NY governor proposes reforms to improve medical treatment access
- October 4, 2025
- Posted by: Web workers
- Category: Workers Comp
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced a package of legislative and regulatory reforms intended to improve injured workers’ access to medical treatment.
The governor said in a statement that she proposes revising how providers are authorized to treat injured workers and permit more providers to treat them. The governor also said she proposes requiring health care insurers to pay for medical treatment on disputed claims and allow work comp carriers to pay for up to a year of medical treatment without accepting liability.
The governor proposes allowing physicians, chiropractors, podiatrists, psychologists, therapists, acupuncturists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and licensed clinical social workers to treat workers upon receiving their license instead of requiring authorization from the Workers’ Compensation Board.
Ms. Hochul’s office said only about 10% of medical providers licensed in New York have taken the steps to be authorized by the WCB to treat injured workers.
“Now, they wouldn’t have to; authorization would be automatic as part of their licensing,” Ms. Hochul said in a statement.
In addition to allowing licensed providers to treat injured workers automatically, the proposed language in a Senate budget bill, S. 3005, would also allow physicians in residency or fellowship programs to treat injured workers with supervision.
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