Bill > S05013

This bill requires health insurance policies in New York to provide coverage for opioid antagonists and devices, specifically mandating that every policy covering prescription drugs must include at least one such medication. An opioid antagonist is defined as a drug approved by the FDA that can negate or neutralize the pharmacological effects of an opioid, with the term limited to naloxone and other medications approved by the state's department of health. The bill applies to multiple types of health insurance policies, including individual, group, and commercial plans. Insurers may require prior authorization for non-generic forms of these medications, and the coverage can be subject to annual deductibles and co-insurance consistent with other policy benefits. Importantly, the coverage extends to opioid antagonists prescribed or dispensed via standing order or collaborative practice agreements, which means these medications can be obtained for use on patients other than the insured policyholder. This legislation aims to increase access to life-saving medications that can rapidly reverse opioid overdoses, potentially helping to reduce overdose fatalities by making these critical drugs more readily available.

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https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5013