Governor Hochul Signs Legislation Making Life-Saving Medical Care More Affordable and Accessible for New Yorkers

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation to make life-saving medical care more affordable and accessible for New Yorkers. Legislation S2000A/A1195A requires health insurance policies to provide coverage for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer, and prevents insurance policies from imposing cost-sharing for those services. The legislation builds on the Governor's affordability agenda, which includes a ban on co-pays for critical medications like insulin and inhalers.

"Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the nation, and the last thing a patient should have to worry about is out-of-pocket costs for critical follow-up screenings," Governor Hochul said. "Signing this legislation means that thousands of New Yorkers can focus on what is truly important: their health and well-being. With this law, New York is making clear that no one should face financial barriers to getting the care they need."

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths statewide. Each year approximately 13,900 New Yorkers are diagnosed with lung cancer and about 7,400 die from this disease.

New York State Department of Financial Services Acting Superintendent Kaitlin Asrow said, "By removing out-of-pocket costs for lung cancer screenings, Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature have improved the chances that this form of cancer will be detected and treated as early as possible."

New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, "I want to thank Governor Hochul for her steadfast leadership and commitment to expanding access to affordable, life-saving medical services for New Yorkers. This legislation is a meaningful step forward in protecting the health of New Yorkers. Early detection saves lives, and removing financial barriers to follow-up lung cancer screenings ensures that more patients can get the critical care they need without delay."

"With this law, New York is making clear that no one should face financial barriers to getting the care they need."

State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., said, "Today, New York takes an important step toward saving lives and empowering residents to take control of their health. By Governor Hochul signing this bill, that I am thankful to have introduced in the Senate, we strengthen our commitment to early detection, one of the most effective tools we have against lung cancer, while also ensuring no one is forced to choose between their financial security and their well-being. In addition to prevention, accessible and affordable screening is equally critical to reducing mortality. I am grateful for the bipartisan support behind this bill and for the Governor's action. Together, we move closer to a future where lung cancer is detected earlier, treated more effectively, and far less devastating for New York families."

Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, "Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in New York State. Providing coverage for follow-ups or diagnostic services will save lives and I applaud the Assembly, the Senate, and Governor Hochul for getting this legislation passed and signed."

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Senior Government Relations Director Michael Davoli said, "By signing this bill, Governor Hochul has taken a historic step toward saving lives from lung cancer. For too long, cost barriers have kept high-risk New Yorkers from getting fully screened, and the consequences have been deadly. This law changes that reality. Governor Hochul and the Legislature have delivered a policy that will enable more New Yorkers to detect their cancer early, ensuring they have a fighting chance."

American Lung Association Assistant Vice President: Nationwide Advocacy Michael Seilback said, "Lung cancer screening saves lives. The American Lung Association applauds Governor Hochul, Assemblymember Peoples-Stokes, and Senator Addabbo for their leadership in helping remove a financial barrier that could prevent someone facing lung cancer from accessing the life-saving care they need. By eliminating this obstacle, the bill will help ensure more people become lung cancer survivors, and bring us closer to defeating this disease."

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Chief of Cancer Screening and Survivorship Mary Reid, BSN, MSPH, PhD said, "Governor Kathy Hochul has been an incredible advocate for the health and wellness of all New Yorkers and a champion for early detection of cancer to save the most lives. Lung cancer remains our biggest cancer killer, statewide and worldwide, but thanks to the thoughtful leadership of Governor Hochul and Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, we can overcome barriers that have kept vulnerable community members from accessing effective, safe, noninvasive, life-saving lung cancer screening."

This legislation builds on Governor Hochul's affordability agenda, which includes:

• A ban on insulin cost-sharing for state-regulated insurance plans in her FY25 Enacted Budget
• A new law to increase access to life-saving medication for New Yorkers suffering from asthma by eliminating cost-sharing for life-saving inhalers
• The implementation of new regulations that protect New Yorkers from sky-high drug costs by combatting business practices that lead to higher costs for consumers.

Contact the Governor's Press Office