Permits telemedicine services for mental and behavioral health issues under the workers' compensation system

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

• Democratic9

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

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Samra Brouk says this is needed

This bill furthers the work done by the legislature in the SFY 2023 Budget in establishing telehealth parity for the provision of medical services. Right now, injured workers, particularly those with mental or behavioral health needs, face significant hurdles in obtaining treat- ment. As has been highlighted since the COVID-19 pandemic, access to medical care varies significantly depending on your location in New York State. These barriers are complicated further by the limited number of medical professionals who are licensed as eligible providers under the workers compensation system. For treatment of mental and behavioral health issues caused by workplace injuries, it is too often the reality that the nearest licensed provider is hundreds of miles away, and an injured worker utilizing the workers' compensation system may only receive treatment from such a license provider. This bill will allow injured workers to obtain their necessary treatment via telemedicine while still requiring an in-person visit where appro- priate. This will ensure the delivery of timely and quality medical treatment to New Yorkers injured in the workplace regardless of where they live.

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.