NY State Senate Bill 2023-S8957

Senate Bill S8957

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Requires insurers to provide insurance coverage for rare diseases, life-threatening conditions or diseases, degenerative and disabling conditions, or diagnoses involving medically fragile children

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 02, 2024	referred to insurance

2023-S8957 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9539
Current Committee:: Senate Insurance
Law Section:: Insurance Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§3216, 3221 & 4303, Ins L; add §4406-j, Pub Health L

2023-S8957 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires insurers to provide insurance coverage for treatment of rare diseases, life-threatening conditions or diseases, degenerative and disabling conditions, or diagnoses involving medically fragile children, by a provider of the patient's choice.

2023-S8957 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8957

SPONSOR: HOYLMAN-SIGAL
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the insurance law and the public health law, in relation
to providing insurance coverage for rare diseases, life-threatening
conditions or diseases, degenerative and disabling conditions, or diag-
noses involving medically fragile children

 
PURPOSE:

To require insurance coverage in certain instances for rare diseases,
life-threatening conditions or diseases, degenerative and disabling
conditions or diagnoses involving medically fragile children.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Sections one through three amend various sections of the insurance law
to require insurance coverage for above referenced conditions by out of
network providers if (i) costs are equal or less than in network, and
there is no cost for traveling,(ii) advanced notice is provided to the

patient's network plan, and (iii) the chosen provider is specialized in
the area of treatment.

Section four provides for conforming changes to the public health law to
include health maintenance organizations in the requirements for treat-
ing the conditions covered by the insurance law.

Section five provides for an effective date of ninety days from enact-
ment.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Individuals who are diagnosed with rare diseases, life threatening or
life altering diseases, or are deemed medically fragile children are
already undergoing enormous amounts of stress without having to consider
who they are going to seek medical care from. Their focus should instead
be on who is going to provide them with the best chance of survival or
success from their diagnosis. This should also be the policy of the
State. No one should be told that there is a better, more qualified
specialist available at the same cost, but they cannot see them because
they are arbitrarily either in or out of network.

This legislation is intended to offer individuals confronted with rare
or life altering circumstances the ability to choose the best treatment
option for them. These changes also take into account mandates on the
insurance plans by controlling costs, providing notice, and ensuring the
chosen provider is a qualified specialist.  Individuals who find them-
selves in these daunting circumstances should have the ability to
explore options, even if those are out of network in order to provide
them with the greatest chance of a positive outcome.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Ninety days after it shall have become law.

2023-S8957 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8957
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               April 2, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. HOYLMAN-SIGAL -- 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 public health law, in relation
   to providing insurance coverage for  rare  diseases,  life-threatening
   conditions  or  diseases,  degenerative  and  disabling conditions, or
   diagnoses involving medically fragile children

