What's happening
This bill makes services provided by licensed mental health practitioners eligible for Medicaid coverage in New York.
Why it matters
Expands the pool of eligible mental health providers for Medicaid patients. allowing New Yorkers to access care from licensed mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, creative arts therapists, and psychoanalysts who were previously excluded from Medicaid reimbursement.
Could reduce wait times and help address provider shortages. by making it financially viable for more mental health professionals to serve Medicaid recipients, potentially improving access in underserved or rural areas.
Does not change what these mental health practitioners are legally allowed to do. it only permits Medicaid to pay for services they are already authorized to provide under state law, offering new payment pathways without expanding provider roles or responsibilities.
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Who cares
Medicaid enrollees
The bill would make otherwise covered care and services eligible for Medicaid coverage when provided by licensed mental health practitioners acting within their scope of practice.
Licensed mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists
Their services would become eligible for Medicaid coverage where otherwise covered, without expanding their scope of practice.
Licensed creative arts therapists and psychoanalysts
The bill would include their otherwise covered services in Medicaid coverage while leaving their scope of practice unchanged.
Headline styles
Cover Mental Health Under Medicaid
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
29 Co-sponsors
- Charles Barron
- Thomas Abinanti
- Anthony D'Urso
- David Weprin
- Monica P. Wallace
- Marianne Buttenschon
- Nily Rozic
- Angelo Santabarbara
- Patricia Fahy
- Donna Lupardo
- Sean Ryan
- Pamela J. Hunter
- Phil Steck
- Aileen Gunther
- Barbara Lifton
- Albert A. Stirpe
- Jamie Romeo
- Billy Jones
- John T. McDonald III
- William Magnarelli
- Patrick Burke
- Karen McMahon
- Didi Barrett
- Carrie Woerner
- William Colton
- Judy Griffin
- Diana Richardson
- Catalina Cruz
- Karines Reyes
History
- Substituted by S3421A
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.91
- Rules report cal.91
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Print number 648a
- Amend and recommit to ways and means
- Reported referred to ways and means
- 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 Covers Mental Health Care
Vetoed · Sponsor Diane J. Savino
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
648--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. BRONSON, BARRON, ABINANTI, D'URSO, WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health -- reported and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to making care and services provided by licensed mental health practitioners eligible for coverage under the Medicaid program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the social services law is amended by adding a new paragraph (gg) to read as follows:
(gg) care and services provided by mental health practitioners licensed pursuant to article one hundred sixty-three of the education law acting within their scope of practice, where such services would otherwise be covered under this title. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to modify or expand the scope of practice of a mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, creative arts therapist or psychoanalyst licensed pursuant to article one hundred sixty-three of the education law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04769-02-9
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.