What's happening
This bill requires insurance policies to cover comprehensive neuropsychological exams for dyslexia when referred by a physician.
Why it matters
Expands access to dyslexia diagnosis. By clarifying that insurance must cover comprehensive neuropsychological exams for dyslexia when referred by a physician, the bill could make it easier for children and adults to obtain timely, formal diagnoses—potentially leading to earlier intervention and support.
Defines who can provide exams. The bill specifies that only health care professionals licensed, certified, or authorized under New York education law and acting within their scope of practice can perform these exams, which may help ensure exam quality and consistency.
Allows insurance oversight. Insurers retain the ability to apply medical management (such as prior authorization or utilization review) and require the use of in-network providers, which could affect how easily or quickly patients can access covered exams.
Removes broad coverage mandates. The amendment eliminates old language that required coverage for exams addressing broader psychological, emotional, and educational needs beyond just diagnosing dyslexia, focusing coverage more narrowly and potentially limiting related services that must be covered.
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Who cares
Individuals with Dyslexia and Their Families
Stand to benefit from improved insurance coverage for comprehensive neuropsychological examinations, making it easier to obtain a formal diagnosis and access necessary services.
Health Care Professionals (Neuropsychologists, Psychologists, and Related Licensed Providers)
Will see clearer insurance requirements and potentially increased demand for their services, as the bill specifies coverage for exams performed by licensed professionals within their scope of practice.
Health Insurance Providers
Are directly impacted by new coverage mandates and provisions allowing for medical management, utilization review, and network requirements, which affect how they process and reimburse claims for dyslexia-related neuropsychological exams.
Educational Advocates and Disability Rights Organizations
Interested in the legislation as it addresses early identification and support for students with dyslexia, which can lead to better educational outcomes and compliance with disability rights laws.
Headline styles
Cover Dyslexia Screenings
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A419
- Ordered to third reading cal.31
- Referred to rules
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.
Cover Dyslexia Exams
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Robert C. Carroll
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
756
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. HOYLMAN-SIGAL -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring certain insurance policies to cover neuropsychological exams for dyslexia
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph 39 of subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the insurance law relating to requiring certain insurance policies to cover neuropsychological exams for dyslexia, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 5481-A and A. 2898-A, is amended to read as follows:
[(39)] (40) (A) Every policy that provides coverage for physician services, medical, major medical or similar comprehensive-type coverage shall, upon the referral of a physician, provide coverage for [testing] comprehensive neuropsychological examinations for [suspected] dyslexia when performed by a health care professional licensed, certified, or authorized pursuant to title eight of the education law and acting within their scope of practice and in accordance with this paragraph and shall not exclude coverage for the screening, diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions otherwise covered by the policy.
(B) [Coverage shall include comprehensive neuropsychological examinations for the purposes of diagnosing dyslexia and determining the psychological, emotional, and educational wellness needs of the individual tested.] Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the medical management or utilization review of the services or prevent a policy from requiring that services be provided through a network of participating providers.
§ 2. Subsection (u) of section 3221 of the insurance law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the insurance law relating to requiring certain insurance policies to cover neuropsychological exams
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02832-01-5
for dyslexia, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 5481-A and A. 2898-A, is amended to read as follows:
(u) (1) Every policy that provides coverage for physician services, medical, major medical or similar comprehensive-type coverage shall, upon the referral of a physician, provide coverage for [testing] comprehensive neuropsychological examinations for [suspected] dyslexia when performed by a health care professional licensed, certified, or authorized pursuant to title eight of the education law and acting within their scope of practice and in accordance with this subsection and shall not exclude coverage for the screening, diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions otherwise covered by the policy.
(2) [Coverage shall include comprehensive neuropsychological examinations for the purposes of diagnosing dyslexia and determining the psychological, emotional, and educational wellness needs of the individual tested.] Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the medical management or utilization review of the services or prevent a policy from requiring that services be provided through a network of participating providers.
§ 3. Subsection (vv) of section 4303 of the insurance law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the insurance law relating to requiring certain insurance policies to cover neuropsychological exams for dyslexia, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 5481-A and A. 2898-A, is amended to read as follows:
(vv) (1) Every [policy] contract that provides coverage for physician services, medical, major medical or similar comprehensive-type coverage shall, upon the referral of a physician, provide coverage for [testing] comprehensive neuropsychological examinations for [suspected] dyslexia when performed by a health care professional licensed, certified, or authorized pursuant to title eight of the education law and acting within their scope of practice and in accordance with this subsection and shall not exclude coverage for the screening, diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions otherwise covered by the [policy] contract.
(2) [Coverage shall include comprehensive neuropsychological examinations for the purposes of diagnosing dyslexia and determining the psychological, emotional, and educational wellness needs of the individual tested.] Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the medical management or utilization review of the services or prevent a contract from requiring that services be provided through a network of participating providers.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the insurance law relating to requiring certain insurance policies to cover neuropsychological exams for dyslexia, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 5481-A and A. 2898-A, takes effect.
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 requiring certain insurance policies to cover neuropsychological exams for dyslexia
Purpose
This is a chapter amendment that makes changes to L.2024, c.548, to clarify provisions relating to commercial insurance coverage for the screening of suspected dyslexia
Summary of provisions
This legislation amends the underlying chapter by requiring that the covered screening must be performed by a licensed healthcare profes- sional acting within the scope of their practice upon the referral of a physician. The bill also makes technical changes to terminology that limits the applicability to testing for diagnostic purposes and makes technical changes to make the benefit subject clarify that screetings can be subject to utilization review and a plan's participating provider network.
Justification
This legislation is a negotiated change to the underlying chapter.
Legislative history
Chapter amendment to Chapter 548 of the Laws of 2024. S.5481A and A.2898A both passed the Senate and Assembly during the 2024 Legislative Session.
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the Insurance Law relating to requiring certain insurance policies to cover neuropsychological exams for dyslexia, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.5481-A and A.2898-A, takes effect.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.