Senate Bill S8678A

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8678

SPONSOR: RYAN C
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to expanding Medi-
caid coverage to include pharmacological treatment for hyperhidrosis

 
PURPOSE:

This bill provides Medicaid coverage for the treatment of hyperhidrosis.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends Section 365-a of the Social Services law to require
Medicaid coverage of treatment for hyperhidrosis when ordered by a
physician, registered physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.

Section 2: Establishes an effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:
              

Hyperhidrosis is a common treatable medical condition characterized by
excessive sweating beyond What is needed to maintain normal body temper-
ature. Primary hyperhidrosis is the third largest patient category in
dermatology, and it negatively impacts patients physically and
emotionally.

Many hyperhidrosis patients report disrupted social lives, heightened
anxiety, depression, and persistent worry. More than 70 percent of
patients reported that excessive sweating has negatively impacted their
social life. A study of participants recruited from hyperhidrosis
support groups showed that 69 percent of sufferers reported experiencing
constant worry about noticeable sweating. An online survey of 8,160
people showed that anxiety and depression are approximately three times
more prevalent in patients with hyperhidrosis than in those without.

Hyperhidrosis poses a day-to-day challenge for patients who frequently
change clothes, place napkins or pads under their arms, freshen up by
wiping or bathing, or hide under dark, bulky clothing. This medical
condition can affect everyday activities, like computer usage, and the
career paths patients may choose.

Without access to prescription drugs, devices, and other medical inter-
ventions, patients are left to fend for themselves, primarily limited to
aluminum-based antiperspirants and clothing and accessories that provide
physical barriers to sweat penetration,

Leading healthcare organizations, including the World Health Organiza-
tion and the American Medical Association, recognize hyperhidrosis as a
medical condition requiring clinical intervention.  This is echoed by
various clinical guidelines for medical professionals worldwide.

While state Medicaid programs may restrict or limit coverage for drugs
used for cosmetic purposes, it is contrary to medical literature and
clinical practice to claim that the treatment of hyperhidrosis falls
into that category.


In New York State, the Medicaid program stopped covering treatment of
hyperhidrosis at the end of 2023. Yet it continues to cover treatment
other chronic dermatological conditions like psoriasis, acne, and atopic
dermatitis, which has unfairly excluded Medicaid patients suffering from
hyperhidrosis. This bill would authorize the coverage of appropriate
pharmacological treatment of hyperhidrosis.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To Be Determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.