Relates to direct access to school-based health centers under child health plus

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to school-based health centers

Purpose or general idea of bill

To enhance the provision and availability of primary care services provided to eligible children under the Child Health Plus (CHP) program by School-based Health Centers.

Summary of specific provisions

Section one defines the term

"School-Based Health Center." Section two authorizes the State Commissioner of Health to contract with SBHCs within amounts appropriated therefore for the provision of education and outreach to facilitate the enrollment of children in the Medicaid and CHP. Section three includes schoolbased health centers as community based organizations eligible for funding for the purposes of public education, outreach, and recruitment of children eligible for Child Health Plus. Section four authorizes direct access to primary care services in a SBHC by a CHP enrolled child when the SBHC is part of the provider network of the CHP provider in which the child is enrolled. Section five provides an effective date of 90 days after enactment.

Justification

School-based Health Centers are on the front lines promoting childrens' health in communities where there is limited access to health care services. Repeated studies have shown that SBHCs improve the health and mental health of children and save the State money. School-based Health Centers have been shown to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, reduce emergency room visits, improve school attendance and avoid lost workdays for parents. Also, studies comparing SBHCs and managed care programs have found that when adolescents who are enrolled in managed care can still use SBHCs, the adolescents have fewer emergency or urgent visits and more comprehensive health care visits than those who are in managed care but do not have access to a SBHC.

This bill would expand the availability of services covered under the CHP program to assure that children have access to necessary primary health and mental health care services. The bill requires coordination with the primary care practitioner by providing that the SBHC discuss any services or treatment with such practitioner. In addition, the bill establishes a grant program to permit SBHCs to facilitate the enrollment of children who are eligible for CHP, Medicaid and FHP in these programs.

It is estimated that at least one-half of the 3.1 million individuals who are uninsured in this State are currently eligible for CHP, Medicaid, or FHP. School-based Health Centers are located where the children are in the schools, and could be an important part of the solution to the problem of the uninsured. However, SBHCs are currently seriously underfunded and would need additional resources to undertake this task. Any additional State cost for this grant program would be more than offset by improving the health and mental health of at-risk children and preventing hospital stays and emergency room visits.

Prior legislative history

2001-02: A.8565 - Passed Assembly 2003-04: A.3443 - Passed Assembly 2005-06: A.2207 - Passed Assembly 2007-08: A.3597 - Passed Assembly FISCAL IMPLICATIONS : Any additional costs would be more than offset by improving the health and mental health of at-risk children and preventing hospital stays and emergency room visits.

Effective date

Ninety days after enactment.