New health insurance reforms aimed at combating New York's heroin and opioid crisis will go into effect on January 1st.

The reforms are part of landmark legislation signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo earlier this year.

Once implemented, health insurance plans will be required to cover treatment services provided to New Yorkers suffering from opioid addiction.  The reforms will also increase access to treatment, expand community prevention strategies and limit the over-prescription of opioids in New York.

"With these landmark reforms fully enacted, we have removed artificial barriers that prevented New Yorkers from receiving the help they need and put into place new safeguards to get these drugs off the street," Governor Cuomo said. "As families and communities across the nation grapple with the devastating effects of this heroin and opioid crisis, New York is leading the fight to stamp out this disease once and for all."

The legislative package included several best practices and recommendations identified by the Governor’s Heroin and Opioid Task Force.

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