Statement from State Senator Gustavo Rivera As Bill Requiring Medicaid Coverage For Blood and Skin Prick Testing for Allergies Passes the New York State Senate

(Albany, NY) - State Senator Gustavo Rivera released the following statement after bill S1222 passed the New York State Senate. This bill, which is sponsored by Assemblymember Nick Perry in the New York State Assembly, will ensure critical access to blood allergy testing, in addition to the already covered skin prick testing, for Medicaid recipients seeking to determine a potential allergy condition. 

"As the Ranking Member of the New York State Senate Health Committee and the sponsor of this bill, I am proud that my colleagues have joined me in passing this important measure for the second year in a row,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “This common sense policy will ensure that Medicaid patients across New York State have greater and easier access to different options of allergy testing, allowing them to identify and treat their allergies faster and more accurately. This measure will not only save New York State significant costs in emergency care but, more importantly, it will go a long way in reducing the health disparities that continue to negatively impact low income and minority communities across our State. I’m committed to working diligently with my colleagues in the New York State Assembly to make this bill into law."