S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3896
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 28, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BYRNE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to preserving New
Yorker's freedom of choice in health care
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Freedom of
Choice in Health Care Act".
§ 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 25 to
read as follows:
§ 25. FREEDOM OF CHOICE IN HEALTH CARE. IT SHALL BE THE POLICY OF THIS
STATE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAVE THE RIGHT TO ENTER
INTO PRIVATE CONTRACTS WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FOR HEALTH CARE
SERVICES AND TO PURCHASE PRIVATE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, SUBJECT TO GENER-
ALLY APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE STATE. THE LEGISLA-
TURE SHALL NOT REQUIRE ANY PERSON TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM OR PLAN, NOR SHALL IT IMPOSE A PENALTY OR FINE, OF ANY TYPE, FOR
CHOOSING TO OBTAIN OR DECLINE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE OR FOR PARTICIPATION
IN ANY PARTICULAR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM OR PLAN.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06300-01-1