S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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5061
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
April 5, 2019
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Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law and the social services law, in
relation to allowing individuals to obtain a twelve month supply of
contraception at one time
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The opening paragraph of paragraph 16 of subsection (l) of
section 3221 of the insurance law, as added by chapter 554 of the laws
of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
Every group or blanket policy which provides coverage for prescription
drugs shall include coverage for the cost of contraceptive drugs or
devices approved by the federal food and drug administration or generic
equivalents approved as substitutes by such food and drug administration
under the prescription of a health care provider legally authorized to
prescribe under title eight of the education law. THIS COVERAGE SHALL
ALLOW FOR A THREE MONTH SUPPLY OF A CONTRACEPTIVE FOR THE INITIAL
DISPENSING OF THE CONTRACEPTIVE AND A TWELVE MONTH SUPPLY OF THE SAME
CONTRACEPTIVE FOR ALL SUBSEQUENT DISPENSINGS TO THE CERTIFICATE HOLDER
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH CERTIFICATE HOLDER WAS ENROLLED IN THE POLICY
AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL DISPENSING. The coverage required by this
section shall be included in policies and certificates only through the
addition of a rider.
§ 2. The opening paragraph of subsection (cc) of section 4303 of the
insurance law, as added by chapter 554 of the laws of 2002, is amended
to read as follows:
Every contract which provides coverage for prescription drugs shall
include coverage for the cost of contraceptive drugs or devices approved
by the federal food and drug administration or generic equivalents
approved as substitutes by such food and drug administration under the
prescription of a health care provider legally authorized to prescribe
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10489-01-9
S. 5061 2
under title eight of the education law. THIS COVERAGE SHALL ALLOW FOR A
THREE MONTH SUPPLY OF A CONTRACEPTIVE FOR THE INITIAL DISPENSING OF THE
CONTRACEPTIVE AND A TWELVE MONTH SUPPLY OF THE SAME CONTRACEPTIVE FOR
ALL SUBSEQUENT DISPENSINGS TO THE INSURED REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE
INSURED WAS ENROLLED UNDER THE CONTRACT AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL
DISPENSING. The coverage required by this section shall be included in
contracts and certificates only through the addition of a rider.
§ 3. Paragraph 25 of subsection (b) of section 4322 of the insurance
law, as added by chapter 504 of the laws of 1995 and the opening para-
graph as amended by chapter 388 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read
as follows:
(25) Prescription drugs, including contraceptive drugs or devices
approved by the federal food and drug administration or generic equiv-
alents approved as substitutes by such food and drug administration and
nutritional supplements (formulas), whether administered orally or via a
feeding tube for the therapeutic treatment of phenylketonuria, branched-
chain ketonuria, galactosemia and homocystinuria, obtained at a partic-
ipating pharmacy under a prescription written by an in-plan or out-of-
plan provider. Health maintenance organizations, in addition to
providing coverage for prescription drugs at a participating pharmacy,
may utilize a mail order prescription drug program. Health maintenance
organizations may provide prescription drugs pursuant to a drug formu-
lary; however, health maintenance organizations must implement an
appeals process so that the use of non-formulary prescription drugs may
be requested by a physician or other provider.
WITH RESPECT TO CONTRACEPTIVE DRUGS, ANY PLAN SHALL ALLOW FOR A THREE
MONTH SUPPLY OF A CONTRACEPTIVE FOR THE INITIAL DISPENSING OF THE
CONTRACEPTIVE AND A TWELVE MONTH SUPPLY OF THE SAME CONTRACEPTIVE FOR
ALL SUBSEQUENT DISPENSINGS TO THE ENROLLEE.
Health maintenance organizations shall impose a one hundred dollar
individual deductible and a three hundred dollar family deductible per
calendar year for prescription drugs obtained at a participating pharma-
cy. Health maintenance organizations may not impose a deductible on
prescriptions obtained through the mail order drug program.
In addition to the deductible, a ten dollar copayment shall be imposed
on up to a thirty-four day supply of brand name prescription drugs
obtained at a participating pharmacy. A five dollar copayment shall be
imposed on up to a thirty-four day supply of generic prescription drugs
or brand name drugs for which there is no generic equivalent obtained at
a participating pharmacy.
If a mail order drug program is utilized, a twenty dollar copayment
shall be imposed on a ninety day supply of brand name prescription
drugs. A ten dollar copayment shall be imposed on a ninety day supply of
generic prescription drugs or brand name drugs for which there is no
generic equivalent obtained through the mail order drug program.
In no event shall the copayment exceed the cost of the prescribed
drug.
§ 4. Subparagraph (E) of paragraph 17 of subsection (i) of section
3216 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new clause (v) to read
as follows:
(V) CONTRACEPTIVES, ALLOWING FOR A THREE MONTH SUPPLY FOR THE INITIAL
DISPENSING OF THE CONTRACEPTIVE AND A TWELVE MONTH SUPPLY OF THE SAME
CONTRACEPTIVE FOR ALL SUBSEQUENT DISPENSINGS TO THE INSURED REGARDLESS
OF WHETHER THE INSURED WAS ENROLLED UNDER THE POLICY AT THE TIME OF THE
INITIAL DISPENSING.
S. 5061 3
§ 5. Paragraph (d) of subdivision 3 of section 365-a of the social
services law, as amended by chapter 909 of the laws of 1974 and as
relettered by chapter 82 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as
follows:
(d) family planning services and supplies, INCLUDING CONTRACEPTION,
for eligible persons of childbearing age, including children under twen-
ty-one years of age who can be considered sexually active, who desire
such services and supplies, in accordance with the requirements of
federal law and regulations and the regulations of the department. No
person shall be compelled or coerced to accept such services or
supplies. WITH RESPECT TO CONTRACEPTION, COVERAGE SHALL ALLOW FOR A
THREE MONTH SUPPLY OF A CONTRACEPTIVE FOR THE INITIAL DISPENSING OF THE
CONTRACEPTIVE AND A TWELVE MONTH SUPPLY OF THE SAME CONTRACEPTIVE FOR
ALL SUBSEQUENT DISPENSINGS.
§ 6. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall apply to poli-
cies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or
after such effective date.