S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________

                                         6798

                              2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y

                                    March 31, 2011
                                      ___________

       Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  WEISENBERG  -- read once and referred to the
         Committee on Insurance

       AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring coverage for
         hospitalization and anesthesia services related to  the  provision  of
         dental services

         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

    1    Section 1. The insurance law is amended by adding a new  section  3240
    2  to read as follows:
    3    S  3240.  PAYMENT FOR ANESTHESIA AND HOSPITALIZATION RELATED TO DENTAL
    4  SERVICES. ANY HEALTH INSURANCE AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH THREE OF
    5  SUBSECTION (A) OF SECTION ONE THOUSAND  ONE  HUNDRED  THIRTEEN  OF  THIS
    6  CHAPTER  SHALL  COVER  ANESTHESIA  AND  HOSPITAL CHARGES FOR DENTAL CARE
    7  PROVIDED TO A COVERED PERSON WHO: (A) IS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE; OR
    8  (B) IS SEVERELY DISABLED; OR (C) HAS A MEDICAL CONDITION  THAT  REQUIRES
    9  GENERAL  ANESTHESIA  OR  HOSPITALIZATION  FOR  THE  PROVISION  OF DENTAL
   10  SERVICES. THE COVERAGE REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION MAY BE MADE  SUBJECT  TO
   11  PROVISIONS  THAT  APPLY  TO OTHER BENEFITS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
   12  DEDUCTIBLES AND COINSURANCE. A HEALTH INSURER MAY REQUIRE PRIOR AUTHORI-
   13  ZATION FOR HOSPITALIZATION FOR DENTAL CARE IN THE SAME MANNER  AS  WOULD
   14  BE  REQUIRED FOR OTHER COVERED MEDICAL CONDITIONS. WHEN SERVICES DEFINED
   15  IN THIS SECTION ARE PROVIDED BY A DENTIST ACTING WITHIN THE LAWFUL SCOPE
   16  OF HIS OR HER LICENSE, BENEFITS SHALL BE PROVIDED AT THE SAME LEVELS AND
   17  UNDER THE SAME TERMS WHETHER PROVIDED BY A PHYSICIAN OR DENTIST.
   18    S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.



        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD04199-01-1