New York Senate Bill S06736

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/21/25
• Refer: 3/21/25
• Report Pass: 5/28/25
• Engrossed: 6/9/25
• Refer: 6/9/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Requires Medicaid to cover a wearable medical device that uses low-intensity, alternating electric fields delivered to the tumor site to treat glioblastoma and other cancers as recommended by medical and scientific evidence.

Summary

S06736 would amend New York’s Social Services Law to require Medicaid coverage for a wearable medical device that uses low-intensity, alternating electric fields delivered directly to a tumor site to treat glioblastoma and other cancers. The bill ties coverage to medical and scientific evidence, including FDA-approved or cleared labeling, Medicare coverage determinations, and nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines such as those from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. In practical terms, the bill would add this cancer treatment device to the list of Medicaid-covered services and supplies under section 365-a of the Social Services Law. The measure is designed to make the therapy available to Medicaid enrollees when it is supported by recognized evidence and clinical guidance, and it would take effect on the first day of April following enactment.

Impact

The bill would expand the scope of mandatory Medicaid benefits in New York by requiring coverage of a specific wearable oncology device for glioblastoma and potentially other cancers. It would affect the Department of Health’s Medicaid coverage rules, managed care plans administering Medicaid benefits, and providers prescribing or supplying the device. The amendment would insert a new paragraph into Social Services Law section 365-a, creating a statutory coverage requirement rather than leaving the issue solely to administrative discretion.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong, unanimous support for the bill in the Senate: it passed the Health Committee 12-0, the Rules Committee 21-0, and the full Senate 61-0. That record suggests broad bipartisan agreement and little visible opposition in the legislative process. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded debate to indicate significant controversy.

Contention

There is little evidence of contention in the available materials, given the unanimous committee and floor votes. Any potential policy questions would likely center on the cost of expanding Medicaid coverage, whether the device’s evidence base is sufficient for broad coverage, and how coverage should be limited to FDA labeling and recognized clinical guidelines. However, no specific opponents or disputed arguments are reflected in the provided record.