NY A04744

Requires medical marijuana to be covered as a "prescription drug" under Medicaid, Child Health Plus, workers' compensation, and the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program when dispensed from certified sites

Authorizes the Commissioner to certify medical marijuana dispensing sites licensed under state law as Medicaid providers specifically for dispensing medical marijuana

Mandates coverage regardless of federal financial participation, except for the Essential Plan if coverage would result in loss of federal funding

Removes existing language that explicitly stated insurance coverage for medical marijuana was not required under public health and social services law

Takes effect on April 1st following enactment, with immediate authorization for regulatory changes needed for implementation