What's happening
This bill prohibits the New York State Department of Health from lowering Early Intervention Program reimbursement rates below those of March 1, 2014.
Why it matters
Protects Service Funding Stability. By preventing reimbursement rate cuts below 2014 levels, the bill ensures that providers of early intervention services (for infants and toddlers with developmental delays) can rely on a predictable funding floor, making it easier to maintain consistent staffing and service quality.
Addresses Workforce Concerns. Early intervention providers have faced recruitment and retention challenges due to stagnant or reduced rates in the past. Locking in a reimbursement minimum helps safeguard the workforce and may help prevent disruptions in care for vulnerable children.
Retroactive Safeguard. The bill is retroactively effective from March 1, 2014, meaning any rate reductions imposed after that date would be nullified. This could lead to adjustments or repayments if providers were paid at lower rates since then, potentially impacting both state finances and provider stability.
Signals Legislative Prioritization of Early Childhood Services. By enshrining a reimbursement floor in law, the legislature underscores the importance of early intervention programs and may set the stage for future discussions about rate adequacy or increases, not just prevention of cuts.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Early Intervention Rates
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5349
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 8, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN, BENEDETTO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABBATE, ABINANTI, BRONSON, COLTON, COOK, CROUCH, HEVESI, JAFFEE, LAVINE, LENTOL, MALLIOTAKIS, M. G. MILLER, PALMESANO, PERRY, RAIA -read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to prohibit the New York state department of health from reducing the reimbursement rates for the early intervention program below the rates in effect as of March 1, 2014
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The department of health shall not reduce the reimbursement rates for the Early Intervention Program established by section 2540 of the public health law below those reimbursement rates in effect as of March 1, 2014.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after March 1, 2014.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09489-01-7
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.