NY State Senate Bill 2025-S1001

Senate Bill S1001

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to including outpatient care provided by creative arts therapists in certain insurance policies

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee

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

Please enter your contact information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

A valid email address is required.

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 08, 2025	referred to insurance

co-Sponsors

View additional co-sponsors

2025-S1001 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Insurance
Law Section:: Insurance Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§3216, 3221 & 4303, Ins L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S6362

2025-S1001 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to including outpatient care provided by creative arts therapists in certain insurance policies covering care for other mental health services.

2025-S1001 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S1001

SPONSOR: BROUK
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to including outpatient
care provided by creative arts therapists in certain insurance policies

 
PURPOSE:

Relates to including outpatient care provided by creative arts thera-
pists in certain insurance policies.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 will amend item (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph 35 of
subsection (i) of section 3216 of the Insurance Law, as amended by chap-
ter 62 of the laws of 2023 provides, where the policy provides for
physician services, such policy shall include benefits for outpatient
care provided by creative arts therapist.

Section 2 will amend subparagraph (A) of paragraph 4 of subsection (1)

of section 3221 of the Insurance Law, as amended by chapter 62 of the
laws of 2023, to provide that every insurer delivering a group policy of
issuing a group policy for delivery, in this state, that provides
reimbursement for psychiatric or psychological services or for the diag-
nosis and treatment of mental health conditions, however defined in such
policy, by physicians, psychiatrists or psychologists, that provide the
same coverage to insured for such services when performed by a creative
arts therapist.

Section 3 will amend item (ii) of subparagraph of paragraph 5 of
subsection (1) of section 3221 of the Insurance Law, as amended by chap-
ter 62 of the law of 2023, to provide where a policy provides coverage
for physician services, it shall include benefits for outpatient care
provided by a creative arts therapist.

Section 4 will amend paragraph 2 of subsection (g) of section 4303 of
the Insurance Law, as amended by chapter 62 of the laws of 2023, to
provide where a contract provides coverage for physician services such
contract shall provide benefits for outpatient care provided by a crea-
tive arts therapist.

Section 5 will amend subsection (n) of section 4303 of the Insurance
Law, as amended by chapter 62 of the laws of 2023, to provide every
health service or medical expense indemnity corporation issuing a group
contract pursuant to this section of a group remittance contract for
delivery in this state which contract provides reimbursement to
subscribers or physicians, psychiatrists or psychologists for psychiat-
ric or psychological services of for the diagnosis and treatment of
mental health conditions, however defined in such contract, must provide
the same coverage under the group contract for such services when
performed by a creative arts therapist.

Section 6 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:


This bill is an expansion to Chapter 62 of the laws of 2023 and would
require insurers to reimburse creative arts therapists licensed under
article 163 of the Education Law in addition to psychiatrists and
psychologists. This change will continue to serve the intent of
Timothy's Law by making needed mental health services available to more
patients. It will benefit rural areas especially, where a patient may
have limited access to a psychiatrist or psychologist.  This amendment
will ensure that a patient is not denied mental health services because
the currently enumerated providers are located too far from the
patient's home, or the patient is unable to afford the out of pocket
expense of a mental health practitioner. In addition, this bill would
amplify patient choice by increasing the variety and number of reimburs-
able providers available to treat mental health disorders.

 
LEGISATIVE HISTORY;

2023-24: S6362 Referred to Insurance.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S1001 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1001
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens. BROUK, FERNANDEZ, PARKER, RIVERA, SKOUFIS, WEBB --
   read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to
   the Committee on Insurance
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the insurance law, in relation to including outpatient
   care provided by creative arts therapists in certain  insurance  poli-
   cies
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Item (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph 35 of subsection
 (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law, as amended by  chapter  62  of
 the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   (ii)  where  the policy provides coverage for physician services, such
 policy shall include benefits for outpatient care provided by a psychia-
 trist or psychologist licensed to practice in  this  state,  a  licensed
 clinical  social  worker  within  the  lawful scope of [his or her] SUCH
 LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER'S practice, who is licensed pursuant  to
 article  one  hundred  fifty-four  of the education law, a mental health
 counselor, marriage and family therapist, CREATIVE  ARTS  THERAPIST,  or
 psychoanalyst  licensed  pursuant  to article one hundred sixty-three of
 the education law, a nurse practitioner licensed  to  practice  in  this
 state,  or  a  professional  corporation  or university faculty practice
 corporation thereof.  Nothing herein shall be  construed  to  modify  or
 expand  the scope of practice of a mental health counselor, marriage and
 family therapist, CREATIVE ARTS  THERAPIST,  or  psychoanalyst  licensed
 pursuant  to  article  one  hundred  sixty-three  of  the education law.
 Further, nothing herein shall be construed  to  create  a  new  mandated
 health benefit.
   § 2. Subparagraph (A) of paragraph 4 of subsection (l) of section 3221
 of  the  insurance law, as amended by chapter 62 of the laws of 2023, is
 amended to read as follows:

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD00410-01-5
 S. 1001                             2
 
