What's happening
This bill prohibits insurance companies from charging co-payment fees for outpatient opioid treatment in New York.
Why it matters
Reduces financial barriers to opioid treatment. By eliminating co-payments for outpatient opioid treatment, the bill aims to make it easier for individuals struggling with opioid use disorder to start and continue necessary care without worrying about out-of-pocket costs.
Potential for improved public health outcomes. Lowering—or removing—cost-sharing could lead to higher treatment adherence and retention, which are critical for successful recovery and for reducing opioid-related overdoses and deaths.
May shift insurance and provider practices. Insurance companies will need to absorb these costs, which could impact how they negotiate with providers or structure other benefits, but also sends a strong signal that opioid treatment is an essential health service.
Addresses health equity concerns. Removing co-pays could be particularly impactful for low-income or uninsured populations, who are often at higher risk for opioid use disorder and may be disproportionately deterred from seeking treatment due to cost.
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Who cares
Headline styles
End Opioid Treatment Co-Pays
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
4 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to insurance
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8065
IN SENATE
March 23, 2018
Introduced by Sens. AKSHAR, AMEDORE, HANNON, JACOBS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to prohibiting co-payments for outpatient opioid treatment
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 31-b to read as follows:
(31-b) Every policy that provides coverage for outpatient opioid treatment shall not impose a co-payment fee on any insured for such treatment.
§ 2. Subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 7-c to read as follows:
(7-c) Every policy that provides coverage for outpatient opioid treatment shall not impose a co-payment fee on any insured for such treatment.
§ 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (l-3) to read as follows:
(l-3) Every policy that provides coverage for outpatient opioid treatment shall not impose a co-payment fee on any insured for such treatment.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on and after such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15040-01-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to prohibiting co-payments for outpatient opioid treatment
Purpose
To amend the Insurance Law by prohibiting co-payments for outpatient opioid treatment.
Summary of provisions
Sections one, two and three of this bill amends sections 3216, 3221, and 4303 of the insurance law, by stating that every policy that provides coverage for outpatient opioid treatment shall not impose a co-payment fee on any insured for such treatment.
Section four provides that the act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.
Justification
The aim of this bill is to work towards removing one of the many barri- ers to substance use treatment. Affordability is one such barrier to treatment, especially co-payments that add up quickly during outpatient treatment programs. Even though insurance companies are approving crucial outpatient treatment, the co-payments can still be cost prohibi- tive and impede those suffering from opioid addiction from getting treatment. This legislation prohibits co-payments for outpatient opioid treatment, making treatment more affordable and accessible to those who need it.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.