New York State Proposal: Expanded Healthcare Choices For Injured Workers

As part of New York State Governor Kathy Hochul's 2025 State of the State,  four legislative proposals and one regulatory change are designed to give injured workers more options for timely, high-quality medical treatment.

These proposals are designed to improve access to health care for injured workers. Governor Hochul's Office outlined the proposals as follows:

The first proposal would authorize all eligible licensed healthcare providers to treat workers’ compensation claimants in the Empire State.

The second proposal would allow resident and fellow physicians to treat injured workers, under a supervising provider, the same way they do for regular health insurance.

The third and remaining proposals combine the first two and aim to reduce delays in getting injured workers prompt medical treatment.

New Yorkers who are injured or become ill on the job need more options for care. My proposals do just that, giving injured workers the freedom to see the providers they want, including their primary care providers whom they already know and trust. Injured workers will no longer need to travel long distances or seek treatment from an unfamiliar provider just because their medical issue is work-related. - New York State Governor Kathy Hochul

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According to Governor Hochul's Office, currently, in New York State, among the thousands of eligible medical providers, just 10 percent have taken the additional steps required to become Board-authorized. With these new proposals, authorization would be automatic as part of their licensing.

Learn more about the new workers’ compensation proposals by visiting New York State Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State Book website.

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