What's happening
This bill grants automatic, temporary Medicaid eligibility to youth leaving court-ordered placement, ensuring immediate access to medical assistance.
Why it matters
Reduces Gaps in Healthcare Coverage. By granting automatic, temporary Medicaid eligibility, the bill ensures that youth leaving court-ordered placements do not face a lapse in medical coverage during a highly vulnerable period, which can be crucial for those with ongoing mental health, substance use, or chronic medical needs.
Streamlines Access to Services. Presumptive eligibility means youth can immediately access necessary care, prescriptions, and services without waiting for a lengthy application or approval process—helping to address urgent health concerns as they transition back into the community.
Improves Outcomes and Reduces System Burdens. Early and uninterrupted access to healthcare may reduce emergency room visits, lower recidivism related to unmet health needs, and ease the administrative burden on agencies responsible for youth reentry and welfare.
Aligns State Systems for Youth Wellbeing. The bill requires coordination between child welfare and health departments to implement these changes, potentially fostering better long-term support systems and highlighting the state’s commitment to the health and success of justice-involved youth.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Medicaid for Exiting Youth
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to 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.
Medicaid for Released Youth
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Charles Barron
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2697
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 17, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to medicaid eligibility for youth leaving court ordered placement
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 364-i of the social services law is amended by adding a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
9. Youth leaving court ordered placement; presumptive eligibility. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, youth who have been placed pursuant to subdivision three or four of section 353.3 of the family court act, shall be presumed eligible for medical assistance under this title beginning on the date of their release from such placement.
(b) Such presumptive eligibility shall continue through the earlier of the day on which a determination is made with respect to the eligibility of the youth for assistance pursuant to this title, or in the case of a youth for whom an application for assistance pursuant to this title is not filed on his or her behalf or who does not file an application for such assistance, sixty days from the release of such youth from placement ordered pursuant to subdivision three or four of section 353.3 of the family court act.
(c) Care, services and supplies, as set forth in section three hundred sixty-five-a of this title, that are furnished to a youth during a presumptive eligibility period under this subdivision by an entity that is eligible for payments under this title shall be deemed to be medical assistance for purposes of payment and state reimbursement.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law; provided however, that effective immediately, the office of children and family services and the department of health shall promulgate any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of this act on such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00318-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to medicaid eligibility for youth leaving court ordered placement
Purpose
To ensure that certain youth being discharged from juvenile justice facilities have access to Medicaid while they await their Medicaid eligibility determinations.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amend section 364-i of the social services law to add a new subdivision 9 providing presumptive Medicaid eligibility to youth leaving court ordered placement in an office of children and family services juvenile justice facility. Such presumptive eligibility shall continue until a medical assistance eligibility determination is made or 60 days from release of the youth from placement, whichever is sooner.
Section 2 of the bill provides for an effective date 90 days after enactment.
Existing law
Section 364-i of the social services law establishes the medical assistance presumptive eligibility program for various groups of individuals.
Section 364-j of the social services law establishes the Medicaid managed care program.
Justification
Youth placed or committed to the state's juvenile justice system suffer many hardships. Among them are high rates of mental health diagnosis with over half of the children prescribed psychotropic mediations. Releasing these youth without health care coverage puts them at unnecessary risk as they work to try and successful transition back into the community.
New York State has recognized the importance of providing health care coverage through Medicaid for various groups of people including presumptive eligibility for those leaving hospitals and entering long term care and for those in need of treatment for various forms of cancer. We also allow prisoners to continue their pre-incarceration Medicaid eligibility so they are not release without Medicaid and we provide continued Medicaid coverage until 21 for foster children who are the responsibility of the local social services district until their 18th birthday. Health care coverage is not only vitally important to the individual's ultimate success in transitioning back into the community, it is cost effective for the state and local communities who would otherwise pay the costs of higher recidivism and unnecessary hospitalizations.
Youth who enter the juvenile justice system are not currently afforded the same protections for Medicaid coverage as these other populations, yet they experience similar needs. For example, these youth often depend on the continuation of medications vital to their emotional stability and may need the added support of the community mental health system which they can access through Medicaid if they are not eligible for private health insurance coverage. This bill gives youth, who were in care as a result of a court order, presumptive Medicaid eligibility once they are released from care for up to 60 days while
determination of their Medicaid eligibility is made. It is an important piece of the safety net that is currently missing.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.2877/A.5923 - Referred to Health 2013-14: S.956A - Referred to Health 2011-12: S.3072/A1553 - Referred to Health 2010: S.6969/A.11020 - Referred to Health
Fiscal implications
Potential savings as youth have timely access to medical and mental health care important to their successful transition back into the community.
Effective date
90th day after enactment provided OCFS and DOH shall promulgate any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of this act on such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.