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
60–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 63
Jun 1, 2026
D
Democratic41
92% Yea
R
Republican22
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
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
David Weprin
DDemocratic
Co
Alicia Hyndman
DDemocratic
Co
Angelo Santabarbara
DDemocratic
Co
Demond Meeks
DDemocratic/Working Families
Co
Jonathan Jacobson
DDemocratic
Co
Linda Rosenthal
DDemocratic
Co
MaryJane Shimsky
DDemocratic/Working Families
Co
Nader Sayegh
DDemocratic
Co
Steve Otis
DDemocratic
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