What's happening
This bill extends and updates cost of living adjustments for designated human services programs in New York through March 31, 2023.
Why it matters
Updates how cost of living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated for human services programs, tying increases more closely to specific inflation indexes. using the consumer price index for all urban consumers (excluding energy and food) for programs without federal Medicaid funding, and the medical care services index for those with Medicaid funding. This approach may better reflect the actual cost pressures faced by different types of programs.
Extends the COLA provisions for several years (through March 31, 2023), potentially ensuring more predictable funding increases for human services providers. This can help organizations plan for the future and retain staff by keeping wages and reimbursements more in line with inflation.
Distinguishes between programs funded by federal Medicaid and those that are not, potentially leading to more tailored and fair funding adjustments. This change acknowledges that different programs face different cost structures and inflationary pressures, which could make state funding more responsive to real-world needs.
By specifying which inflation indexes to use, the bill may prevent arbitrary or inconsistent adjustments in the future. This can be important for transparency and for organizations advocating for adequate funding to meet rising costs.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Human services providers receiving federal Medicaid funding
The bill would base their designated programs’ cost-of-living adjustments on the consumer price index for medical care services from April 1, 2017, through March 31, 2023.
Human services providers without federal Medicaid funding
The bill would base their designated programs’ adjustments on the consumer price index for all urban consumers excluding food and energy over the same period.
State commissioners setting human services payment rates
The bill would require them to use the separate inflation measures when developing adjustments for payment rates, contracts and other reimbursements, and extend the underlying COLA provisions to April 1, 2023.
Headline styles
Adjust Human Services Payments
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to mental health
- Print number 4891a
- Amend and recommit to mental health
- Referred to mental health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Adjust Human Services Payment Rates
In Senate Committee · Social Services · Sponsor Robert Ortt
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4891--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 6, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Mental Health -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend part C of chapter 57 of the laws of 2006, relating to establishing a cost of living adjustment for designated human services programs, in relation to extending COLA provisions for the purpose of establishing rates of payments and the effectiveness thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3-c of section 1 of part C of chapter 57 of the laws of 2006, relating to establishing a cost of living adjustment for designated human services programs, as amended by section 1 of part I of chapter 60 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
3-c. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, beginning April 1, 2016 and ending March 31, [2019] 2017, the commissioners shall develop the COLA under this section using the actual U.S. consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) published by the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics for the twelve month period ending in July of the budget year prior to such state fiscal year, for the purpose of establishing rates of payments, contracts or any other form of reimbursement.
§ 2. Section 1 of part C of chapter 57 of the laws of 2006, relating to establishing a cost of living adjustment for designated human services programs, is amended by adding a new subdivision 3-e to read as follows:
3-e. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, beginning April 1, 2017 and ending March 31, 2023, for human services programs not funded with federal medicaid funds, the commissioners shall develop the COLA under this section using the actual U.S. consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U), excluding energy and food, published by the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics for the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04626-04-7
A. 4891--A 2
twelve month period ending in July of the budget year prior to such state fiscal year, for the purpose of establishing rates of payments, contracts or any other form of reimbursement and for human services programs funded with federal medicaid funds, the commissioners shall develop the COLA under this section using the actual U.S. consumer price index for medical care services, published by the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics for the twelve month period ending in July of the budget year prior to such state fiscal year, for the purpose of establishing rates of payments, contracts or any other form of reimbursement.
§ 3. Section 4 of part C of chapter 57 of the laws of 2006, relating to establishing a cost of living adjustment for designated human services programs, as amended by section 1 of part I of chapter 60 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after April 1, 2006; provided section one of this act shall expire and be deemed repealed April 1, [2019] 2023; provided, further, that sections two and three of this act shall expire and be deemed repealed December 31, 2009.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after April 1, 2017; provided, however, that the amendments to section 1 of part C of chapter 57 of the laws of 2006, relating to establishing a cost of living adjustment for designated human services programs made by sections one and two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
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.