What's happening
This bill requires healthcare providers to test for an incompetent cervix during pregnancy and fertility treatments, and mandates insurance coverage for such testing.
Why it matters
Early detection of cervical insufficiency. By requiring routine testing for an incompetent cervix in pregnant women and those undergoing fertility treatment, the bill aims to identify a key cause of miscarriage and preterm birth earlier, potentially enabling timely medical intervention.
Standardized care across providers. Mandating that all physicians and authorized practitioners conduct this testing helps ensure that women receive consistent evaluation regardless of their provider, potentially reducing disparities in maternal care.
Reduced financial barriers. By requiring insurance coverage for incompetent cervix testing, the bill removes potential cost obstacles for patients, making this important diagnostic test accessible to a broader population, especially those at higher risk due to miscarriage history or fertility treatments.
Potential for improved pregnancy outcomes. Early identification and management of cervical insufficiency can decrease the risk of pregnancy loss and complications, supporting healthier pregnancies and reducing emotional and financial strain on families and the healthcare system.
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Who cares
Pregnant women
The bill would require their attending physicians or other authorized practitioners to examine and test them for an incompetent cervix.
Women trying to become pregnant
Those who tell their practitioner they are trying to conceive and have a history of miscarriage or are undergoing fertility treatment would also be required to receive the examination and testing.
Physicians and other authorized practitioners
The bill would impose a duty to examine and test pregnant women and qualifying women trying to conceive for an incompetent cervix.
Health insurers
The bill would add testing for an incompetent cervix to the diagnostic tests that specified infertility coverage could not exclude, subject to existing statutory conditions.
Headline styles
Cover Fertility Testing Costs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2871
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to mandating certain testing in connection with pregnancy and fertility treatment; and to amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring insurance policies to provide coverage for certain testing in connection with fertility treatment
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2500-l to read as follows:
§ 2500-l. Prenatal and antenatal testing. 1. Every physician or other authorized practitioner attending a pregnant woman shall examine and test such woman for an incompetent cervix.
2. Every physician or other authorized practitioner attending a woman who has advised such physician or practitioner that (i) she is attempting to become pregnant and (ii) she has a history of miscarriage or is undergoing fertility treatment, shall examine and test such woman for an incompetent cervix.
§ 2. Item (ii) of subparagraph (A) and item (ii) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph 6 of subsection (k) of section 3221 of the insurance law, as amended by section 1 of part K of chapter 82 of the laws of 2002, are amended to read as follows:
(ii) provided, further however, that subject to the provisions of subparagraph (C) of this paragraph, in no case shall such coverage exclude diagnostic tests and procedures provided as part of such hospital care that are necessary to determine infertility or that are necessary in connection with any surgical or medical treatments or prescription drug coverage provided pursuant to this paragraph, including such diagnostic tests and procedures as hysterosalpingogram, hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsy, laparoscopy, sono-hysterogram, post coital
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00396-01-9
A. 2871 2
tests, testis biopsy, semen analysis, blood tests, testing for an incompetent cervix and ultrasound; and
(ii) provided, further however, that subject to the provisions of subparagraph (C) of this paragraph, in no case shall such coverage exclude diagnostic tests and procedures that are necessary to determine infertility or that are necessary in connection with any surgical or medical treatments or prescription drug coverage provided pursuant to this paragraph, including such diagnostic tests and procedures as hysterosalpingogram, hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsy, laparoscopy, sono-hysterogram, post coital tests, testis biopsy, semen analysis, blood tests, testing for an incompetent cervix and ultrasound; and
§ 3. Subparagraph (B) of paragraph 1 and subparagraph (B) of paragraph 2 of subsection (s) of section 4303 of the insurance law, as amended by section 2 of part K of chapter 82 of the laws of 2002, are amended to read as follows:
(B) provided, further however, that subject to the provisions of paragraph three of this subsection, in no case shall such coverage exclude diagnostic tests and procedures provided as part of such hospital care that are necessary to determine infertility or that are necessary in connection with any surgical or medical treatments or prescription drug coverage provided pursuant to this subsection, including such diagnostic tests and procedures as hysterosalpingogram, hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsy, laparoscopy, sono-hysterogram, post coital tests, testis biopsy, semen analysis, blood tests, testing for an incompetent cervix and ultrasound; and
(B) provided, further however, that subject to the provisions of paragraph three of this subsection, in no case shall such coverage exclude diagnostic tests and procedures that are necessary to determine infertility or that are necessary in connection with any surgical or medical treatments or prescription drug coverage provided pursuant to this subsection, including such diagnostic tests and procedures as hysterosalpingogram, hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsy, laparoscopy, sono-hysterogram, post coital tests, testis biopsy, semen analysis, blood tests, testing for an incompetent cervix and ultrasound; and
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
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