   (A) Every insurer delivering a group policy or issuing a group  policy
 for delivery, in this state, that provides reimbursement for psychiatric
 or  psychological  services or for the diagnosis and treatment of mental
 health conditions,  however  defined  in  such  policy,  by  physicians,
 psychiatrists  or  psychologists,  shall  provide  the  same coverage to
 insureds for such services when performed by a licensed clinical  social
 worker,  within  the lawful scope of [his or her] SUCH LICENSED CLINICAL
 SOCIAL WORKER'S   practice, who is  licensed  pursuant  to  article  one
 hundred  fifty-four  of  the education law and mental health counselors,
 marriage and family therapists, CREATIVE ARTS THERAPISTS, and psychoana-
 lysts licensed pursuant to article one hundred sixty-three of the educa-
 tion law, within the lawful scope of [his or  her]  SUCH  MENTAL  HEALTH
 COUNSELOR'S,  MARRIAGE  AND/OR  FAMILY THERAPIST'S, CREATIVE ARTS THERA-
 PIST'S, OR PSYCHOANALYST'S practice. Nothing herein shall  be  construed
 to  modify or expand the scope of practice of a mental health counselor,
 marriage and family therapist, CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIST, or psychoanalyst
 licensed pursuant to article one hundred sixty-three  of  the  education
 law. Further, nothing herein shall be construed to create a new mandated
 health benefit.
   § 3. Item (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph 5 of subsection (l) of
 section  3221 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 62 of the laws
 of 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   (ii) where the policy provides coverage  for  physician  services,  it
 shall include benefits for outpatient care provided by a psychiatrist or
 psychologist  licensed  to  practice  in  this state, or a mental health
 counselor, marriage and family therapist, CREATIVE  ARTS  THERAPIST,  or
 psychoanalyst  licensed  pursuant  to article one hundred sixty-three of
 the education law, or a  licensed  clinical  social  worker  within  the
 lawful  scope  of  [his  or  her] SUCH LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER'S
 practice, who is licensed pursuant to article one hundred fifty-four  of
 the  education  law,  a  nurse practitioner licensed to practice in this
 state, or a professional  corporation  or  university  faculty  practice
 corporation  thereof.  Nothing  herein  shall  be construed to modify or
 expand the scope of practice of a mental health counselor, marriage  and
 family  therapist,  CREATIVE  ARTS  THERAPIST, or psychoanalyst licensed
 pursuant to article  one  hundred  sixty-three  of  the  education  law.
 Further,  nothing  herein  shall  be  construed to create a new mandated
 health benefit.
   § 4. Paragraph 2 of subsection (g) of section 4303  of  the  insurance
 law, as amended by chapter 62 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as
 follows:
   (2)  where  the contract provides coverage for physician services such
 contract shall provide  benefits  for  outpatient  care  provided  by  a
 psychiatrist  or  psychologist  licensed to practice in this state, or a
 mental health counselor, marriage and family  therapist,  CREATIVE  ARTS
 THERAPIST,  or  psychoanalyst licensed   pursuant to article one hundred
 sixty-three of the education law, or a licensed clinical  social  worker
 within  the  lawful  scope of [his or her] SUCH LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL
 WORKER'S practice, who is  licensed  pursuant  to  article  one  hundred
 fifty-four  of the education law, a nurse practitioner licensed to prac-
 tice in this state, or professional corporation  or  university  faculty
 practice corporation thereof. Nothing herein shall be construed to modi-
 fy  or  expand  the  scope  of  practice  of  a mental health counselor,
 marriage and family therapist, CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIST, or psychoanalyst
 licensed pursuant to article one hundred sixty-three  of  the  education
 S. 1001                             3
 
 law. Further, nothing herein shall be construed to create a new mandated
 health benefit.
   §  5.  Subsection (n) of section 4303 of the insurance law, as amended
 by chapter 62 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   (n) Every health service  or  medical  expense  indemnity  corporation
 issuing  a group contract pursuant to this section or a group remittance
 contract for delivery in this state which contract  provides  reimburse-
 ment  to  subscribers  or physicians, psychiatrists or psychologists for
 psychiatric or psychological services or for the diagnosis and treatment
 of mental health conditions, however  defined  in  such  contract,  must
 provide  the  same  coverage to persons covered under the group contract
 for such services when performed by a licensed clinical  social  worker,
 within  the  lawful  scope of [his or her] SUCH LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL
 WORKER'S practice, who is  licensed  pursuant  to  article  one  hundred
 fifty-four  of the education law and a mental health counselor, marriage
 and family therapist, CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIST, or psychoanalyst licensed
 pursuant to article one hundred sixty-three of the education law.  Noth-
 ing  herein shall be construed to modify or expand the scope of practice
 of a mental health counselor, marriage and  family  therapist,  CREATIVE
 ARTS  THERAPIST,  or  psychoanalyst  licensed  pursuant  to  article one
 hundred sixty-three of the education law.  Further, nothing herein shall
 be construed to create a new mandated health benefit.  The  state  board
 for  social  work  shall maintain a list of all licensed clinical social
 workers qualified for reimbursement under  this  subsection.  The  state
 board  for  mental  health  practitioners  shall  maintain a list of all
 licensed mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, CREA-
 TIVE ARTS THERAPISTS,  or  psychoanalysts  qualified  for  reimbursement
 under this subsection.
   §  6.  This  act  shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all
 policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended  on
 or after such effective date.

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Senate Bill S1001

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Samra G. Brouk

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee

co-Sponsors

Nathalia Fernandez

Kevin S. Parker

Gustavo Rivera

James Skoufis

2025-S1001 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S1001 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S1001 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S1001 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments