid leave. By reducing the financial burden of care, women can focus
on their own health and the health oftheir newborn without worrying
about the cost of care.
Finally, newborn nurse home visiting services can help provide important
support to transgender parents during pregnancy and after childbirth.
Transgender parents face unique challenges and barriers when accessing
healthcare services, including discrimination, stigma, and lack of
access to patient-centered care. Newborn nurse home visiting services
enable gender-affirming care, including information on hormone therapy,
chestfeeding, and other aspects of gender-affirming care that may be
relevant to pregnancy and the postpartum experience, improving health
outcomes for transgender parents and their newborns.
By ensuring that all birthing people have access to these resources, we
can work toward improving maternal and child health outcomes, partic-
ularly for those who may face additional barriers to accessing quality
healthcare.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: A3442; referred to education.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law and shall apply to any policy issued, delivered, renewed,
and/or modified on or after the effective date of this act. Effective
immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regu-
lation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective
date.
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STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6526
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 13, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to universal newborn
nurse home visiting services; to amend the insurance law, in relation
to requiring health insurance coverage for universal newborn nurse
home visiting services; authorizing the department of health to apply
for certain waivers; and directing the superintendent of financial
services to require an insurer, health carrier or health benefit plan
to notify enrollees annually of universal newborn nurse home visiting
services
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section
2 2500-l to read as follows:
3 § 2500-l. Universal newborn nurse home visiting services. 1. As used
4 in this section, "community" means a geographic region, county, tribe or
5 other group of individuals living in proximity as defined by the depart-
6 ment by rule.
7 2. (a) The commissioner shall design, implement and maintain a volun-
8 tary statewide program to provide universal newborn nurse home visiting
9 services to all families with newborns residing in this state to support
10 healthy child development and strengthen families. The commissioner
11 shall design the universal newborn nurse home visiting program to be
12 flexible so as to meet the needs of the communities where the program
13 operates.
14 (b) In designing the program described in paragraph (a) of this subdi-
15 vision, the commissioner shall consult, coordinate and collaborate, as
16 necessary, with insurers that offer health benefit plans in this state,
17 hospitals, local public health authorities, the early intervention
18 program, existing early childhood home visiting programs, community-
19 based organizations and social service providers.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08155-01-3
A. 6526 2
1 3. The program shall provide nurse home visiting services that are:
2 (a) based on criteria established by the United States Department of
3 Health and Human Services for an evidence-based early childhood home
4 visiting service delivery model;
5 (b) provided by registered nurses licensed in this state to families
6 caring for newborns up to the age of six months, including foster and
7 adoptive newborns;
8 (c) provided in the family's home; and
9 (d) aimed at improving outcomes in one or more of the following
10 domains:
11 (i) child health;
12 (ii) child development and school readiness;
13 (iii) family economic self-sufficiency;
14 (iv) maternal health;
15 (v) positive parenting;
16 (vi) reducing child mistreatment;
17 (vii) reducing juvenile delinquency;
18 (viii) reducing family violence; or
19 (ix) reducing crime.
20 4. The services provided in the program must:
21 (a) be voluntary and carry no negative consequences for a family that
22 declines to participate;
23 (b) be offered in every community in this state;
24 (c) include an evidence-based assessment of the physical, social and
25 emotional factors affecting the family;
26 (d) be offered to all families with newborns residing in the community
27 where the program operates;
28 (e) include at least one visit during a newborn's first three months
29 of life with the opportunity for the family to choose up to three addi-
30 tional visits;
31 (f) include a follow-up visit no later than three months after the
32 last visit; and
33 (g) provide information and referrals to address each family's identi-
34 fied needs.
35 5. The authority shall collect and analyze data generated by the
36 program to assess the effectiveness of the program in meeting the aims
37 described in paragraph (d) of subdivision three of this section and
38 shall work with other state agencies to develop protocols for sharing
39 data, including the timely sharing of data with primary care providers
40 of care to the families with newborns receiving the services.
41 6. The commissioner shall adopt by rule, consistent with the
42 provisions of this section, criteria for universal newborn nurse home
43 visiting services that must be covered by health benefit plans.
44 § 2. Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by
45 adding a new paragraph 39 to read as follows:
46 (39)(A) Every policy which provides hospital, surgical or medical
47 coverage shall provide coverage for universal newborn nurse home visit-
48 ing services as prescribed by the department of health by rule under
49 section twenty-five hundred-l of the public health law. The coverage
50 must be provided without any cost-sharing, coinsurance or deductible
51 applicable to the services.
52 (B) Insurers must offer universal newborn nurse home visiting services
53 in their health benefit plans but an individual enrolled in the plan is
54 not required to receive the services as a condition of coverage and may
55 not be penalized or in any way discouraged from declining the services.
A. 6526 3
1 (C) An insurer must notify an individual enrolled in the plan about
2 the universal newborn nurse home visiting services whenever such indi-
3 vidual adds a newborn to coverage under the plan.
