What's happening
This bill requires insurance policies in New York to cover testing for familial dysautonomia, Canavan's disease, and Tay-Sachs.
Why it matters
Ensures broader genetic screening access. By mandating coverage for testing of familial dysautonomia, Canavan’s disease, and Tay-Sachs, the bill increases access to critical genetic screening, especially important for communities at higher risk for these inherited disorders.
Reduces financial barriers for families. Insurance coverage eliminates or lessens out-of-pocket costs for these tests, helping families make informed reproductive or health care decisions without worrying about affordability.
Protects patient privacy. The bill specifies that only an acknowledgment from the testing laboratory is required as proof for insurers, which helps maintain confidentiality and reduces concerns about sensitive genetic information being widely shared.
Standardizes benefit administration. The legislation allows insurers to apply the same deductibles and co-insurance rules to these tests as to other covered benefits, promoting consistency and minimizing confusion for policyholders.
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Cover Genetic Disease Testing
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History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to insurance
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2846
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 25, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to reimbursement for testing for familial dysautonomia, Canavan's disease and Tay-Sachs
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 35 to read as follows:
(35) (A) Every policy which provides coverage for hospital, surgical or medical care or provides reimbursement for laboratory tests or reimbursement for diagnostic X-ray services shall provide coverage for testing for familial dysautonomia, Canavan's disease and Tay-Sachs.
(B) Such coverage shall be included at the inception of all new policies and, with respect to all other policies, at any anniversary date of the policy subject to evidence of insurability.
(C) For purposes of this paragraph, in order to maintain the confidentiality of persons tested, receipt of an acknowledgment from the laboratory performing the test for familial dysautonomia, Canavan's disease and Tay-Sachs shall be deemed sufficient evidence of the performance of such testing.
(D) Such coverage may be subject to annual deductibles and co-insurance as may be deemed appropriate by the superintendent and as are consistent with those established for other benefits within a given policy.
§ 2. Subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 21 to read as follows:
(21) (A) A group policy which provides coverage for hospital, surgical or medical care or provides reimbursement for laboratory tests or reimbursement for diagnostic X-ray services shall provide coverage for testing for familial dysautonomia, Canavan's disease and Tay-Sachs.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00763-01-9
A. 2846 2
(B) Such coverage shall be included at the inception of all new policies and, with respect to all other policies, at any anniversary date of the policy subject to evidence of insurability.
(C) For purposes of this paragraph, in order to maintain the confidentiality of persons tested, receipt of an acknowledgment from the laboratory performing the test for familial dysautonomia, Canavan's disease and Tay-Sachs shall be deemed sufficient evidence of the performance of such testing.
(D) Such coverage may be subject to annual deductibles and co-insurance as may be deemed appropriate by the superintendent and as are consistent with those established for other benefits within a given policy.
§ 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (ss) to read as follows:
(ss) (1) A medical expense indemnity corporation, a hospital service corporation or a health service corporation which provides coverage for hospital, surgical or medical care or provides reimbursement for laboratory tests or reimbursement for diagnostic X-ray services shall provide coverage for testing for familial dysautonomia, Canavan's disease and Tay-Sachs.
(2) Such coverage shall be included at the inception of all new policies and, with respect to all other policies, at any anniversary date of the policy subject to evidence of insurability.
(3) For purposes of this subsection, in order to maintain the confidentiality of persons tested, receipt of an acknowledgment from the laboratory performing the test for familial dysautonomia, Canavan's disease and Tay-Sachs shall be deemed sufficient evidence of the performance of such testing.
(4) Such coverage may be subject to annual deductibles and co-insurance as may be deemed appropriate by the superintendent and as are consistent with those established for other benefits within a given policy.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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