NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2037
SPONSOR: Stirpe (MS) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to insurance coverage for
substance abuse disorder services
PURPOSE:
To require insurance companies provide at least ninety days of inpatient
rehabilitation services to an insured upon a doctor's prescription.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends the Insurance Law to provide an individual accident
policy offering medical coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of
substance use disorder shall include coverage for at least ninety days
at an inpatient rehabilitation facility when referred by a doctor.
Section 2. Amends the Insurance Law to provide that group or blanket
accident and health insurance policies providing medical coverage for
the diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorder shall include
coverage for at least ninety days at an inpatient rehabilitation facili-
ty when referred by a doctor.
Section 3. Amends the Insurance Law to provide that every contract
issued by a hospital service corporation or health service corporation
which provides coverage for in-patient hospital care shall also provide
coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorder and
shall include coverage for at least ninety days at a rehabilitation
facility when referred by a doctor.
Section 4. Sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Throughout New York State, opioid addiction runs rampant. Every communi-
ty, urban and rural alike, throughout the State is susceptible to opioid
addiction. The expansion of access to effective treatments for those who
are addicted to opioids is paramount in addressing this issue. One meth-
od of expanding access to treatments is to require insurance coverage
for at least 90 days of inpatient rehabilitation services for substance
abuse disorders upon a doctor's referral. This method ensures that a
connection is established between victims, users, and treatment facili-
ties thereby increasing the probability of effectively addressing
addiction. Therefore, it is imperative that this legislation be enacted.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2015-2016: A.9211/S.6478-A - Reported to Rules/ Referred to Insurance
2017-2018: A.492/S.2099 - Referred to Ways and Means/Referred to Insur-
ance
2019-2020: A.1163 - Referred to Insurance
2021-2022: A.3654 - Referred to Insurance
2023-2024: A.3654/S7010-A - Referred to Insurance
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
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, amended, or renewed
on and after such effective date.
