S 3185 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Provides outpatient insurance coverage for non-pharmacological treatments and non-opioid drugs for chronic pain

Bill S 3185 mandates that health insurance policies covering pain management services must also provide outpatient coverage for non-opioid treatments for chronic pain, defined as pain lasting over three months. This directly affects individuals with chronic pain by expanding their covered treatment options to include complementary and integrative therapies. The bill ensures that insurance companies cannot impose stricter financial requirements or treatment limitations on non-opioid chronic pain treatments than they do for other medical benefits or for opioid-based pain treatments. This aims to provide comparable access and coverage for these non-opioid alternatives.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 24, 2025 Last action Apr 7, 2026

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What changed between versions

S3185 → S3185A · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to broaden its scope from covering only 'pain management' to covering all 'pain,' and to mandate specific minimum coverage amounts (three non-pharmacological treatments and two non-opioid drugs). It also added a new definition for 'acute pain' and updated the bill's title to reflect these expanded requirements for non-drug and non-opioid treatments.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to apply to all policies covering 'pain' rather than just 'pain management,' and it now explicitly includes coverage for acute pain in addition to chronic pain.

REQUIREMENT

The required coverage was changed from general 'non-opioid treatment' to specific minimums: at least three non-pharmacological treatments (including massage, therapy, and acupuncture) and at least two FDA-approved non-opioid drugs.

SCOPE

The bill's subject matter was broadened from 'pain management services' to 'pain' generally, expanding the range of policies subject to these rules.

DEFINITION

A new definition for 'acute pain' was added to clarify that the new coverage requirements apply to short-term pain resulting from injury or trauma, not just long-term chronic conditions.

TECHNICAL

The bill number was updated to 'S 3185--A' to reflect that it has been amended and reprinted, and the list of sponsoring senators was updated.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 3185A

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO INSURANCE

upper

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO INSURANCE

upper

May 5, 2025

Committee

REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO INSURANCE

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor