This bill (S 4955) sets new standards for how New York's Medicaid Inspector General audits and reviews payments to healthcare providers. It requires the Inspector General to follow specific protocols when checking claims, cost reports, or payments, including providing providers access to applicable standards before audits begin. Key provisions include mandating detailed explanations in audit reports, considering factors like whether errors were minor clerical mistakes (e.g., transposed codes), and limiting recoupment for isolated errors. The bill directly affects Medicaid providers who receive state medical assistance payments, ensuring audits are transparent, fair, and based on clear, documented procedures.
Exempts any covered substance use disorder and mental health treatment services and all FDA approved medications for the treatment of substance use disorder, HIV, hepatitis C and mental health conditions, from all recipient restriction program coverage and payment restrictions.
Directs the commissioner of the office of mental health to promulgate rules and regulations prohibiting any suicide prevention or mental health services hotline operated or sponsored by the state from being automated.
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.
This bill establishes a licensing system for dietitians and nutritionists in New York. It defines "licensed dietitian" and "licensed nutritionist," requiring professionals to meet specific education and training standards to practice. The law restricts the use of titles like "dietitian" or "nutritionist" to only those who are licensed, and specifies that only licensed professionals can provide medical nutrition therapy and therapeutic diets for health conditions. It also clarifies the scope of practice for both professions, including services like nutrition counseling and managing dietary needs for chronic diseases.
Establishes a clinical preceptorship personal income tax credit for certain health care professionals who provide preceptor instruction to students studying to be a health care professional.
This bill requires New York's Department of Public Health to annually report on food security trends at the county level. It directs the department to include the USDA's standard six-item food security survey in its existing health tracking system and publicly post the results online each year. The law directly affects New York residents by creating a state-level tracking system to monitor food insecurity, replacing the discontinued federal USDA report. This provides lawmakers and community organizations with updated, localized data to inform decisions about nutrition assistance programs and resource allocation.
Requires insurers to cover the substitution of a brand name prescription drug when the federal food and drug administration has declared that there is a supply issue with a generic drug.
Directs the department of health to create an informational pamphlet concerning intrauterine devices; requires such informational pamphlet to be available on the department of health's website; requires practitioners to distribute such informational pamphlet to patients seeking contraceptives.
Bill S 4612 amends the workers' compensation law to include coverage for treatment provided by licensed massage therapists. It defines "massage therapist" and adds them to the list of authorized healthcare providers within the workers' compensation system. Under this bill, an injured employee can receive massage therapy if prescribed or referred by an authorized physician, physician assistant, podiatrist, or nurse practitioner. Massage therapists rendering such treatment would be required to maintain patient records. However, their reports or opinions would not be considered evidence of the causal link of an injury to a work accident or occupational disease, nor evidence of disability, under this law.
