Bill > A07944

This bill, known as the Continuity of Cancer Care Act (COCCA), aims to protect cancer patients during insurance contract negotiations by requiring insurers to continue coverage for cancer treatments until the patient's course of treatment is complete. The bill defines a "course of treatment" as the cancer treatment protocol that has been administered and the patient is clinically stable, including follow-up care for up to 90 days after stability is achieved. "Clinical stability" is defined as either the patient showing the intended treatment results without complications or receiving maintenance treatment to prevent cancer recurrence. If an insurance provider and a healthcare provider cannot reach a contract agreement, the insurer must continue to cover cancer treatments at the previously agreed-upon rate, with slight adjustments based on the Medicare Economic Index. This provision applies to treatments at hospitals, doctors' offices, and other oncology providers, ensuring that cancer patients do not experience interruptions in their critical medical care during contract negotiations. The bill amends several sections of the New York insurance and public health laws to implement these protections, and it will take effect immediately upon passage.

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https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7944