NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A972A
SPONSOR: Rosenthal L TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to
prohibiting co-payments for treatment at an opioid treatment program
PURPOSE:
This bill relates to prohibiting co-payments for treatment at an opioid
treatment program during course of treatment.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one amends the insurance law by adding a new paragraph 31-b to
section 3216
Section two amends the insurance law by adding a new paragraph 7-c to
section 3221 Section three amends the insurance law by adding a new
paragraph section 1-3. Section four sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Private insurance plans, including plans available under the Affordable
Care Act, require co-pays to be collected every time a patient visits an
Opioid Treatment Program (OTP). This requirement does not take into
account the frequency of patient visits, and creates a barrier to OTP
treatment services. At the start of treatment, patients are required by
federal law to receive treatment up to 6 times a week for 90 days. Once
those 90 days are up, many patients continue to seek treatment several
times a week. Requiring daily co-pays under these circumstances becomes
cost-prohibitive for people seeking treatment. Prohibiting co-payments
for treatment at an OTP will help all New Yorkers in need to gain access
to potentially lifesaving services.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.9082 - Referred to Insurance
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law.
