State lawmakers and healthcare professionals rally for Governor Hochul to sign a bill that would expand diabetes detection for Asian Americans by lowering screening BMI thresholds, addressing a significant health disparity in New York City.
State lawmakers and doctors are pressing Governor Kathy Hochul to sign a bill they say would close a dangerous gap in diabetes detection for Asian Americans, after a rally in Flushing on August 18 drew legislators, clinicians, patients and community groups. The measure, S634B/A1206B, would require insurers to cover diabetes and prediabetes screening at a lower body mass index threshold for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, while also broadening access for other high-risk groups.
Supporters say the proposal reflects long-standing evidence that people of Asian ancestry can develop type 2 diabetes at lower body weights than the threshold commonly used in routine screening. The New York State Senate said the bill would align state coverage rules with guidance from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Diabetes Association, which recommend testing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at a BMI of 23 or above.
The push comes as public health data continue to show a heavy diabetes burden in New York City. According to figures cited by local advocates, about 800,000 adults in the city are living with diabetes, including 13% of Asian Pacific Islanders. Campaigners say more than half of Asian Americans with type 2 diabetes, and even more with prediabetes, remain undiagnosed, which they argue makes earlier screening especially important.
Senator John Liu, speaking at the rally, said New York should follow the science and update what he called outdated screening rules. The Senate press office said the legislation has already passed both chambers, and backers are now urging Hochul to approve it. If enacted, the bill would also extend coverage to Black and Latino Americans, people over 35, those with a family history of diabetes, high cholesterol, HIV, exposure to certain medications and a history of periodontal disease.
Backers say the proposal would do more than change who gets tested. It would also remove deductibles, copayments and coinsurance for screenings at the lower threshold, a move intended to reduce cost barriers to early diagnosis. The Business Council of New York State has opposed the bill, warning that new insurance mandates could raise costs for small and medium-sized employers, even as it said it recognised the policy’s aims.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
