New York Assembly Bill A07052

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/20/25
• Refer: 3/20/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Establishes the incontinence supplies insurance program for Medicaid beneficiaries who are also residents of the state of New York and obtain a note from a physician indicating a need for an item.

Summary

This bill would create a new “incontinence supplies insurance program” within the Social Services Law for Medicaid beneficiaries in New York. The program would require the commissioner to provide incontinence-related products to eligible recipients, defined broadly to include items such as protective underwear, wipes, bedding protection, cleaners, creams, lotions, bedpans, and urinals. The stated purpose is to help manage urinary or bowel output and protect clothing, bedding, and furniture. To qualify, a person must be a New York resident, be enrolled in Medicaid, and provide a physician’s note showing medical need for the item. The bill directs the commissioner to adopt regulations to implement the program and sets a benefit cap of $80 every three months per eligible person. It also requires procedures for recouping the value of benefits or payments if claims were submitted in violation of the law.

Impact

The bill would amend the Social Services Law by adding a new section establishing a Medicaid benefit specifically for incontinence supplies. If enacted, it would expand the scope of Medicaid-covered support services for eligible New York residents and create administrative duties for the Department of Health or the relevant commissioner to set eligibility procedures, issue regulations, and manage fraud or improper-claim recovery. It would affect Medicaid beneficiaries who have documented medical need for incontinence products, as well as the state agency responsible for administering and enforcing the program.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to be framed as a targeted health-support expansion for Medicaid recipients rather than a broadly controversial policy. The bill’s structure suggests a practical, limited-benefit approach, with a relatively modest quarterly cap and physician documentation requirement, which may indicate an effort to balance access with cost control and program oversight.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are likely to be cost, eligibility verification, and administrative burden. Supporters would likely emphasize the medical necessity of incontinence supplies and the benefit to low-income Medicaid enrollees, while skeptics may question whether the state should add another covered benefit, whether the $80 quarterly cap is sufficient, and whether physician notes and recoupment procedures are adequate to prevent misuse. No specific opposition or support is documented in the provided voting or transcript materials.