Provides outpatient insurance coverage for non-pharmacological treatments and non-opioid drugs for chronic pain
This bill requires health insurance plans in New York to cover specific non-drug treatments and non-opioid medications for chronic pain. It mandates that policies provide at least three types of non-pharmacological treatments (including restorative like massage, behavioral like therapy, and complementary like acupuncture) plus two FDA-approved non-opioid drugs, with coverage comparable to other medical services. Insurers cannot apply stricter financial requirements (like higher copays) or treatment limits (such as prior authorization) for non-opioid options than they do for opioid treatments. The law directly affects all health insurers and policyholders who receive pain management coverage under state-regulated plans.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2025
Last action Jan 23, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
A1921A
→
A1921B
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill was amended to expand coverage for chronic pain by explicitly requiring insurance plans to cover non-pharmacological treatments (like massage and therapy) and non-opioid drugs. The revision also clarifies that these new benefits must not face stricter financial requirements or utilization controls than other covered medical services.
Scope change
The bill's scope was broadened to include non-pharmacological treatments and non-opioid drugs, whereas the original version focused only on non-opioid treatment in general.
REQUIREMENT
The specific requirements for coverage were updated to mandate a minimum of three non-pharmacological treatments and two non-opioid drugs for chronic pain, replacing the previous general mandate for non-opioid treatment.
New specific examples of required non-pharmacological treatments were added, including restorative treatments (massage), behavioral treatments (cognitive behavioral therapy), and complementary treatments (acupuncture).
The rules preventing insurers from applying stricter financial requirements or utilization controls to these new treatments were expanded to explicitly include prior authorization and step therapy requirements.
TECHNICAL
The bill's internal paragraph numbering was updated to reflect the addition of new coverage mandates.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
6
Key actions
4
Committee
2
Amendments
4
Jan 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 1921B
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO INSURANCE
lower
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO INSURANCE
lower
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 1921A
lower
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO INSURANCE
lower
Jan 14, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO INSURANCE
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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