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History
- Referred to health
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 59–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1171
- Reported and committed to finance
- Print number 4185b
- Amend and recommit to health
- Referred to health
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
Show 9 earlier actions
- Referred to health
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 63–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1707
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to finance
- Print number 4185a
- Amend and recommit to health
- Referred to 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.
Relates to establishing topical oxygen wound therapy as a Medicaid benefit
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Felix Ortiz
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing topical oxygen wound therapy as a Medicaid benefit
Purpose or general idea of bill
To establish topical oxygen wound therapy as a statutory Medicaid benefit
Summary of specific provisions
This legislation amends subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the social services law by adding a new subparagraph (dd).
Justification
Topical oxygen wound therapy (TOWT) is demonstrated safe and effective treatment for patients suffering from chronic wounds that have not responded to standard therapy. Since 2008, about 50% of the NY Medicaid patients who do not respond to standard wound treatment have had their wounds completely healed through the use of TOWT. Many of these patients are diabetic and elderly.
Once TOWT has been provided in a supervised setting and the patient is trained in its use, TOWT can be safely self-administered in the home, eliminating the need for the suffering patient to transport themselves to a facility for treatment. The units that deliver the TOWT are for. onetime use and disposable, which promotes the rate of healing and reduces bacterial growth. Self-administration also greatly reduces the cost of treatment, because it eliminates all unnecessary medical or transportation costs. TOWT is 23-87% less expensive than other available treatments.
TOWT is approved for use in all federal Veterans Administration facilities, by the Department of Defense, workers compensation programs in nineteen states and by a number of private health insurers.
The New York Department of Health has proposed eliminating TOWT as a Medicaid benefit. New York Courts have issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting DOH from taking this benefit away from needy New Yorkers.
Establishing this treatment in statute will guarantee that New Yorkers will continue to have access to this safe, effective and necessary treatment.
Legislative history
New legislation.
Fiscal impact to the state
None. TOWT is the least expensive treatment for wounds that have not responded to standard therapy.
Effective date
Immediately:
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.