Establishes the child health plus and school meals enrollment coordination act of 2011

13 Co-sponsors

• Eric Adams
• Ruben Diaz
• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• Craig M. Johnson
• Jeffrey D. Klein
• Liz Krueger
• Velmanette Montgomery
• George Onorato
• Suzi Oppenheimer
• John L. Sampson
• Diane J. Savino
• Toby Ann Stavisky
• Antoine M. Thompson

BILL NUMBER:S4057B

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law and the social services law, in relation to establishing the child health plus and school meals enroll- ment coordination act of 2011

Purpose

This bill would require coordination between Child Health Plus, Medicaid and School Meals to ensure that children who are eligible and enrolled for free and reduced-price school meals are also enrolled in Child Health Plus or Medicaid.

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Short title creates the Child Health Plus and School Meals Enrollment Coordination Act of 2011 Section 2: Legislative Intent Sections 3 & 4: Amend the Public Health Law and the Social Services Law to allow written documentation of income eligibility of a child for free or reduced-price breakfast or lunch to be used as proof of eligibility for Child Health Plus and Medicaid

Justification

250,000 children in New York State are uninsured. Most of these chil- dren, approximately 220,000, are eligible for, but not participating in Medicaid and Child Health Plus. Children without health insurance are eight times more likely not to have a primary health care provider than children from non-poor, white, insured families. In New York State, the gap in access to health care is greater for minority children. Uninsured Hispanic children are 10 times more likely than insured Hispanic chil- dren to miss out on the medical care they need. Uninsured African-Ameri- can children are 20 times more likely than insured African-American children not to receive needed medical care.

Good health and nutrition are the fundamentals of laying a strong foun- dation for early childhood development, success in school, and later achievement as adults. Therefore, it is imperative that New York State use all available methods to increase enrollment in Child Health Plus and Medicaid. Since the majority of children who are eligible for but not participating in Child Health Plus are attending school, it is necessary to improve coordination between the Free and Reduced-Price School Meals Program and Child Health Plus so that children who apply for and participate in the school meals programs are also enrolled in Child Health Plus.

Legislative history

2007-08 - S.3843-A - Died Health Committee.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect June 1, 2011 and shall apply to the 2011-2012 academic school year.