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A4572Assembly2009-2010 SessionSame asS185

Relates post traumatic stress disorder

Sponsor Peter RiveraAD-76+27 co-sponsorsAffects Finance
Status
In Assembly Committee
Insurance
Impact
Pending
Passage
Pending

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Insurance

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Who cares

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Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Peter Rivera

Assembly Member · Assembly District 76

History

  1. Print number 4572a
  2. Amend (t) and recommit to insurance
  3. Referred to insurance
  4. Reference changed to insurance
  5. Referred to mental health

Companion bill

The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.

S185Senate

Relates post traumatic stress disorder

Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Thomas P. Morahan

Full text

The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.

Sponsor's memo

BILL NUMBER:A4572A

Title of bill

An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to post traumatic stress disorder

Purpose or general idea of bill

This legislation would include post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the list of biologically based mental illnesses that would be covered under Timothy's Mental Health Parity Law.

Summary of specific provisions

Sections one of the bill amends section 7.09 of the mental hygiene law to provide that the OMH commissioner shall consult with and assist the superintendent of insurance on the study required under Timothy's law to determine the effectiveness of mental health parity and further provides that the Commissioner may include within the study any additional findings that he or she shall deem appropriate.

Sections two and three of the bill amends sections 3221 and 4303 of the insurance law to include post traumatic stress disorder among the list of biologically based mental illnesses to be covered.

Section four of the bill provides for an effective date.

Justification

A number of important physiological differences have been found in individuals diagnosed with PTSD compared with individuals with- out the disorder which support the inclusion of PTSD within the list of biologically based mental illnesses that are covered under NYS's Mental Health Parity Law. For example, brain imaging studies demonstrate increased cerebral blood flow in regions associated with memory and emotional regulation. Hormonal abnormalities have been found in domestic violence victims suffering from PTSD and are thought to explain why individuals with PTSD are kept in a constant heightened state of read- iness for threat despite not encountering actual danger, PTSD is also linked to metabolic changes and cellular damage in the cingulate gyrus, the limbic region responsible for autonomic nervous system functioning, such as cognitive processing, blood pressure and heart rate regulation.

While the prevalence of PTSD in the general population is small, it is relatively high when you look at certain subgroups of the population that are affected by it. Veterans who have been in combat, victims of violent crimes such as rape, survivors of childhood abuse, and persons exposed to catastrophic events such as natural disasters or terrorism all suffer from much higher rates of PTSD. Additionally the symptoms are very real and debilitating. Left untreated, PTSD is highly associated with serious medical ailments leading to significant physical debili- tation and even premature death. Further, suicide risk for PTSD patients is considerably higher than among unaffected populations.

New York State adopted Mental Health Parity under Timothy's Law in 2006. In 2009 we should pass this bill and include PTSD within the list of biologically based mental illnesses that must be covered by insurers. By

doing so we will be making sure that our returning veterans, victims often"or and other violent crimes and others suffering from PTSD are afforded the care they need through their insurance coverage to address their disease.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

N/A

Effective date

90 days after enactment provided it shall expire with the other provisions of Timothy's Law on December 31, 2009, and further provided that this bill shall apply to policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or after such effective date.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.