Relates to the interagency coordinating committee on rural transportation

1 Co-sponsor

• Catharine Young

BILL NUMBER:S1149B

Title of bill

An act to amend the social services law and the transportation law, in relation to the interagency coordinating committee on rural public transportation

Purpose

Initiate and modify the composition of the Interagency coordinating committee on rural public transportation to provide the appropriate forum to ensure the application of the broader policy initiatives affecting rural transportation for the entire community. The committee will foster interagency discussion and coordination in order to provide a more objective evaluation process that can be more flexible and responsive to the needs of the rural populations.

Summary of provisions

Amends social services and transportation law to modify the composition of the Interagency coordinating committee on rural public transportation and require that the committee (1) report to the Executive and the Legislature on the management of Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation on a biannual basis; (2)examine reimbursement rates developed by transportation managers and submit recommendations for proposed and effective rates for rural counties to the Commissioner of the Department of Health, and: (3) require the Commissioner to consult with the committee prior to approval of Medicaid reimbursement rates for rural Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation.

Justification

State efforts to change the way that Medicaid NEMT and other transportation plans are delivered is having an unintended impact on public transportation, especially in rural counties in upstate New York. Recently, the State has adopted a policy where a single private broker is contracted to arrange non-emergency medical trips for most New York counties. While the broker attempts to provide the necessary transportation in an easy to schedule manner many of the trips that were previously served by public transportation systems are now provided by taxis and other low occupancy vehicles - despite the availability of viable public transportation options that would better meet their needs.

This growing loss in funding for Medicaid reimbursed trips coupled with a corresponding loss in state transit operating assistance is resulting in reduced transit service to the public in many rural areas of the state and threatens the viability of public transportation in a number of counties.

Prior to this change, each county was responsible for arranging the necessary Medicaid funded transportation for its citizens. Often counties developed coordinated transit services that met not only the Medicaid transportation need, but also the transportation needs of other social service agencies and the general public.

This legislation will allow the State to determine how to provide the most efficient, coordinated and cost effective form of Medicaid NEMT or any future transportation plans in rural upstate counties.