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History
- Referred to health
- Committee discharged and committed to health
- Referred to social services
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to physician fee reimbursements under the medical assistance for needy persons (medicaid) program
Purpose/summary of provisions
This bill provides that physician fee reimbursement under the Medicaid program for office visits be no less than the amount reimbursed for hospital out-patient settings.
Justification
In 1999, less than two percent of the entire Medicaid fee-for-service budget was spent on physician services. This equates into physician payment of just over $7 per patient visit. Medicaid payments to physicians have remained virtually unchanged over the past three decades. There have been no adjustments for inflation, increased overhead costs or increased paperwork required by the Medicaid program. The result is a failed health care program that creates beneficiary access problems to private practicing physicians. In contrast to individual physician compensation, hospitals and clinics received approximately $100 for each Medicaid patient visit. Forcing patients to seek primary and preventive care in more costly and clinically inappropriate institutional settings drives up already spiraling health care costs and is not in the best interest of the beneficiary. New York's Medicaid system will continue to be the most costly, inefficient and ineffective health insurance program in the country unless the physician's office is restored as the health care setting of choice for beneficiaries.
Fiscal implications
This legislation would produce significant savings to the state over time in both the Medicaid fee-for-service and Medicaid managed care systems, and, more importantly, will assure low income patients have the benefit of access to providers of their choice.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law, provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of the foregoing section of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.