NY State Senate Bill 2019-S1042

Senate Bill S1042

2019-2020 Legislative Session

Establishes a task force to conduct a study on the ability to utilize telehealth within the workers' compensation system

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - Stricken

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 19, 2019	recommit, enacting clause stricken
Jan 10, 2019	referred to labor

2019-S1042 (ACTIVE) - Details

Law Section:: Labor
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2015-2016: S8109
2017-2018: S833

2019-S1042 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes a task force to conduct a study on the ability to utilize telehealth within the workers' compensation system.

2019-S1042 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S1042

SPONSOR: YOUNG
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to establish a task force to conduct a comprehensive study on the
ability to utilize telehealth within the workers' compensation system;
and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration
thereof

 
PURPOSE:

This legislation establishes a task force to conduct a study on the
ability to utilize telehealth within the workers compensation system.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 states legislative intent which specifies that the legislature
recognizes due to geographic restrictions, provider shortages, inclement
weather, restricted patient mobility, and the lack of authorized workers
compensation medical providers that have familiarity with the language

spoken by the injured worker, patients face challenges in accessing
health care providers and health care services. It is critically impor-
tant that injured workers are provided with the ability to receive qual-
ity medical care in an efficient and expeditious manner.  Telehealth is
a valuable tool in improving the continuity, coordination, and efficacy
of care for rural and underserved populations.

Section 2 provides that a task force shall be established to conduct a
comprehensive study on the ability to utilize telehealth within the
workers' compensation system.

Section 3 provides that the task force shall consist of seven members to
be appointed as follows:

(1) 3 members appointed by the governor;

(2) 2 members appointed by the temporary president of the senate; and

(3) 2 members appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

Section 4 provides that the workers' compensation board shall make a
report to the legislature of its findings, conclusions and recommenda-
tions on or before January 1, 2020.

Section 5 provides for an immediate effective date and that the act
shall expire and be deemed repealed on February 1, 2020.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

It is critically important that injured workers are provided with the
ability to receive quality medical care in an efficient and expeditious
manner.

To date, there has not been a comprehensive study conducted in New York
State to examine the efficacy of telehealth for injured workers seeking
workers' compensation benefits in rural and underserved areas of the
state.

This study would assess the effectiveness in allowing health care
services to be provided by telehealth and also ensure that all injured
workers have access to quality health care services.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2018: S.833-A Reported and Committed to Finance

2017: S.833 Passed Senate

2016: S.8109 Passed Senate

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire and be deemed
repealed February 1, 2020.

2019-S1042 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1042
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 10, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  YOUNG  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor
 
 AN ACT to establish a task force to conduct a comprehensive study on the
   ability to utilize telehealth within the workers' compensation system;
   and providing for the repeal of such provisions  upon  the  expiration
   thereof

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Legislative  intent.  The  legislature  recognizes  due  to
 geographic   restrictions,   provider   shortages,   inclement  weather,
 restricted patient mobility and the lack of authorized workers'  compen-
 sation  medical providers that have familiarity with the language spoken
 by injured workers, patients face challenges in  accessing  health  care
 providers  and  health  care  services.  It is critically important that
 injured workers are provided with the ability to receive quality medical
 care in an efficient and expeditious manner. Telehealth  is  a  valuable
 tool  in  improving the continuity, coordination, and efficiency of care
 for rural and underserved populations.
   To date, there has not been a comprehensive  study  conducted  in  New
 York  state  to  examine  the efficacy of telehealth for injured workers
 seeking workers' compensation benefits in rural and  underserved  areas.
 The  legislature therefore supports the commissioning of such a study in
 order to assess the effectiveness in allowing health care services to be
 provided by telehealth.
   § 2. A task force is hereby established  to  conduct  a  comprehensive
 study  on  the ability to utilize telehealth within the workers' compen-
 sation system. The scope of such study shall include:
   a. the determination of the feasibility  of  implementation  of  tele-
 health  for  medical exams for workers' compensation claims that ensures
 injured workers protection and access to quality care;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03941-01-9

 S. 1042                             2
 
   b. the ability to diagnose through telehealth and  remain  within  the
 treatment guidelines set by the workers' compensation board;
   c. the cost impact on employers;
   d. the ability to prevent fraud; and
   e.  any  other  related  information that the chairman of the workers'
 compensation board may deem necessary or relevant in carrying  out  this
 study.
   §  3. a.  The task force shall consist of 7 members to be appointed as
 follows:
   (1) 3 members appointed by the governor;
   (2) 2 members appointed by the temporary president of the senate; and
   (3) 2 members appointed by the speaker of the assembly.
   b. The governor shall designate one of his or her  appointees  as  the
 chair of the task force.
   c. The members of the task force shall be composed of individuals with
 expertise  in  the  workers' compensation system and/or the provision of
 health care services by telehealth.
   d. The members of the task force shall  receive  no  compensation  for
 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
 incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this act.
   §  4.  The  task  force  shall make a report to the legislature of its
 findings, conclusions and recommendations on or before January 1, 2020.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire  and  be
 deemed repealed February 1, 2020.

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