Requires insurance coverage for the cost of donated breast milk.
Summary
This bill would require health insurance policies and contracts in New York that already cover prescription drugs to also cover the cost of donated breast milk. It amends three parts of the Insurance Law to apply this requirement to individual policies, group policies, and hospital or health services corporation contracts. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
The practical effect is to make donated breast milk an insured benefit when a plan covers prescription drugs, which could reduce out-of-pocket costs for families whose infants need human milk but cannot receive it from the birth parent. The measure is aimed at expanding access to medically recommended nutrition for vulnerable infants, including premature or medically fragile babies, and would place this coverage requirement on insurers and health plans regulated under the affected sections of state law.
Impact
The bill would amend Insurance Law sections 3216, 3221, and 4303 to add donated breast milk coverage requirements to policies and contracts that provide prescription drug coverage. This would create a new mandated insurance benefit in New York, affecting insurers, health plans, hospital service corporations, and health service corporations. Consumers who need donor milk for an infant could see reduced direct costs, while insurers would be required to absorb or price in the added coverage obligation.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a health-access and family-support proposal with a generally favorable policy intent. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented opposition or support to assess from legislative debate. The sponsorship and straightforward mandate suggest the bill is intended to address a specific coverage gap rather than a broader controversial insurance overhaul.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of debate, if the bill advances, would likely involve whether donated breast milk should be treated as a covered insurance benefit, how insurers would define medical necessity and eligible sources of donor milk, and the cost impact on premiums. Any concerns would most likely come from insurers or employers responsible for coverage costs, while advocates for infant health and breastfeeding support would likely favor the mandate.