At 6:10 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 1997, Governor George Pataki (R) signed the Chiropractic Insurance Equality bill (S.5594/A.8431) into law. After nine-plus years of tenacious effort, the New York State Chiropractic Association, the New York Chiropractic Council, and the Chiropractic Federation of New York worked together to prevail against the combined influence of the insurance, union, medical and business lobbies to bring insurance equality legislation to Governor Pataki's desk and see it signed.
The law becomes effective January 1, 1998, and will be integrated with any new or renewed insurance policies. The bill requires insurance carriers to provide a minimum of 15 (medically necessary) chiropractic visits per year. Further visits are subject to prior review and approval at the option of the insurer. This provision "sunsets" in two years, after which chiropractic cannot be treated any differently than any other category or class of provider treating the same or similar condition, injury, complaint, disorder or ailment.
This ambitious legislation also prohibits carriers from applying utilization management procedures, and additional/higher deductibles or co-pays to chiropractic care that are not used for medical care.
Governor Pataki was quoted in the August 22, 1997 edition of the New York Daily News expressing his support for the bill:
"Chiropractic care is an accepted and effective method of treatment for large numbers of New Yorkers. It is time to make this treatment available to all New Yorkers."
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