Bill > A04262

This bill enacts the Health Care Nondiscrimination Act of 2025, which aims to promote equality and non-discrimination among licensed healthcare providers in New York. The legislation requires health insurance plans and providers to offer equal coverage and reimbursement for services across different types of licensed healthcare providers, ensuring that providers such as chiropractors, acupuncturists, and other non-traditional practitioners are treated the same as primary care physicians in terms of payment, co-pays, and insurance coverage. The bill mandates that when opioid treatment is being considered, healthcare practitioners must first discuss and potentially refer patients to non-pharmacological alternatives like physical therapy, massage, or cognitive behavioral therapy. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of "health professionals" to include a broader range of licensed providers, allowing them to perform services like certifying disabilities or being employed by school districts. The legislation includes enforcement mechanisms, such as annual reporting requirements for health services plan providers and the potential for private lawsuits with financial penalties for non-compliance, with the ultimate goal of reducing bias against non-pharmaceutical healthcare approaches and expanding patient choice in medical treatment.

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https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4262