What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Print number 6658a
- Amend and recommit to health
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Requires the state to pay medicare part A premiums for certain persons and requires local social services to appeal denial of medicare for long term care
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Michael H. Ranzenhofer
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:A6658A
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring the state to pay medicare part A premiums for persons eligible for medicare part A and medical assistance and to require local commis- sioners of social services to appeal denial of medicare coverage before approving medical assistance coverage for long term care
Purpose of the bill
This bill would require the State to pay for Medi- care Part A premiums for those persons dually eligible for Medicare Part A and Medicaid and requires local commissioners of social services to appeal denials of Medicare coverage before approving Medicaid coverage for long term care.
Summary of specific provisions
§1- Amends subdivisions 1 and 2 of 364-i of the Social Services Law, as amended by Chapter 693 of the Laws of 1996, and as amended by Chapter 626 of the Laws of 1987, respectively, to remove "long-term home health care program" from the subdivisions.
§2, §3, §4, §5, §6 and §10 - Amends various sections of the Social Services Law to require: that persons receiving or seeking long-term care and who are eligible for Medicare must fully utilize those bene- fits, and if such person's application is denied, he or she must appeal such denial or permit the local social services official to do so on his or her behalf.
§7- Amends subdivision 3 of 367-a of the Social Services Law by adding a new paragraph (e) to provide that the State pay for Medicare Part A premiums for those persons dually eligible for Medicare Part A and Medi- caid.
§8- Amends subdivision 7 of 367-c of the Social Services Law to require that in the instance when a person receives Medicare coverage and then such person's Medicare coverage is terminated, such person must appeal such denial or permit the local social services official to do so on his or her behalf.
§9- Amends subdivision 3 of 367-e of the Social Services Law to direct the Commissioner of Health to apply for any waivers needed to implement these provisions.
§11 - Effective date.
Justification
It is an established fact that New York State receives less than its fair share of federal financial assistance for its Medi- caid program. While the federal government pays greater than 70% of the cost of some states' Medicaid programs, it pays only 50% of New York's. Additionally, the cost of Medicare premiums and the complexity of Medi- care long term care reimbursement applications have discouraged people who are eligible for Medicare from seeking this assistance. This has
allowed the federal government, which funds Medicare, to avoid paying for these services that Medicare eligibles are entitled to receive. Instead, when these individuals are unable to afford long-term care, state taxpayers are forced to pay for this care through Medicaid. While the State has so far been unable to secure a higher federal Medicaid share. This bill will at least help to ensure that the federal govern- ment meets its obligation to Medicare recipients.
Prior legislative history
2007-2008: A4692; 2005-2006: A.5462/S.3444
Fiscal implications
Yet to be determined. Cost savings to both counties and the State are expected.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.