Requires the superintendent of financial services to audit certain reports to ensure such insurers are in full compliance with federal and state mental health and substance use disorder parity requirements.
Authorizes the imposition of penalties on subcontractors for failure to adhere to the standards for prompt, fair and equitable settlement of claims for health care and payments for health care services.
Establishes an intensive addiction recovery and mental health integrated services pilot program to support two three-year demonstration programs that provide intensive addiction and mental health integrated services to individuals with significant addiction and mental health issues who have had multiple and frequent treatment episodes.
This bill updates various state laws by replacing the terms "addict" and "addicts" with "person with substance use disorder" or similar variations. It amends sections of the judiciary law, mental hygiene law, and public health law to reflect this change. This affects legal proceedings, medical treatment, and official definitions related to individuals experiencing substance use challenges. The primary aim is to standardize person-first language across relevant statutes.
Authorizes the creation of a distinctive brain tumor awareness license plate; creates the brain tumor research and support fund; provides that moneys of the brain tumor research and support fund may be expended to offset costs associated with medicaid fee for service coverage of tumor treating fields therapy.
Requires that health insurance policies shall provide coverage for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer; provides that no patient cost sharing shall be imposed for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer.
Directs the commissioner of labor to create and distribute to employers written materials regarding mental health services and resources available to employees to be posted in the workplace; directs voluntary guidance for employers to put in place strategies and programs to support the mental health and wellness of their employees; provides that such guidance be in written and digital resources and in English or translated to an additional primary language or languages as applicable.
This bill authorizes licensed pharmacists to administer flu vaccinations to individuals aged nine years or older. It amends the education law to explicitly permit pharmacists to provide flu shots without requiring a separate physician order for this specific service. The change directly affects pharmacists by expanding their scope of practice and the public by increasing access to flu vaccinations for children (starting at age 9) and adults at pharmacies. This is a straightforward policy update that modifies existing law to allow broader flu shot availability through pharmacy settings.
This bill requires the state to reimburse non-medical transportation costs for individuals with substance use disorders attending peer support services. The state office must establish reimbursement rates by April 2026, working with health officials to seek Medicaid funding and utilize federal grants like opioid response funds. It directly affects people seeking peer support services and the state’s funding mechanisms for addiction treatment access. The law creates a concrete system to cover transportation expenses, excluding medical transport, and takes effect 90 days after enactment.
Provides that a collective bargaining agreement or employment contract shall not require that an emergency dispatcher employed by a municipality obtain approval from, or provide notice to, a supervisor to access mental or behavioral health care services.