What's happening
This bill allows New York counties to opt out of providing optional Medicaid services to certain new or returning enrollees.
Why it matters
Could reduce Medicaid benefits for new or returning enrollees. By letting counties opt out of certain optional services, people enrolling in or re-enrolling with Medicaid in those counties could lose access to services that others in the state still receive, such as dental, vision, or other non-mandatory benefits.
May create unequal access to health services based on location. This bill could result in different levels of Medicaid coverage depending on where a person lives in New York, potentially deepening regional disparities in healthcare access and outcomes.
Could lower county expenses and state Medicaid costs. Allowing counties to limit optional benefits may help local governments manage budgets, particularly in times of fiscal stress, but could also shift health costs in the longer term to emergency care or other public systems.
Requires federal approval for implementation. The bill directs the state health commissioner to seek federal waivers, meaning changes would depend on federal government agreement, adding a layer of complexity and uncertainty to whether and how the policy would take effect.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Counties Can Cut Medicaid Benefits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in health
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2938
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 23, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. KOLB, RAIA, SALADINO, MONTESANO, McLAUGHLIN, STEC, BRABENEC -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARCLAY, BUTLER, CROUCH, CURRAN, FINCH, FITZPATRICK, FRIEND, GIGLIO, GOODELL, HAWLEY, LOPEZ, McDONOUGH, McKEVITT, OAKS, PALMESANO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring the state to allow counties to opt out of certain Medicaid services
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. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or any other provision of law, on and after the effective date of this subdivision, the state is required to allow counties to opt out of providing optional medical assistance services to any new enrollees who have either never received such benefits or who have reenrolled after a period of absence.
(b) The commissioner of health is authorized to apply for any and all federal waivers required to implement the provisions of this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03194-01-7
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.