Provides that demonstration rates of payment for telehealth services by home health agencies, long term home health care and AIDS home care shall be paid equitably

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to rates for telehealth services provided by certified home health agencies, long term home health care programs and AIDS home care services

Purpose

To ensure that licensed home care service agencies have appropriate access to reimbursement under the medical assistance program.

Summary of provisions

Section one amends subdivision 3-c of section 3614 of the public health law.

Justification

Home and community-based care services provide essential access to health care. The diversity of the services available and the flexibility of the service delivery setting bring health care to people who may not otherwise access services. It also brings wellness services, disease management, and health education to people throughout the continuum of care, which helps prevent their entry into more expensive and overburdened sectors of the health care system.

New York needs to encourage and embrace initiatives and proposals that promote the use of new technologies, allow for flexibility and create more efficient and cost-effective means of providing home and community-based care. Tele-health, the use of communication and information technology to deliver home care services and health education over geographical distances, has begun to revolutionize the way home care services are delivered. Telehealth can assist in the delivery of high quality health care services to a wide variety of patients.

Through long-distance monitoring of patients, Tele-health can be particularly helpful in providing patient care in remote areas and, in light of the current nursing shortage, allows nurses to use their time more judiciously while improving access to quality of care. With a growing population of elderly, disabled and chronically ill individuals, tele-health can help home care agencies identify problems before they need significant medical intervention and prevent costly hospitalizations and repeated physician and emergency room visits. Tele-health also empowers patients to take an active role in their health care. The new law for reimbursement of tele-health services under the medical assistance program (Medicaid), however, is too limiting because the language in the budget did not include licensed home care services agencies (LHCSAs) as a direct category of provider for the reimbursement demonstrations. Many LHCSAs are currently involved in telemedicine and/or the recent DOH grants, but would be unable to participate directly in this next phase of the development of these important services. This legislation clarifies the law to ensure that LHCSAs have appropriate access to this reimbursement under existing state and/or federal health programs

Legislative history

2007-2008: A.11614 Died in Assembly Health Committee

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.