New York Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed Senate Bill 6929, which sought to increase the preauthorization limit for medical treatment that could be provided without prior approval from $1,000 to $1,500.

This included specialist consultations, surgical operations, therapy, X-rays, and advanced diagnostic tests. Those in favor of the bill claimed that it would reduce unnecessary delays in routine tests and procedures, especially in the face of rising costs for medical care.

In her veto message to the Senate, Governor Hochul explained that while the bill was well-intentioned, it would have undermined the integrity of the Medical Treatment Guidelines (MTGs). If enacted, the bill would have eliminated the ability of payers to deny treatment requests that deviate from the MTGs.