Bill Text: NY S04500 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relates to insurance coverage for opioid medications.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - REFERRED TO INSURANCE [S04500 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-S04500-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          4500
                               2019-2020 Regular Sessions
                    IN SENATE
                                     March 13, 2019
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by Sen. HARCKHAM -- 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 insurance coverage  of
          opioid medications
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section 1. Subsection (i) of section 3216  of  the  insurance  law  is
     2  amended by adding a new paragraph 35 to read as follows:
     3    (35)(A)  Every  policy that provides medical, major medical or similar
     4  comprehensive-type coverage, or coverage  for  prescription  drugs  must
     5  provide  coverage  of  opioid  medications  and prescription drugs. Such
     6  coverage shall continue to be provided during the entire period of  time
     7  the  medications  and drugs are prescribed or administered by an author-
     8  ized prescriber or administrator. Such coverage shall not require  prior
     9  authorization  from  the  insurance  company  prior to administration or
    10  prescription of such medications and prescription drugs.  Such  coverage
    11  shall  be  at  the  same rate regardless of the opioid medications being
    12  administered or prescribed. An insurance  company  shall  not  charge  a
    13  different rate for any medication in the opioid class.
    14    (B)  Coverage  provided  under this paragraph may be subject to annual
    15  deductibles and co-insurance as deemed appropriate  by  the  superinten-
    16  dent.
    17    § 2. Subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by
    18  adding a new paragraph 21 to read as follows:
    19    (21)  (A) Every policy that provides medical, major medical or similar
    20  comprehensive-type coverage, or coverage  for  prescription  drugs  must
    21  provide  coverage  of  opioid  medications  and prescription drugs. Such
    22  coverage shall continue to be provided during the entire period of  time
    23  the  medications  and drugs are prescribed or administered by an author-
    24  ized prescriber or administrator. Such coverage shall not require  prior
    25  authorization  from  the  insurance  company  prior to administration or
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD01843-01-9
        S. 4500                             2
     1  prescription of such medications and prescription drugs.  Such  coverage
     2  shall  be  at  the  same rate regardless of the opioid medications being
     3  administered or prescribed. An insurance  company  shall  not  charge  a
     4  different rate for any medication in the opioid class.
     5    (B)  Coverage  provided  under this paragraph may be subject to annual
     6  deductibles and co-insurance as deemed appropriate  by  the  superinten-
     7  dent.
     8    §  3.  Section  4303  of  the insurance law is amended by adding a new
     9  subsection (l-3) to read as follows:
    10    (l-3) (1) Every policy that provides medical, major medical or similar
    11  comprehensive-type coverage, or coverage  for  prescription  drugs  must
    12  provide  coverage  of  opioid  medications  and prescription drugs. Such
    13  coverage shall continue to be provided during the entire period of  time
    14  the  medications  and drugs are prescribed or administered by an author-
    15  ized prescriber or administrator. Such coverage shall not require  prior
    16  authorization  from  the  insurance  company  prior to administration or
    17  prescription of such medications and prescription drugs.  Such  coverage
    18  shall  be  at  the  same rate regardless of the opioid medications being
    19  administered or prescribed. An insurance  company  shall  not  charge  a
    20  different rate for any medication in the opioid class.
    21    (2)  Coverage  provided  under this paragraph may be subject to annual
    22  deductibles and co-insurance as deemed appropriate  by  the  superinten-
    23  dent.
    24    § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.