S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3589
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 28, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to mandating commercial
insurance coverage of peer support services as part of treatment for
substance use disorder
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subparagraph (A) of paragraph 31 of subsection (i) of
section 3216 of the insurance law, as amended by section 6 of subpart A
of part BB of chapter 57 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as
follows:
(A) Every policy that provides medical, major medical or similar
comprehensive-type coverage shall provide outpatient coverage for the
diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorder, including detoxifica-
tion and rehabilitation services AND ALSO INCLUDING PEER SUPPORT
SERVICES PROVIDED BY A CERTIFIED RECOVERY PEER ADVOCATE AS DEFINED BY
THE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS. Such coverage shall not
apply financial requirements or treatment limitations to outpatient
substance use disorder benefits that are more restrictive than the
predominant financial requirements and treatment limitations applied to
substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by the policy.
§ 2. Subparagraph (A) of paragraph 7 of subsection (l) of section 3221
of the insurance law, as amended by section 16 of subpart A of part BB
of chapter 57 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
(A) Every policy that provides medical, major medical or similar
comprehensive-type coverage shall provide outpatient coverage for the
diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorder, including detoxifica-
tion and rehabilitation services AND ALSO INCLUDING PEER SUPPORT
SERVICES PROVIDED BY A CERTIFIED RECOVERY PEER ADVOCATE AS DEFINED BY
THE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS. Such coverage shall not
apply financial requirements or treatment limitations to outpatient
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00897-01-1
A. 3589 2
substance use disorder benefits that are more restrictive than the
predominant financial requirements and treatment limitations applied to
substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by the policy.
§ 3. Paragraph 1 of subsection (l) of section 4303 of the insurance
law, as amended by section 27 of subpart A of part BB of chapter 57 of
the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
(1) Every contract that provides medical, major medical or similar
comprehensive-type coverage shall provide outpatient coverage for the
diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorder, including detoxifica-
tion and rehabilitation services AND ALSO INCLUDING PEER SUPPORT
SERVICES PROVIDED BY A CERTIFIED RECOVERY PEER ADVOCATE AS DEFINED BY
THE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS. Such coverage shall not
apply financial requirements or treatment limitations to outpatient
substance use disorder benefits that are more restrictive than the
predominant financial requirements and treatment limitations applied to
substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by the contract.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
manner as subpart A of part BB of chapter 57 of the laws of 2019, takes
effect.