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S 7731

Requires coverage of a hospitalized birthing parent's interhospital transport to accompany their infant needing such transport

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Leroy Comrie and 5 co-sponsors

Requires health insurance plans to cover interhospital transport costs for a hospitalized birthing parent so they can accompany their infant during transfer between facilities.

REFERRED TO INSURANCE
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 7731

Summary of S. 7731 (2025)

Overview

S. 7731 is a New York State Senate bill titled “Requires coverage of a hospitalized birthing parent's interhospital transport to accompany their infant needing such transport.” The bill would require health insurance coverage for the interhospital transport of a hospitalized birthing parent when their infant requires transport between facilities. The stated aim is to ensure the parent can accompany the infant during transfer.

  • Introduced: May 2, 2025
  • Primary sponsor: Lea Webb
  • Cosponsors: Jeremy Cooney, Robert Jackson, Patricia Fahy, Leroy Comrie, John Liu
  • Related companion: A 7384

What the bill would do

  • Requires health insurance plans to cover the interhospital transport of a hospitalized birthing parent in order to accompany their infant who needs transport.
  • The available information does not specify cost-sharing details, limits, or exceptions. The text provided focuses on the payer requirement (coverage) rather than the precise terms of coverage.

Key provisions and changes (based on available information)

  • Coverage obligation: Insurers would be required to cover interhospital transport costs for the birthing parent when the infant requires interhospital transport.
  • Applicability: The measure appears to apply to private/commercial health insurance plans that fall under the bill’s scope (specific plan types are not detailed in the provided material).
  • Related policy actions: The bill moves through standard committee and floor procedures, indicating a typical legislative path for a health coverage-related measure.

Who would be affected

  • Hospitalized birthing parents (mothers, fathers, or others giving birth) who need to accompany their infant during interhospital transfer.
  • Infants requiring interhospital transport.
  • Insurance carriers and their beneficiaries.
  • Hospitals, transport providers (ambulance, air/ground medical transport), and case managers coordinating interhospital transfers.

Legislative timeline and status

  • 2025-05-02: Referred to Women’s Issues
  • 2025-05-20: Reported and committed to Finance
  • 2025-06-09: Senate actions
    • Referred to Insurance
    • Passed Senate
    • Delivered to Assembly
  • 2025-06-09: Committee actions repeated in record
  • Status: Referred to Insurance in the Senate; companion progress in the Assembly (A 7384 noted)

Procedural notes

  • The bill has progressed quickly through committee stages and has advanced to a floor vote in the Senate (as of the latest actions listed).
  • A companion bill exists in the Assembly (A 7384), indicating parallel legislative efforts.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Access and care: If enacted, birthing parents could remain with their infants during interhospital transfers, aligning coverage with patient-centered neonatal care practices.
  • Financial impact: Insurance providers may incur additional transport costs; potential implications for premiums or plan design unless offset by federal/state funding, waivers, or negotiated transport rates.
  • Implementation: Would require clarifying regulatory language regarding eligibility, qualifying transport scenarios, network requirements, and any exceptions or limitations.

Next steps

  • Monitor Assembly action on the companion bill (A 7384) and subsequent negotiations or amendments.
  • Look for the full text to confirm coverage scope, cost-sharing, timelines, and any exemptions.
  • If enacted, anticipate regulatory guidance and insurer policy amendments to implement the coverage requirement.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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