Bill > S05314

This bill establishes new patient safety regulations for medication distribution by insurers and health care plans, specifically addressing controversial practices known as "brown bagging" and "white bagging". The legislation prohibits insurers from requiring patients to transport medications directly to medical facilities for administration or mandating that medications be sent from an insurer-designated pharmacy to a physician's office, hospital, or clinic. When insurers want to distribute patient-specific medications to medical facilities, they must now meet extensive requirements, including providing 90 days' notice to providers, ensuring same-day medication delivery, maintaining 24/7 pharmacist access, utilizing cold chain logistics to preserve medication integrity, providing medication pedigree documentation, demonstrating accreditation and expertise, and offering site-neutral payment to medical providers. The bill also creates exceptions for certain complex medications, such as those requiring sterile compounding or medications with dosage requirements based on same-day lab results. Additionally, insurers may offer but cannot mandate home infusion pharmacy services for intravenous drugs. These provisions aim to protect patient safety, ensure medication quality, and prevent potential risks associated with medication transportation and storage by patients or non-medical personnel.

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https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5314