What's happening
This bill prohibits prior authorization requirements for medications like buprenorphine, methadone, and injectable naltrexone used to treat substance use disorders.
Why it matters
Removes administrative barriers. By eliminating prior authorization for key medications (buprenorphine, methadone, and injectable naltrexone), the bill ensures that people seeking treatment for substance use disorders can access medication more quickly and easily, reducing delays that could worsen health outcomes.
Expands coverage and consistency. The bill applies these protections broadly across Medicaid, managed care providers, and other health plans governed by New York law, creating a uniform standard for access to medication-assisted treatment statewide.
Aligns with best practices. By requiring that prescriptions for these medications follow nationally accepted professional guidelines, the bill aims to uphold high standards of care while still prioritizing patient access.
Potentially reduces overdose and relapse risk. Faster, uninterrupted access to these medications is shown to lower the risk of overdose and relapse, which could contribute to lower healthcare costs, reduced emergency room visits, and improved public health outcomes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Remove Treatment Medication Barriers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Vetoed memo.292
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.456
- Substituted for A7246B
- Referred to ways and means
- Returned to assembly
- Repassed senate
- Amended on third reading 5935a
- Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
- Returned to senate
Show 7 earlier actions
- Recalled from assembly
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 55–7
- Ordered to third reading cal.1170
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to health
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.
End Prior Authorization for MAT
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5935--A Cal. No. 1170
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 16, 2019
Introduced by Sens. HARCKHAM, BIAGGI, CARLUCCI, KAPLAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health -- committee discharged and said bill committed to the Committee on Rules -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to a third reading, passed by Senate and delivered to the Assembly, recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the social services law and the public health law, in relation to medication for the treatment of substance use disorders
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the social services law is amended by adding a new paragraph (gg) to read as follows:
(gg) all buprenorphine products, methadone or long acting injectable naltrexone for detoxification or maintenance treatment of a substance use disorder prescribed according to generally accepted national professional guidelines for the treatment of a substance use disorder. Such medication assisted treatment shall not be subject to any prior authorization mandate.
§ 2. Subdivision 26-b of section 364-j of the social services law, as added by section 4 of part B of chapter 69 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
26-b. Managed care providers shall not require prior authorization for [an initial or renewal prescription for buprenorphine or injectable naltrexone for detoxification or maintenance treatment of opioid addiction unless the prescription is for a non-preferred or non-formulary form of the drug or as otherwise required by section 1927(k)(6) of the Social Security Act] any buprenorphine products, methadone or long acting injectable naltrexone for detoxification or maintenance treatment of a substance use disorder prescribed according to generally accepted
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10713-06-9
S. 5935--A 2
national professional guidelines for the treatment of a substance use disorder.
§ 3. Subdivision 10 of section 273 of the public health law, as added by section 5 of part B of chapter 69 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
10. Prior authorization shall not be required for [an initial or renewal prescription for buprenorphine or injectable naltrexone for detoxification or maintenance treatment of opioid addiction unless the prescription is for a non-preferred or non-formulary form of such drug as otherwise required by section 1927(k)(6) of the Social Security Act] any buprenorphine products, methadone or long acting injectable naltrexone for detoxification or maintenance treatment of a substance use disorder prescribed according to generally accepted national professional guidelines for the treatment of a substance use disorder.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that the amendments to subdivision 26-b of section 364-j of the social services law made by section two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section, and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law and the public health law, in relation to medication for the treatment of substance use disorders
Purpose
This legislation will expand access to medications that treat substance use disorders.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the social services law by adding a new paragraph (gg)
Section two amends subdivision 26-b of section 364-j of the social services law.
Section three amends subdivision 10 of section 273 of the public health law.
Section four sets the effective date.
Justification
Medication assisted treatment, or MAT, is an evidence based treatment method that uses FDA approved medications to help an individual overcome a substance use disorder. Medications such as methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone have all been used successfully and more treatment providers are turning to this approach given its ability to reduce and block cravings, ease withdrawal symptoms and otherwise enable an indi- vidual to reach recovery more easily.
However, medications used in MAT programs are not interchangeable and each patient may respond differently, therefore it is imperative that this choice be left to the patient and their doctor to determine the appropriate medication. Under current law, individuals under Medicaid are not given the opportunity to access all forms of medication assisted treatment and may be limited to one specific type. This legislation would allow individuals under Medicaid the ability to access whichever MAT medication is most beneficial to them and their needs, without utilization control, mandated prior authorization, or lifetime limits.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
Undetermined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect in 90 days.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.