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NY Senate passes AAPI diabetes screening bill
The bill seeks to mandate diabetes screenings at lower BMI for AAPI, aiming to prevent undiagnosed cases.
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Staff Reporter
- Thu, 12, Jun 2025
- 14:02 EDT
- 14
During AAPI Heritage Month, Senator Liu, Assembly Member Kim and medical professionals call for passage of S634B / New York State Senate
The New York State Senate on June11 passed legislation aimed at curbing the disproportionately high rates of undiagnosed diabetes among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) populations.
Sponsored by State Senator John Liu, S634B mandates that health insurance providers cover diabetes screenings for patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 23 or higher—lower than the general guideline of 25—reflecting medical research showing that AAPI individuals are more likely to develop diabetes at lower BMIs.
Also read: Students, lawmakers rally for AANHPI curriculum in NY public schools
The bill also eliminates financial barriers by requiring that these screenings be provided without copays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs.
“Lowering the BMI threshold for screening will help identify and treat at-risk individuals faster before serious damage is done and save lives. It’s time for the insurance industry to catch up with nationally recognized best practices by making these screenings accessible and free so everyone can get the care they need before complications arise,” Senator Liu said.
The legislation mirrors national initiatives such as the “Screen at 23” campaign and aligns with guidelines from the American Diabetes Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, both of which have recognized the unique risks AAPI individuals face.
Assembly Member Ron Kim, who is co-sponsoring the bill in the Assembly, emphasized the urgency of the issue. “Though diabetes may sometimes be discounted as a disease that affects Asian Americans, it has in fact been shown to negatively impact our health at an even lower BMI on average than other communities,” Kim said.
Medical professionals and advocates hailed the Senate's passage of the bill as a critical step in combating preventable complications like kidney failure, heart disease, and vision loss—conditions that often arise from undiagnosed diabetes.
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