S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
943--A
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 11, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Insurance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
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 PEERS CERTIFIED BY
THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND 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 require-
ments 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 PEERS CERTIFIED BY
THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND PEER SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDED BY A
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01263-03-3
A. 943--A 2
CERTIFIED RECOVERY PEER ADVOCATE AS DEFINED BY THE OFFICE OF ADDICTION
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS. Such coverage shall not apply financial require-
ments 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.
§ 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 PEERS CERTIFIED BY
THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND 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 require-
ments 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 thirtieth day after it shall
have become a law.