Enacts the "pediatric cancer neuropsychological needs assessment act"; requires insurers to provide coverage for neuropsychological assessments for children with pediatric cancers which affect brain development or function.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8750
IN SENATE
March 7, 2024
___________
Introduced by Sen. MAYER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring certain
insurance policies to provide coverage for neuropsychological exams
for children with pediatric cancers which affect brain development or
function
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
2 the "pediatric cancer neuropsychological needs assessment act".
3 § 2. Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by
4 adding a new paragraph 39 to read as follows:
5 (39) Every policy that provides medical, major medical or similar
6 comprehensive-type coverage shall provide coverage for comprehensive
7 evaluations for individuals up to age twenty-six with pediatric cancer
8 or brain tumors, and shall not exclude coverage for the screening, diag-
9 nosis or treatment of medical conditions otherwise covered by such poli-
10 cy. Such coverage shall include comprehensive neuropsychological exam-
11 inations in accordance with evidence-based medical literature for the
12 purposes of identifying memory, language, and executive function chal-
13 lenges and determining the psychological, emotional, and educational
14 wellness needs of the individual tested.
15 § 3. Subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by
16 adding a new paragraph 22 to read as follows:
17 (22) Every large group policy that provides medical, major medical or
18 similar comprehensive-type coverage shall provide coverage for compre-
19 hensive evaluations for individuals up to age twenty-six with pediatric
20 cancer or brain tumors, and shall not exclude coverage for the screen-
21 ing, diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions otherwise covered by
22 such policy. Such coverage shall include comprehensive neuropsychologi-
23 cal examinations in accordance with evidence-based medical literature
24 for the purposes of identifying memory, language, and executive function
25 challenges and determining the psychological, emotional, and educational
26 wellness needs of the individual tested.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14301-01-4
S. 8750 2
1 § 4. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new
2 subsection (vv) to read as follows:
3 (vv) Every large group contract issued by a hospital services corpo-
4 ration or a health services corporation that provides medical, major
5 medical or similar comprehensive-type coverage shall provide coverage
6 for comprehensive evaluations for individuals up to age twenty-six with
7 pediatric cancer or brain tumors, and shall not exclude coverage for the
8 screening, diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions otherwise
9 covered by such policy. Such coverage shall include comprehensive
10 neuropsychological examinations in accordance with evidence-based
11 medical literature for the purposes of identifying memory, language, and
12 executive function challenges and determining the psychological,
13 emotional, and educational wellness needs of the individual tested.
14 § 5. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
15 ing the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all
16 policies issued, modified or renewed on and after such effective date.
