New York A 7944: Ensures continuity of care for cancer patients during insurance contract negotiations

Bill Text

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A07944 Summary:

BILL NOA07944A

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SAME ASSAME AS S07987-A

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SPONSORSayegh

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COSPNSRButtenschon, Carroll P, Levenberg, Magnarelli, Bores, Brabenec, McDonough, Angelino, Seawright

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §§3216, 3221 & 4303, Ins L; add §§4406-j & 2404-e, Pub Health L

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Ensures continuity of care for cancer patients during insurance contract negotiations by requiring insurance coverage and treatment continue until the conclusion of care.

Go to top A07944 Actions:

BILL NOA07944A

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04/16/2025referred to insurance

08/27/2025amend and recommit to insurance

08/27/2025print number 7944a

01/07/2026referred to insurance

Go to topA07944 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA07944 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA07944 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 7944--A

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 April 16, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. SAYEGH, BUTTENSCHON, P. CARROLL, LEVENBERG,
 MAGNARELLI, BORES, BRABENEC, McDONOUGH, ANGELINO -- read once and
 referred to the Committee on Insurance -- committee discharged, bill
 amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
 tee

 AN ACT to amend the insurance law and the public health law, in relation
 to ensuring continuity of care for cancer patients during insurance
 contract negotiations

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Continuity
 2 of Cancer Care Act" or the "COCCA".
 3 § 2. Section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new
 4 subsection (n) to read as follows:
 5 (n) (1) For the purpose of this subsection:
 6 (A) "course of treatment" shall mean that the treatment protocol aimed
 7 at combating the insured's cancer has been administered and the insured
 8 is clinically stable. Additionally, follow-up appointments/care for up
 9 to ninety days after the insured is found to be clinically stable shall
 10 also be considered part of the insured's course of treatment.
 11 (B) "clinical stability" shall mean ninety days have passed since the
 12 treatment has been fully administered and: (i) the insured shows the
 13 intended result from their treatment protocol without complications that
 14 would require ongoing management by the provider's physicians; or (ii)
 15 the insured is receiving maintenance treatment to control the cancer
 16 from reoccurring.
 17 (2) An insurer shall, where an insured is receiving treatment for
 18 cancer at a hospital, doctor's office or any other provider that
 19 provides oncology treatment which such insurer was covering in whole or
 20 in part and such insurer and such provider cannot come to an agreement
 21 during contract negotiations, continue to cover such treatments, at the

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD10785-02-5

 A. 7944--A 2

 1 rate payable under the prior contract, for such insured until the
 2 conclusion of such insured's entire course of treatment and the individ-
 3 ual is found to be clinically stable, provided that the rate payable
 4 under the prior contract shall be adjusted by the applicable Medicare
 5 Economic Index minus one percentage point applied to payment rates at
 6 the start of the next calendar year, and for each succeeding calendar
 7 year, for individuals that are continuing to receive treatment pursuant
 8 to this provision.
 9 § 3. Section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new
 10 subsection (v) to read as follows:
 11 (v) (1) For the purpose of this subsection:
 12 (A) "course of treatment" shall mean that the treatment protocol aimed
 13 at combating the insured's cancer has been administered and the insured
 14 is clinically stable. Additionally, follow-up appointments/care for up
 15 to ninety days after the insured is found to be clinically stable shall
 16 also be considered part of the insured's course of treatment.
 17 (B) "clinical stability" shall mean ninety days have passed since the
 18 treatment has been fully administered and: (i) the insured shows the
 19 intended result from their treatment protocol