A 6561 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Includes image-guided biopsies under certain insurance coverage for breast cancer screening

This bill amends New York's insurance law to require health insurers to cover image-guided breast biopsies as part of mandatory breast cancer screening. It directly affects patients seeking breast cancer detection and insurers who must provide this coverage when recommended by a physician following nationally recognized clinical guidelines. The key change adds "image-guided breast biopsies" to the list of covered screening and diagnostic imaging procedures, alongside mammograms and ultrasounds. Coverage applies only when the procedure is recommended by a physician and aligns with evidence-based clinical guidelines. The requirement takes effect January 1, 2026, for new or renewed insurance policies.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2026
Assembly Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
Jun 2026
Governor
Introduced Mar 6, 2025 Last action Jun 1, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

A6561A A6561B · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to add new sponsors and advance its legislative status to a third reading. The most significant substantive change is the effective date of the new insurance coverage requirements, which was moved from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027, likely to allow more time for implementation.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding the definition of 'nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines' remains unchanged, but the timeline for when these guidelines must be covered by insurance plans has been delayed by one year.
TIMELINE

The effective date for the new breast cancer screening coverage requirements was changed from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027.

TECHNICAL

The list of bill sponsors was updated to include additional legislators (Meeks, Jacobson, Santabarbara, and Otis).

The bill's procedural status was updated to reflect that it has been ordered to a third reading and is ready for final passage.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 1, 2026 · Assembly May 6, 2026

How they voted

600
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 63
Jun 1, 2026
D Democratic41
38 Yea 3
92% Yea
R Republican22
22 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
5
Committee
3
Amendments
3
Jun 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
May 6, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO INSURANCE
upper
May 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
PASSED ASSEMBLY
lower
Jan 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
AMENDED ON THIRD READING 6561B
lower
May 20, 2025
Committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 6561A
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO INSURANCE
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO INSURANCE
lower
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors