What's happening
This bill allows local social services districts to choose which state-mandated, non-federally required Medicaid services and eligibility categories to provide.
Why it matters
Shifts Medicaid policy decisions to local control. By letting each local social services district choose which state-mandated—but not federally required—Medicaid services and eligibility categories to offer, the bill could create significant differences in Medicaid benefits depending on where you live in New York.
Potential for reduced Medicaid coverage in some areas. Local districts could opt out of offering certain services or eligibility categories, possibly reducing health care access for some low-income residents compared to current statewide standards.
May lead to administrative complexity and unequal access. The state will need to develop, review, and approve individualized plans from each district, which could increase bureaucracy and make the Medicaid system more complicated and harder to navigate for both beneficiaries and providers.
Could result in budget shifts and local policy experimentation. Local governments might use this flexibility to tailor services to local needs or budget constraints, leading to new approaches in Medicaid delivery—but also disparities in health outcomes between districts.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Counties Limit Medicaid
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in social services
- Referred to social services
- Referred to social services
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2079
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 17, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SCHIMMINGER, BRINDISI, PALMESANO, GOODELL -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. DiPIETRO, FRIEND, GIGLIO, HOOPER, MAGEE, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to allowing local social services districts discretion to provide certain medicaid services and to cover certain categories of eligibility
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 365-a of the social services law is amended by adding a new subdivision 10 to read as follows:
10. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this section or of any other provision of this chapter or other law, each local social services district is hereby authorized to determine which, if any, services it chooses to provide to eligible persons of those services otherwise required to be provided by applicable state law but not required to be provided by federal law.
§ 2. Section 366 of the social services law is amended by adding a new subdivision 10 to read as follows:
10. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this section or of any other provision of this chapter or other law, each local social services district is hereby authorized to determine to which, if any, categories of eligibility it chooses to provide medical assistance otherwise required to be provided by applicable state law but not required to be provided by federal law.
§ 3. The commissioner of health:
1. is authorized and directed to apply for any and all federal waivers required to implement the provisions of subdivision 10 of section 365-a and subdivision 10 of section 366 of the social services law;
2. shall promulgate any and all rules and regulations and take any other measures necessary to implement this act, including but not limit-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05814-01-7
A. 2079 2
ed to developing a services and eligibility plan and distributing the same to local social services districts whereby such districts may make such choices as are authorized by subdivision 10 of section 365-a and subdivision 10 of section 366 of the social services law, as added by sections one and two, respectively, of this act, and applicable federal waivers; and
3. shall specify dates by which such services and eligibility plans must be returned to said commissioner for review and approval to implement such plans. A district that does not have an approved plan by the deadline set therefor by the commissioner shall provide all services and categories of eligibility required under the state plan as in effect at that time.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.