A5729A

The Senate passed Assembly Bill 5729A, legislation requiring commercial insurance coverage for full breast reconstruction following mastectomy, on a 59-0 roll call vote. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymember Paulin, mandates coverage of nipple areola complex reconstruction, including tattooing, a procedure that has become increasingly common as an alternative to surgical reconstruction. Sen. Cleare, explaining her affirmative vote, noted that approximately 20,000 new breast cancer cases are diagnosed annually in New York, and that the current coverage gap has discouraged reconstruction procedures. Cleare emphasized that the procedure helps survivors feel whole and comfortable with their bodies during recovery while reducing surgical risks and future medical complications. The bill takes effect January 1.