NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2898A
SPONSOR: Carroll TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring certain
insurance policies to cover neuropsychological exams for dyslexia
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would require private health insurers to provide coverage for
testing for suspected dyslexia.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 stipulates that this act shall be known as the "dyslexia diag-
nosis access act."
Section 2 sets forth legislative findings and intent.
Sections 3-5 of this bill would require certain health insurers to
provide coverage for suspected dyslexia and shall not exclude coverage
of the screening, diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions otherwise
covered by the policy. Coverage shall include comprehensive neuropsycho-
logical examinations for the purpose of diagnosing dyslexia and deter-
mining the psychological, motional, and educational wellness of the
individual tested.
Section 6 sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Studies indicate that as many as one in five children may have dyslexia
or another phonemic awareness issue. However, lack of access to appro-
priate screening and diagnostic testing poses a barrier to comprehen-
sively tracking the incidence of dyslexia and students are unlikely to
receive the intervention required to overcome dyslexia without a posi-
tive diagnosis. Comprehensive neuropsychological exams are recognized as
the most effective way to positively diagnose dyslexia. Such exams are
often administered over the course of two days and currently may cost in
excess of six thousand dollars but are typically not paid for by health
insurance, making them unaffordable to many families. The educational
challenges faced by students with dyslexia have been shown to be associ-
ated with harmful secondary effects including anxiety, depression,
increased poverty and higher incarceration rates.
Educational research has unequivocally demonstrated that early identifi-
cation of dyslexia, coupled with intervention and multisensory sequen-
tial phonics instruction drastically improves educational outcomes
making affordable early diagnosis essential to improving the lives of
students with dyslexia and their families.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all policies
and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered, or amended on or after
such date. Effective immediately, the addition, 'amendment and/or repeal
of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act
on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or
before such date.
