NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6823
SPONSOR: Cruz TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to withholding fund-
ing from certain entities who decline to make available, dispense,
distribute, or sell a product approved by the federal government which
would block, prevent, or otherwise negate a pregnancy
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The bill would empower the Commissioner of Health to withhold Medicaid
funding from any entity within New York State that declines to dispense
or sell pregnancy prevention or termination medication authorized by the
Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in any jurisdiction subject to the FDA.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Amends existing section 2599-bb of the Public Health law by adding a new
subdivision 3.
JUSTIFICATION:
The New York State Constitution and Public Health Law clearly protects
and ensures that the full range of reproductive or contraception
services and products are available within the state to women and men
seeking to manage, control, prevent, or terminate pregnancy. Unfortu-
nately, those policies are not replicated in many of the other states in
our country. Efforts to legally prohibit the distribution of medications
and products colloquially are being litigated despite the fact it has
been approved by the Food & Drug Administration and has a long history
of being safe and effective. This bill would provide an incentive to
multi-state pharmacy corporations doing business in New York to continue
to make medications essential to women's reproductive health available
where they are doing business.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Possible savings in Medicaid program.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