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subsection  (i)  of  section 3216 of the insurance law is
 amended by adding a new paragraph 39 to read as follows:
   (39) (A) EVERY POLICY WHICH PROVIDES HOSPITAL,  SURGICAL,  MEDICAL  OR
 MAJOR  MEDICAL  COVERAGE  SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR MEDICALLY NECESSARY
 SERVICES FROM A CHOSEN PROVIDER FOR A CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS THAT IS DEEMED
 TO BE A RARE DISEASE, LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION OR  DISEASE,  DEGENERA-
 TIVE  AND  DISABLING  CONDITION,  OR INVOLVES A MEDICALLY FRAGILE CHILD,
 WITH NO RESTRICTION TO A PLAN NETWORK, IF THE FOLLOWING  CONDITIONS  ARE
 MET:
   (I) (A) THE COSTS OF THE CHOSEN PROVIDER ARE EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE
 AVERAGE  COST  THAT  WOULD  HAVE  OTHERWISE BEEN PAID TO A LOCAL NETWORK
 PROVIDER WHO POSSESSES A SIMILAR SUBSPECIALTY AS SUCH  CHOSEN  PROVIDER;
 AND
   (B)  THE  PATIENT'S  TREATING  SPECIALIST  OR  PRIMARY  CARE  PROVIDER
 PROVIDES A WRITTEN STATEMENT TO RECOMMEND THE CHOSEN  PROVIDER  FOR  THE
 PARTICULAR DISEASE.
   (II)  THE  CHOSEN  PROVIDER  OR  THE  PATIENT'S PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN
 PROVIDES ADVANCE NOTICE TO  SUCH  PATIENT'S  NETWORK  PLAN  PRIOR  TO  A
 PLANNED PROCEDURE COVERED PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH.
   (III)  THE  CHOSEN PROVIDER IS ACCREDITED OR DESIGNATED BY THE DEPART-
 MENT OF HEALTH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OR A VOLUNTARY  NATIONAL  HEALTH
 ORGANIZATION  AS  HAVING  SPECIAL  EXPERTISE  IN TREATING, OR HAS DEMON-
 STRATED A CLINICAL FOCUS IN THE AREA OF,  THE  CONFIRMED  DIAGNOSIS  FOR
 WHICH  COVERAGE IS SOUGHT PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH.  PROVIDED HOWEVER,
 THAT NOTHING IN THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL REQUIRE SUCH CHOSEN PROVIDER TO  BE
 PARTICIPATING  IN  THE  PATIENT'S  NETWORK  OR LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD14125-05-4
 S. 8957                             2
 
 PROVIDED FURTHER THAT  NOTHING  HEREIN  SHALL  OBLIGATE  TO  COVER  COST
 RELATED TO TRAVEL TO THE CHOSEN PROVIDER.
   (B) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE
 THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (I)  "RARE DISEASE" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH IN SUBDI-
 VISION SEVEN-G OF SECTION FORTY-NINE HUNDRED OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW.
   (II) "LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION OR DISEASE" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEAN-
 ING AS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION SEVEN-A OF SECTION FORTY-NINE HUNDRED OF
 THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW.
   (III) "DEGENERATIVE AND DISABLING CONDITION" SHALL MEAN A CONDITION OR
 DISEASE WHICH (A) REQUIRES SPECIALIZED MEDICAL  CARE  OVER  A  PROLONGED
 PERIOD  OF  TIME,  OR (B) QUALIFIES THE PATIENT AS A DISABLED PERSON, AS
 DEFINED BY SUBDIVISION FIVE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED EIGHT OF  THE  SOCIAL
 SERVICES LAW.
