Directs the department of health to use state employees in determining eligibility for the child health plus, the medical assistance program and family health plus

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to determining eligibility for the child health plus program, the medical assistance program and the family health plus program

Purpose

This bill allows the consolidation of the three call centers to take place, while at the same time ensuring that only trained and qualified public employees are used when making continuing and initial eligibility for CHP, FHP, and Medicaid.

Summary of provisions

This bill would ensure that only qualified and well-trained public employees are making eligibility determinations for these public health insurance programs.

Justification

The Department of Health (DOH) currently has three separate call centers that disseminate information regarding Family Health Plus (FHP), Child Health Plus (CHP), and Medicaid. The call-centers for FHP and Medicaid are staffed by DOH employees and are located within New York State. The call center for CRP has been contracted out to a third-party that uses private employees and is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The 2008-09 State budget gave DOH authorization to issue a request for proposals (RFP) which would require the winning bidder to consolidate the three call centers into one, develop a statewide telephone and mail-in renewal system for the programs, manage web-based renewals, and in the future process new applications for CHP, FHP, and Medicaid. Call centers currently do not perform any enrollment functions. To become enrolled in one of these programs, currently, you must go through a local social service district. This would privatize the jobs of public employees who perform this work in local social service districts.

This bill would ensure that only qualified and well-trained public employees are making eligibility determinations for these public health insurance programs. Public employees have in-depth knowledge of these programs. Private call-centers, on the other hand are known for having staff turnover rates nearing 40%. Allowing a company with such an unstable workforce to be responsible for critical health care eligibility determinations for our state's most vulnerable populations is bad public policy. Private call centers would be unable to provide the level of expertise needed to enroll, renew, and disseminate valuable information to applicants. Public employees are less likely to leave their jobs, which allows them to develop more in depth knowledge of their subject area and better serve applicants and callers regarding these programs.

This legislation seeks to ensure that New York avoids the pitfalls experienced by other states. Recently, Texas and Indiana have privatized social service jobs. Both states have seen a sharp increase in applicants wrongly being denied benefits, loss of critical paperwork and computer data, and an overall decline in enrollment into programs.

This bill allows the consolidation of the three call centers to take place, while at the same time ensuring that only trained and qualified public employees are used when making continuing and initial eligibility for CHP, FHP, and Medicaid. Allowing private contractors to perform this work, as other states have shown us, would be a disservice to all New Yorkers who utilize these vital services.

Legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.