What's happening
This bill requires insurance policies that cover prescription drugs to also cover the cost of donated breast milk.
Why it matters
Addresses a critical health need for vulnerable infants. Donated breast milk is often essential for premature or medically fragile babies who cannot be breastfed by their mothers, reducing risks of infections and serious health complications. Insurance coverage ensures more families can access this life-saving resource.
Removes financial barriers for families. Donated breast milk can be extremely expensive, sometimes costing hundreds or thousands of dollars per month. By requiring insurance to cover these costs, the bill helps lessen financial stress for families facing medical crises.
Promotes equity in healthcare access. Families with limited means may be unable to afford donated breast milk, even when medically necessary. Mandating coverage helps ensure that all infants who need it—regardless of family income—have a fair chance at the healthiest start.
Recognizes breast milk as a medically necessary intervention. By treating donated breast milk coverage similarly to prescription drugs, the bill acknowledges its critical role in infant nutrition and healthcare, potentially setting a precedent for future coverage of other essential, non-traditional therapies.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Insure Donated Breast Milk
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
4 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to insurance
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.
Cover Donated Breast Milk
In Senate Committee · Insurance · Sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7897
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 18, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring insurance coverage for the cost of donated breast milk
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 34 to read as follows:
(34) Every policy which provides coverage for prescription drugs shall include coverage for the cost of donated breast milk.
§ 2. Subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 20 to read as follows:
(20) Every policy which provides coverage for prescription drugs shall include coverage for the cost of donated breast milk.
§ 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (oo) to read as follows:
(oo) Every contract issued by a hospital services corporation or a health services corporation which provides coverage for prescription drugs shall include coverage for the cost of donated breast milk.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11233-01-7
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.