NY A01876

Requires all health insurance policies and contracts providing hospital, surgical, medical, or major medical coverage to cover diagnosis and treatment of both primary and secondary lymphedema.

Coverage must include manual lymph drainage (frequency and duration determined by treating physician based on medical necessity), equipment, supplies, devices, complex decongestive therapy, and out-patient self-management training and education for lymphedema treatment.

Lymphedema therapy must be administered only by therapists certified by the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) or with equivalent certification standards.

Equipment and supplies covered include bandages, compression garments, pads, orthotic shoes and devices, with replacements as needed to maintain function or accommodate patient dimension changes.

Requires patients undergoing surgery or radiotherapy to receive information on lymphedema risk and potential post-procedure symptoms, and informed consent agreements must include lymphedema risk information for alternative procedures.

Takes effect January 1 following enactment and applies to all insurance policies, contracts and plans issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or after that date.