What's happening
This bill requires health insurance policies offered through New York's health benefit exchange to cover acupuncture services.
Why it matters
Expands access to alternative medicine. By requiring coverage for acupuncture, the bill could make non-pharmaceutical pain management and wellness options more available and affordable for New Yorkers, especially those seeking alternatives to opioids or other medications.
Limits on cost-sharing and discrimination. The bill mandates that deductibles, co-pays, and limits for acupuncture cannot be higher than those for other essential health benefits, helping to prevent insurance plans from discouraging use of acupuncture through excessive costs or restrictive policies.
Supports professional standards and integration. Coverage applies only when acupuncture is performed by licensed or certified practitioners, encouraging the use of qualified providers and potentially supporting the profession’s growth and legitimacy within mainstream healthcare.
Potential impact on healthcare utilization. Including acupuncture as a covered benefit may lead to broader use of the service, which could influence patterns of healthcare utilization—possibly reducing reliance on other, more costly treatments for conditions like chronic pain.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Insurance for Acupuncture
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 40
3 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.
Require Insurance for Acupuncture
In Senate Committee · Insurance · Sponsor Kevin S. Parker
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2925
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. KIM, BRONSON, LUPARDO, D'URSO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to mandatory health insurance coverage for acupuncture services
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) Every policy issued within the health benefit exchange established pursuant to section 1311 of the affordable care act, 42 U.S.C. § 18031, shall provide coverage for acupuncture treatment as defined in section eight thousand two hundred eleven of the education law provided by an individual licensed, authorized, or certified pursuant to article one hundred sixty of the education law. However, acupuncture treatment and services may be subject to reasonable deductible, co-payment and co-insurance amount, reasonable fee or benefit limits, and reasonable utilization review, provided that any such amounts, limits or review shall be no greater than other essential health benefits covered by the policy and provided further that any such amounts, limits, or review shall not function to direct treatment in a manner discriminative against acupuncture treatment. Nothing herein shall be construed as impending or preventing either the provision or coverage of acupuncture treatment and services by duly licensed or certified acupuncturist, within the lawful scope of the practice of acupuncture, in hospital facilities on a staff or employee basis.
§ 2. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (ss) to read as follows:
(ss) Every policy issued within the health benefit exchange established pursuant to section 1311 of the affordable care act, 42 U.S.C. § 18031, shall provide coverage for acupuncture treatment as defined in section eight thousand two hundred eleven of the education law provided
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03865-01-9
A. 2925 2
by an individual licensed, authorized, or certified pursuant to article one hundred sixty of the education law. However, acupuncture treatment and services may be subject to reasonable deductible, co-payment and co-insurance amount, reasonable fee or benefit limits, and reasonable utilization review, provided that any such amounts, limits or review shall be no greater than other essential health benefits covered by the policy and provided further that any such amounts, limits, or review shall not function to direct treatment in a manner discriminative against acupuncture treatment. Nothing herein shall be construed as impeding or preventing either the provision or coverage of acupuncture treatment and services by duly licensed or certified acupuncturists, within the lawful scope of the practice of acupuncture, in hospital facilities on a staff or employees basis.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law and shall apply to policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or after such effective date.
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.