What's happening
This bill extends the waiting period from 30 to 120 days before workers can seek medical treatment outside a preferred provider organization.
Why it matters
Significantly increases the time employees are required to use the employer’s chosen medical providers. before they can seek treatment elsewhere, which could delay access to outside specialists or second opinions if preferred network providers are not meeting their needs.
May impact the quality and speed of care for workers with workplace injuries,. especially for those who have concerns about the adequacy or appropriateness of the care received within the preferred provider network.
Potentially benefits employers and insurers by giving them more control over initial medical costs and treatment decisions,. but could also create dissatisfaction among employees if they feel their medical autonomy is restricted for a longer period.
Could lead to increased administrative burdens for employees seeking exceptions or navigating the process to eventually access non-network providers,. possibly prolonging recovery or return-to-work timelines for more complex cases.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Limit Out-of-Network Care Access
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 108
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to labor
- Referred to labor
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.
Extend Out-of-Network Waiting Period
In Senate Committee · Labor · Sponsor George Amedore
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5993
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 21, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. McDONALD -- read once and referred to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to seeking medical treatment from outside the preferred provider organization
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 354 of the workers' compensation law, as added by chapter 635 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
2. An employee may seek medical treatment from outside the preferred provider organization [thirty] one hundred twenty days after his or her first visit to a preferred provider organization provider. In the event that such employee seeks medical treatment outside the preferred provider organization the employer may require a second opinion from a provider within the preferred provider organization.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07662-02-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.