BILL NUMBER: S6912A
SPONSOR: RYAN C
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to defining
mental health practitioners with diagnostic authority
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To expand the list of authorized providers of services under the work-
ers' compensation program.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends subparagraph (m) and adds a new subpara-
graph (r) to § 13-b of the workers' compensation law to add mental
health practitioners with diagnostic privilege.
 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
A-print amendment makes technical change that adds mental health practi-
tioners to the definition of providers.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Chapter 546 of the Laws of 2024 expanded workers' compensation to
include mental injury premised upon extraordinary work-related stress
incurred at work. There are several professions licensed by the New York
State Education Department to provide mental health counseling and
psychotherapy services. Unfortunately, workers' compensation law only
authorized licensed-psychologists and licensed clinical social workers
to provide services.
This legislation would expand the list of authorized providers to
include those practitioners licensed under Article 163 of the education
law who have obtained the diagnostic privilege.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.