What's happening
This bill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing services by up to $15 million in 2018-2019 and $20 million annually thereafter.
Why it matters
Addresses workforce shortages. By increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing, the bill aims to make these jobs more financially attractive, potentially reducing staffing shortages and improving access to in-home nursing care for vulnerable patients.
Supports medically complex patients. Higher reimbursement rates can help ensure that individuals with significant medical needs—such as children or adults who require constant skilled nursing at home—are more likely to receive timely and consistent care.
May impact state Medicaid budget and costs. The specified funding increases ($15 million in the first partial year and $20 million annually thereafter) represent a significant investment, which could have broader implications for how the state allocates its Medicaid resources or balances its budget.
Could improve care quality and continuity. Increased funding may allow for better continuity of care, as agencies and nurses may be less likely to experience turnover or financial strain, leading to more stable and higher-quality care for Medicaid recipients.
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
Headline styles
Raise Medicaid Nurse Pay
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3795
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 27, 2017
Introduced by Sen. BAILEY -- 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 reimbursement of private duty nursing services and care
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 365-o to read as follows:
§ 365-o. Reimbursement of private duty nursing services and care. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, rates of payment for care and services furnished by a private duty nurse that would otherwise qualify for reimbursement pursuant to this title shall be increased by an amount not to exceed fifteen million dollars in the aggregate for the period July first, two thousand eighteen to March thirty-first, two thousand nineteen, and twenty million dollars annually thereafter for each period of April first to March thirty-first.
§ 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08679-01-7
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 reimbursement of private duty nursing services and care
Purpose or general idea of bill
To increase Medicaid beneficiaries access to quality health care services by increasing Medicaid fees for private duty nursing services.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one of this bill would add a new Section 365-o to the Social Services Law governing reimbursement of private duty nursing services. The bill would allocate $15 million in State Fiscal Year (SPY) 2018-2019 to increase reimbursement under the Medicaid program for private duty nursing services for the period July 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019. The bill would allocate $20 million for such reimbursement on annual fiscal year basis thereafter.
Justification
The State is currently experiencing a very serious shortage in private duty nursing. This shortage is due to a variety of factors including the lowest unemployment rate in over a decade, and rates of reimbursement in both the commercial and government sectors that have not kept pace with market demands. In some areas of the State, the Medicaid rates for private duty nursing have not changed in over a decade.
The nursing shortage is making it difficult to recruit and retain qualified nurses, particularly in specialty areas such as nursing care for medically and technologically dependent children and adults. This bill would provide the resources necessary to assist in recruiting and retaining qualified nursing care for the State's most vulnerable population -Medicaid beneficiaries. In addition to easing the workforce shortage in nursing and increasing access to quality care, the bill would provide badly needed respite to family members who are struggling to care for medically complex children and adults. The bill will reduce Medicaid costs over the long term by reducing unnecessary hospitalization that are the result of a lack of access to community care.
Prior legislative history senate
1999-00: S.7353/A.9932 (Jacobs) - Referred to Social Services 2001-02: S.1732/A.78 (Jacobs) - Referred to Social Services 2003-04: S.832-A/A.1558-A (Jacobs) - Referred to Social Services 2005-06: S.175-A/A.1182-A (Jacobs) - Referred to Social Services 2007-08: S.124-A/A.2290-A (Jacobs) - Referred to Social Services 2009-10: S.5040/A.692 (Jacobs) - Referred to Health 2011-12: S.980-A/A.2800-A (Jacobs) - Referred to Health 2013-14: S.3346/A.3786 (Jacobs) - Referred to Health 2015-16: S.2188 - Referred to Health
Fiscal implications
This bill will increase the Status share of Medicaid costs by an estimated $15 million. However, the bill will likely decrease Medicaid costs over the long term through the provision of more timely care and a decrease in institutional costs.
Effective date
July 1, 2018
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.