   (IV)  "MEDICALLY  FRAGILE  CHILD"  SHALL  HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SET
 FORTH IN SUBDIVISION NINE OF  SECTION  FORTY-FOUR  HUNDRED  ONE  OF  THE
 PUBLIC HEALTH LAW.
   § 2. Subsection (k) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by
 adding a new paragraph 23 to read as follows:
   (23)  (A)  EVERY  POLICY WHICH PROVIDES HOSPITAL, SURGICAL, MEDICAL OR
 MAJOR MEDICAL COVERAGE SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE  FOR  MEDICALLY  NECESSARY
 SERVICES FROM A CHOSEN PROVIDER FOR A CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS THAT IS DEEMED
 TO  BE  A RARE DISEASE, LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION OR DISEASE, DEGENERA-
 TIVE AND DISABLING CONDITION, OR INVOLVES  A  MEDICALLY  FRAGILE  CHILD,
 WITH  NO  RESTRICTION TO A PLAN NETWORK, IF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE
 MET:
   (I) (I) THE COSTS OF THE CHOSEN PROVIDER ARE EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE
 AVERAGE COST THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN  PAID  TO  A  LOCAL  NETWORK
 PROVIDER  WHO  POSSESSES A SIMILAR SUBSPECIALTY AS SUCH CHOSEN PROVIDER;
 AND
   (II) THE  PATIENT'S  TREATING  SPECIALIST  OR  PRIMARY  CARE  PROVIDER
 PROVIDES  A  WRITTEN  STATEMENT TO RECOMMEND THE CHOSEN PROVIDER FOR THE
 PARTICULAR DISEASE.
   (II) THE CHOSEN PROVIDER  OR  THE  PATIENT'S  PRIMARY  CARE  PHYSICIAN
 PROVIDES  ADVANCE  NOTICE  TO  SUCH  PATIENT'S  NETWORK  PLAN PRIOR TO A
 PLANNED PROCEDURE COVERED PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH.
   (III) THE CHOSEN PROVIDER IS ACCREDITED OR DESIGNATED BY  THE  DEPART-
 MENT  OF  HEALTH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OR A VOLUNTARY NATIONAL HEALTH
 ORGANIZATION AS HAVING SPECIAL EXPERTISE  IN  TREATING,  OR  HAS  DEMON-
 STRATED  A  CLINICAL  FOCUS  IN THE AREA OF, THE CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS FOR
 WHICH COVERAGE IS SOUGHT PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH.  PROVIDED  HOWEVER,
 THAT  NOTHING IN THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL REQUIRE SUCH CHOSEN PROVIDER TO BE
 PARTICIPATING IN THE PATIENT'S NETWORK  OR  LOCATED  WITHIN  THE  STATE;
 PROVIDED  FURTHER  THAT  NOTHING  HEREIN  SHALL  OBLIGATE  TO COVER COST
 RELATED TO TRAVEL TO THE CHOSEN PROVIDER.
   (B) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE
 THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (I) "RARE DISEASE" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH IN  SUBDI-
 VISION SEVEN-G OF SECTION FORTY-NINE HUNDRED OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW.
   (II) "LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION OR DISEASE" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEAN-
 ING AS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION SEVEN-A OF SECTION FORTY-NINE HUNDRED OF
 THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW.
   (III) "DEGENERATIVE AND DISABLING CONDITION" SHALL MEAN A CONDITION OR
 DISEASE  WHICH  (A)  REQUIRES  SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE OVER A PROLONGED
 PERIOD OF TIME, OR (B) QUALIFIES THE PATIENT AS A  DISABLED  PERSON,  AS
 S. 8957                             3
 
