What's happening
This bill prohibits insurance policies from charging co-payments for outpatient opioid treatment in New York State.
Why it matters
Removes a key financial barrier for individuals seeking outpatient opioid treatment, making it easier for people to access necessary care without worrying about out-of-pocket costs.
Could improve public health outcomes by encouraging more people with opioid use disorder to enter and stay in treatment, potentially reducing overdose rates and related healthcare costs.
Shifts the cost burden for these treatments from individuals to insurers, which may have implications for overall insurance premiums or the way insurers design their plans.
Applies broadly to all relevant insurance policies issued or renewed after the law takes effect, ensuring that the benefit is widely available across the state and not limited to certain plans or groups.
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Who cares
Headline styles
End Opioid Treatment Co-Pays
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to insurance
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3475
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 7, 2019
Introduced by Sen. AKSHAR -- 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.
LBD09719-01-9
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
S8065 of 2018 - Referred to Insurance
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.