S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  3671

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 28, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. LUPARDO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
  tee on Insurance

AN ACT to amend the insurance  law,  in  relation  to  health  insurance
  coverage  of  outpatient care provided by licensed marriage and family
  therapists

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1. Item (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph 5 of subsection
(1) of section 3221 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter  502  of
the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows:
  (ii)  where  the  policy  provides coverage for physician services, it
shall include benefits for outpatient care provided by a psychiatrist or
psychologist licensed to practice in this  state,  MARRIAGE  AND  FAMILY
THERAPIST  LICENSED  PURSUANT  TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE OF THE
EDUCATION LAW, OR a  licensed  clinical  social  worker  who  meets  the
requirements  of  subparagraph (D) of paragraph four of this subsection,
or a professional corporation or university faculty practice corporation
thereof. Such benefits may be limited to not less than twenty visits  in
any contract year, plan year, or calendar year.
  S  2.  Paragraph  1 of subsection (h) of section 4303 of the insurance
law, as amended by chapter 502 of the laws of 2007, is amended  to  read
as follows:
  (1) A medical expense indemnity corporation or a health service corpo-
ration,  which provides group, group remittance or school blanket cover-
age for physician services, shall provide as part of its contract broad-
based coverage for the diagnosis and treatment  of  mental,  nervous  or
emotional  disorders  or  ailments, however defined in such contract, at
least equal to the coverage provided for  other  health  conditions  and
shall  include:  benefits for outpatient care provided by a psychiatrist
or psychologist licensed to practice in this state, MARRIAGE AND  FAMILY
THERAPIST  LICENSED  PURSUANT  TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE OF THE

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD07059-01-3
              

A. 3671                             2

EDUCATION LAW, OR a  licensed  clinical  social  worker  who  meets  the
requirements of subsection (n) of this section, or a professional corpo-
ration  or  university faculty practice corporation thereof, which bene-
fits may be limited to not less than twenty visits in any contract year,
plan  year or calendar year. Such coverage may be provided on a contract
year, plan year or calendar year basis and shall be consistent with  the
provision  of  other  benefits  under the contract. Such coverage may be
subject to annual deductibles, co-pays and coinsurance as may be  deemed
appropriate  by  the  superintendent  and shall be consistent with those
imposed on other benefits under the contract. In  the  event  the  group
remittance  group or contract holder is provided coverage provided under
this paragraph and under subparagraph (B) of paragraph one of subsection
(g) of this section from the same health service corporation, or under a
contract which is jointly underwritten  by  two  health  service  corpo-
rations  or by a health service corporation and a medical expense indem-
nity corporation, the aggregate of the  benefits  for  out-patient  care
obtained  under  subparagraph  (B) of paragraph one of subsection (g) of
this section and this paragraph may be limited to not less  than  twenty
visits in any contract year, plan year or calendar year.
  S  3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date on which 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.