Relates to mandatory health insurance coverage for acupuncture services

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic30
• Republican2

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Kevin S. Parker says this is needed

The ACA ensured access of all New Yorkers to a basic level of health- care, which included "essential health benefits" which are loosely outlined by the Federal Government. States are permitted to expand these "essential health benefits" in order to provide their citizens with greater access to basic levels of care. Acupuncture is currently not provided for as an essential health benefit in New York, and is not covered by New York's basic health plan. This leaves many New Yorker's without the ability to afford this important treatment. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in treating a number of conditions, including chronic pain, nausea, headaches, anxiety, depression, insomnia and infertility. Acupuncture is also a cost effec- tive alternative to some other forms of treatment, often resulting in permanent improvement for patients with chronic conditions. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in treating chronic pain as an alterna- tive to opioids. This makes adding acupuncture as an essential health benefit even more important given the opioid epidemic facing the state. Ensuring that citizens have access to quality acupuncture as part of their basic health insurance offered on the health exchange should be a key part of New York's public health plan.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.