4 (D) An insurer may use in-network providers or may contract with local
5 public health authorities to provide the services.
6 (E) This paragraph does not require an insurer to reimburse the cost
7 of the services in any specific manner. The services may be reimbursed
8 using:
9 (i) a value-based payment methodology;
10 (ii) a claim invoicing process;
11 (iii) capitated payments;
12 (iv) a payment methodology that takes into account the need for a
13 community-based entity providing the services to expand its capacity to
14 provide the services and address health disparities; or
15 (v) any other methodology agreed to by the insurer and the provider of
16 the services.
17 (F) Insurers shall report to the department of public health, in the
18 form and manner prescribed by the department of public health, data
19 regarding claims submitted for services covered under this paragraph to
20 monitor the provision of the universal newborn nurse home visiting
21 services.
22 § 3. Subsection (k) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by
23 adding a new paragraph 23 to read as follows:
24 (23)(A) Every group or blanket policy delivered or issued for deliv-
25 ery in this state which provides hospital, surgical or medical
26 coverage shall include coverage for universal newborn nurse home visit-
27 ing services as prescribed by the department of health by rule under
28 section twenty-five hundred-l of the public health law. The coverage
29 must be provided without any cost-sharing, coinsurance or deductible
30 applicable to the services.
31 (B) Insurers must offer universal newborn nurse home visiting services
32 in their health benefit plans but an individual enrolled in the plan is
33 not required to receive the services as a condition of coverage and may
34 not be penalized or in any way discouraged from declining the services.
35 (C) An insurer must notify an individual enrolled in the plan about
36 the universal newborn nurse home visiting services whenever such indi-
37 vidual adds a newborn to coverage under the plan.
38 (D) An insurer may use in-network providers or may contract with local
39 public health authorities to provide the services.
40 (E) This paragraph does not require an insurer to reimburse the cost
41 of the services in any specific manner. The services may be reimbursed
42 using:
43 (i) a value-based payment methodology;
44 (ii) a claim invoicing process;
45 (iii) capitated payments;
46 (iv) a payment methodology that takes into account the need for a
47 community-based entity providing the services to expand its capacity to
48 provide the services and address health disparities; or
49 (v) any other methodology agreed to by the insurer and the provider of
50 the services.
51 (F) Insurers shall report to the department of public health, in the
52 form and manner prescribed by the department of public health, data
53 regarding claims submitted for services covered under this paragraph to
54 monitor the provision of the universal newborn nurse home visiting
55 services.
A. 6526 4
1 § 4. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new
2 subsection (uu) to read as follows:
3 (uu)(1) A medical expense indemnity corporation, a hospital service
4 corporation or a health service corporation that provides coverage for
5 hospital, surgical or medical care shall include coverage for universal
6 newborn nurse home visiting services as prescribed by the department of
7 health by rule under section twenty-five hundred-l of the public health
8 law. The coverage must be provided without any cost-sharing, coinsurance
9 or deductible applicable to the services.
10 (2) Insurers must offer universal newborn nurse home visiting services
11 in their health benefit plans but an individual enrolled in the plan is
12 not required to receive the services as a condition of coverage and may
13 not be penalized or in any way discouraged from declining the services.
14 (3) An insurer must notify an individual enrolled in the plan about
15 the universal newborn nurse home visiting services whenever such indi-
16 vidual adds a newborn to coverage under the plan.
17 (4) An insurer may use in-network providers or may contract with local
18 public health authorities to provide the services.
19 (5) This paragraph does not require an insurer to reimburse the cost
20 of the services in any specific manner. The services may be reimbursed
21 using:
22 (A) a value-based payment methodology;
23 (B) a claim invoicing process;
24 (C) capitated payments;
25 (D) a payment methodology that takes into account the need for a
26 community-based entity providing the services to expand its capacity to
27 provide the services and address health disparities; or
28 (E) any other methodology agreed to by the insurer and the provider of
29 the services.
30 (6) Insurers shall report to the department of public health, in the
31 form and manner prescribed by the department of public health, data
32 regarding claims submitted for services covered under this paragraph to
33 monitor the provision of the universal newborn nurse home visiting
34 services.
35 § 5. The department of health may request a waiver for state inno-
36 vation under 42 U.S.C. 18052 to obtain federal financial participation
37 in the cost of services provided under sections two, three and four of
38 this act.
39 § 6. The superintendent of financial services shall require an insur-
40 er, health carrier or health benefit plan to notify enrollees annually
41 of universal newborn nurse home visiting services covered by such enrol-
42 lees' health benefit plan. The notice shall be delivered by mail unless
43 the enrollee and health carrier have agreed on another method of notifi-
44 cation. The superintendent of financial services is authorized to
45 promulgate necessary rules and regulations for the purposes of providing
46 such notification.
47 § 7. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
48 have become a law and shall apply to any policy issued, delivered,
49 renewed, and/or modified on or after the effective date of this act.
50 Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
51 or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
52 tive date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
53 effective date.