•  Summary 
  •  
  •  Actions 
  •  
  •  Committee Votes 
  •  
  •  Floor Votes 
  •  
  •  Memo 
  •  
  •  Text 
  •  
  •  LFIN 
  •  
  •  Chamber Video/Transcript 

A08824 Summary:

BILL NOA08824
 
SAME ASSAME AS S08334
 
SPONSORReyes
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Amd §§3216, 3221 & 4303, Ins L; amd §365-a, Soc Serv L
 
Requires insurance reimbursement for vaccination for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
Go to top    

A08824 Actions:

BILL NOA08824
 
06/09/2025referred to insurance
Go to top

A08824 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A8824
 
SPONSOR: Reyes
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the insurance law and the social services law, in relation to insurance reimbursement for vaccination for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2   PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:: This bill would include vaccines against SARS CoVID-2 virus on the list of vaccines which the Commissioner of Insurance must mandate for cover- age by health insurance providers within the State of New York and Include vaccines against SARS CoVID-2 virus on on the list of what Medi- caid must cover for an enrollee who receives such a vaccine at a pharma- cy   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:: Section One. Amends Clause (iii) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph 17 of subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law, covering for-profit individual health plans. Section Two. Amends Clause (iii) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph 8 of subsection (I) of section 3221 of the insurance law, covering for-profit group plans. Section Three. Amends Subparagraph (C) of paragraph 2 of subsection (j) of section 4303 of the insurance law, covering nonprofit health plans and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). Section Four. Amends Paragraph (v) of subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the social services law, covering Medicaid. Section Five. Provides for an effective date   JUSTIFICATION:: In light of recent and conflicting guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)-which has modified its COVID-19 vaccine recommendations by no longer advising routine vaccination for healthy children and pregnant individuals-it is imperative for New York State to enact legislation that ensures health insurance providers continue to cover the COVID-19 vaccine. This mixed messaging from federal health authorities risks undermining public confidence and access, making it all the more essential for the state to step in to safeguard public health, maintain equitable vaccine access, and uphold its commitment to preventive care. Despite the HHS's updated stance, COVID-19 continues to pose significant health risks. Children, while generally experiencing milder symptoms, can still suffer severe outcomes and contribute to community trans- mission. Pregnant individuals face increased risks of complications from COVID-19, and vaccination has been shown to confer protective benefits to both mothers and their infants. State-level legislation ensuring vaccine coverage reinforces New York's proactive approach to mitigating these risks and protecting vulnerable populations. The HHS's decision may lead to inconsistencies in vaccine availability and coverage across states. By proactively legislating insurance cover- age for the COVID-19 vaccine, New York can preempt potential gaps resulting from reduced federal support, ensuring continuity in vaccine access and public health initiatives. State legislation mandating insurance coverage for COVID-19 vaccines can bolster public confidence in vaccination programs. It sends a clear message about the state's trust in the safety and efficacy of vaccines, countering potential misinformation and hesitancy that may arise from changing federal guide- lines. In response to the HHS's revised COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, it is crucial for New York State to enact legislation that mandates health insurance coverage for the vaccine. Such action will ensure equitable access, protect public health, uphold preventive healthcare standards, address potential federal support gaps, and reinforce public confidence in vaccination efforts. By taking this step, New York reaffirms its commitment to the health and well-being of all its residents.   PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:: None   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:: TBD   EFFECTIVE DATE:: This act shall take effect on the first of January after it shall have become a law
Go to top

A08824 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          8824
 
                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                      June 9, 2025
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by M. of A. REYES -- read once and referred to the Committee
          on Insurance
 
        AN ACT to amend the insurance  law  and  the  social  services  law,  in
          relation  to  insurance reimbursement for vaccination for severe acute
          respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section  1.  Clause  (iii)  of  subparagraph  (B)  of  paragraph 17 of
     2  subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law, as amended by chap-
     3  ter 219 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
     4    (iii) necessary immunizations, as determined by the superintendent  in
     5  consultation  with  the  commissioner  of health, consisting of at least
     6  adequate dosages of vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis, severe  acute
     7  respiratory  syndrome  coronavirus  2, tetanus, polio, measles, rubella,
     8  mumps, haemophilus influenzae type b and hepatitis  b,  which  meet  the
     9  standards  approved  by the United States public health service for such
    10  biological products.
    11    § 2. Clause (iii) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph 8 of subsection (l)
    12  of section 3221 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 219  of  the
    13  laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
    14    (iii)  necessary immunizations, as determined by the superintendent in
    15  consultation with the commissioner of health,  consisting  of  at  least
    16  adequate  dosages of vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis, severe acute
    17  respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, tetanus,  polio,  measles,  rubella,
    18  mumps,  haemophilus  influenzae  type  b and hepatitis b, which meet the
    19  standards approved by the United States public health service  for  such
    20  biological products.
    21    § 3. Subparagraph (C) of paragraph 2 of subsection (j) of section 4303
    22  of  the insurance law, as amended by chapter 219 of the laws of 2011, is
    23  amended to read as follows:
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD13303-01-5

        A. 8824                             2
 
     1    (C) necessary immunizations, as determined by  the  superintendent  in
     2  consultation  with  the  commissioner  of health, consisting of at least
     3  adequate dosages of vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis, severe  acute
     4  respiratory  syndrome  coronavirus  2, tetanus, polio, measles, rubella,
     5  mumps,  haemophilus  influenzae  type  b and hepatitis b, which meet the
     6  standards approved by the United States public health service  for  such
     7  biological products.
     8    §  4.  Paragraph  (v)  of subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the social
     9  services law, as added by section 4 of part B of chapter 58 of the  laws
    10  of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
    11    (v)  administration  of  vaccinations, consisting of at least adequate
    12  dosages of vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis, severe  acute  respir-
    13  atory  syndrome  coronavirus 2, tetanus, polio, measles, rubella, mumps,
    14  haemophilus influenzae type b and hepatitis b, which meet the  standards
    15  approved  by the United States public health service for such biological
    16  products, in a pharmacy by a certified pharmacist within  [his  or  her]
    17  their scope of practice.
    18    § 5. This act shall take effect on the first of January after it shall
    19  have  become  a law and shall apply to any contract entered into, deliv-
    20  ered, amended or modified on or after the date it takes effect.
Go to top