 DEFINED  BY  SUBDIVISION FIVE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED EIGHT OF THE SOCIAL
 SERVICES LAW.
   (IV)  "MEDICALLY  FRAGILE  CHILD"  SHALL  HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SET
 FORTH IN SUBDIVISION NINE OF  SECTION  FORTY-FOUR  HUNDRED  ONE  OF  THE
 PUBLIC HEALTH LAW.
   §  3.  Section  4303  of  the insurance law is amended by adding a new
 subsection (vv) to read as follows:
   (VV) (1) EVERY POLICY WHICH PROVIDES HOSPITAL,  SURGICAL,  MEDICAL  OR
 MAJOR  MEDICAL  COVERAGE  SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR MEDICALLY NECESSARY
 SERVICES FROM A CHOSEN PROVIDER FOR A CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS THAT IS DEEMED
 TO BE A RARE DISEASE, LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION OR  DISEASE,  DEGENERA-
 TIVE  AND  DISABLING  CONDITION,  OR INVOLVES A MEDICALLY FRAGILE CHILD,
 WITH NO RESTRICTION TO A PLAN NETWORK, IF THE FOLLOWING  CONDITIONS  ARE
 MET:
   (A) (I) THE COSTS OF THE CHOSEN PROVIDER ARE EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE
 AVERAGE  COST  THAT  WOULD  HAVE  OTHERWISE BEEN PAID TO A LOCAL NETWORK
 PROVIDER WHO POSSESSES A SIMILAR SUBSPECIALTY AS SUCH  CHOSEN  PROVIDER;
 AND
   (II)  THE  PATIENT'S  TREATING  SPECIALIST  OR  PRIMARY  CARE PROVIDER
 PROVIDES A WRITTEN STATEMENT TO RECOMMEND THE CHOSEN  PROVIDER  FOR  THE
 PARTICULAR DISEASE.
   (B)  THE  CHOSEN  PROVIDER  OR  THE  PATIENT'S  PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN
 PROVIDES ADVANCE NOTICE TO  SUCH  PATIENT'S  NETWORK  PLAN  PRIOR  TO  A
 PLANNED PROCEDURE COVERED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION.
   (C)  THE CHOSEN PROVIDER IS ACCREDITED OR DESIGNATED BY THE DEPARTMENT
 OF HEALTH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OR A VOLUNTARY NATIONAL HEALTH ORGAN-
 IZATION AS HAVING SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN TREATING, OR HAS  DEMONSTRATED  A
 CLINICAL  FOCUS IN THE AREA OF, THE CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS FOR WHICH COVER-
 AGE IS SOUGHT PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION.  PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT NOTH-
 ING IN THIS SUBSECTION SHALL REQUIRE SUCH CHOSEN PROVIDER TO BE  PARTIC-
 IPATING  IN  THE PATIENT'S NETWORK OR LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE; PROVIDED
 FURTHER THAT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL OBLIGATE  TO  COVER  COST  RELATED  TO
 TRAVEL TO THE CHOSEN PROVIDER.
   (2)  FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL
 HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A) "RARE DISEASE" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH IN  SUBDI-
 VISION SEVEN-G OF SECTION FORTY-NINE HUNDRED OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW.
   (B)  "LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION OR DISEASE" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEAN-
 ING AS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION SEVEN-A OF SECTION FORTY-NINE HUNDRED OF
 THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW.
   (C) "DEGENERATIVE AND DISABLING CONDITION" SHALL MEAN A  CONDITION  OR
 DISEASE  WHICH  (I)  REQUIRES  SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE OVER A PROLONGED
 PERIOD OF TIME, OR (II) QUALIFIES THE PATIENT AS A DISABLED  PERSON,  AS
 DEFINED  BY  SUBDIVISION FIVE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED EIGHT OF THE SOCIAL
 SERVICES LAW.
   (D) "MEDICALLY FRAGILE CHILD" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH
 IN SUBDIVISION NINE OF SECTION FORTY-FOUR  HUNDRED  ONE  OF  THE  PUBLIC
 HEALTH LAW.
   §  4.  The public health law is amended by adding a new section 4406-j
 to read as follows:
   § 4406-J. EXTRAORDINARY OUT-OF-NETWORK COVERAGE. NO HEALTH MAINTENANCE
 ORGANIZATION SUBJECT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL, BY CONTRACT, WRITTEN POLICY,
 OR PROCEDURE, LIMIT A PATIENT ENROLLEE'S DIRECT ACCESS TO SERVICES  FROM
 A  CHOSEN  PROVIDER  FOR  A  RARE DISEASE, LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION OR
 DISEASE, DEGENERATIVE AND DISABLING CONDITION, OR DIAGNOSIS INVOLVING  A
 MEDICALLY  FRAGILE  CHILD IF SUCH SERVICES ARE COVERED PURSUANT TO PARA-
 S. 8957                             4
 
 GRAPH THIRTY-NINE OF SUBSECTION (I) OF SECTION THREE THOUSAND SIXTEEN OF
 THE INSURANCE LAW, PARAGRAPH TWENTY-THREE OF SUBSECTION (K)  OF  SECTION
 THREE   THOUSAND  TWO  HUNDRED  TWENTY-ONE  OF  THE  INSURANCE  LAW,  OR
 SUBSECTION  (VV)  OF  SECTION  FOUR  THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED THREE OF THE
 INSURANCE LAW; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH PATIENT ENROLLEE'S ACCESS TO
 SUCH SERVICES ARE OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS  OF  THE
 PLAN UNDER WHICH SUCH PATIENT ENROLLEE IS COVERED.
   §  5.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a  law  and  shall  apply  to  all  insurance  policies  and
 contracts  issued,  renewed,  modified,  altered, or amended on or after
 such effective date.

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