06/11/2026 - Board Chair Freida D. Foster Applauds New Laws Expanding Access to Health Care for Injured Workers and Creating Dedicated Anti-Fraud Units for District Attorneys

Press Releases

June 11, 2026

Legislation Offers Universal Authorization for Eligible Health Care Providers and Provides Funding to Facilitate Fraud Prosecution

NYS Workers' Compensation Board Chair Freida D. Foster applauds two major pieces of legislation opens external website from Governor Kathy Hochul's fiscal year 2027 Executive Budget that will enhance the experience of injured workers and others in the workers' compensation system: Universal Authorization and anti-fraud funding for district attorneys.

Universal Authorization

Universal Authorization is landmark legislation in the workers' compensation field, removing an outdated and unnecessary provider authorization process so New Yorkers can more easily obtain the medical care they need.

Beginning January 1, 2028, all eligible, licensed health care providers in good standing will be able to treat injured workers. Currently, only providers who go through a special NYS Workers' Compensation Board (Board) authorization process can treat injured workers, and too few do. Just 10% of the more than 200,000 eligible providers choose to participate.

There is a critical shortage of specialty medical providers in the Workers' Compensation System, especially in rural counties. Across 16 rural counties in New York State, most medical specialties (e.g., cardiology, oncology, pain medicine, hand surgery, etc.) have no Board-authorized doctors, forcing injured workers to travel long distances (often 35 miles or more) to receive care.

Adding even just another 10 percent (20,000 providers) to the workers' compensation system through Universal Authorization would be a game-changing improvement. Aside from improving specialty access, injured workers would be able to seek treatment from their primary care physician and other providers they know and trust, as long as the provider is willing to treat them.

Anti-fraud program

The second legislative change enacted in Governor Hochul's budget is also a major change to the workers' compensation statute as it allows the Board to establish and administer a new grant program to fight workers' compensation fraud. Using funds from the employer assessment collected each year, the program will help county district attorney offices create and staff dedicated units to prosecute workers' compensation fraud, whether committed by providers, payers, attorneys, or workers. By creating a more effective deterrence for fraud, the legislation will help ensure the integrity of the workers' compensation system. The program will launch in 2027.

"For too long, New Yorkers who are injured or become ill on the job have not had the options they deserve when it comes to finding a doctor to give them timely treatment, and Universal Authorization will go a long way in fixing that," said Chair Foster. "At the same time, new legislation to clamp down on fraud will help make the workers' compensation system better - more fair and more affordable - for all New Yorkers."

Workers' Compensation Board Medical Director James Tacci said: "Universal Authorization is a win-win-win. Injured workers will find it easier to get treatment to recover and return to work, employers will see workers come back to work sooner, and health care providers will be able to provide continuity and coordination of care to their existing patients and treat other injured workers without the hassle of a special authorization."

Workers' Compensation Board Executive Director Steven Scotti said: "The new fraud grant program is also a major win for the system. Using a small portion of the employer assessment funds to create dedicated, anti-fraud units in district attorneys' office will go far in prosecuting bad actors and making the system work better for everyone."

The new legislation complements the many other improvements recently made or underway at the Board to improve the workers' compensation system:

• allowing resident and fellow physicians to treat injured workers (under a supervising provider) the same way they do for regular health insurance;
• increasing medical fee schedules to ensure that providers in the system are paid at rates comparable to private health insurance;
• permitting workers' compensation insurers to pay for medical treatment, without accepting liability, for up to one year;
• reducing administrative burden on participating providers through the elimination of multiple Board-specific forms and the transition to the universal medical billing form;
• an online system for prior authorization requests;
• electronic medical bill submission and improvements that ensure timely review and resolution of medical billing disputes; and more.

For more information about Universal authorization, visit https://www.wcb.ny.gov/sots-universalauthorization/. For information about the anti-fraud program, visit https://www.wcb.ny.gov/sots-fightfraud/.

About the Board

Workers' compensation is insurance that provides lost wage benefits and/or medical care for work-related injuries or illnesses. These benefits are available to every eligible worker in New York State, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. The Workers' Compensation Board oversees the administration of workers' compensation, disability benefits, and Paid Family Leave in New York State. Its mission is to protect the rights of employees and employers by ensuring the proper delivery of benefits and by promoting compliance with the law. Learn more at www.wcb.ny.gov.