What's happening
This bill requires ongoing review and updates to Medicaid reimbursement policies for special transportation services for children with disabilities, ensuring alignment with federal law and maximizing federal funding.
Why it matters
Ensures regular evaluation and modernization of Medicaid policies. By requiring ongoing review of state rules and policies, the bill aims to prevent outdated or unnecessarily restrictive regulations that could limit access to transportation services for children with disabilities.
Expands eligibility and types of reimbursable services. The bill specifically directs the state to seek federal reimbursement for transportation services supporting children with both physical and non-physical disabilities, and for a broad range of accommodations (e.g., safety restraints, medical equipment, nursing support, specialized vehicles), which could increase service availability and flexibility.
Promotes equity and maximizes federal funding. By mandating that state rules not be more restrictive than federal standards and by referencing practices in other states, the bill seeks to ensure New York receives all possible federal Medicaid funds—potentially reducing local financial burdens and improving service equity statewide.
Requires stakeholder consultation. The bill obligates the state to consult with school districts, counties, and large cities like New York City, ensuring that policy updates reflect on-the-ground needs and challenges faced by those directly providing and managing transportation for children with disabilities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Review Kids' Transport Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Substituted by S4770A
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.296
- Rules report cal.296
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Print number 7962a
- Amend and recommit 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.
Review Transport Rules for Kids
Vetoed · Sponsor Julia Salazar
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7962--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GOTTFRIED -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to reimbursement for special transportation services
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 368-d of the social services law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
7. The commissioner shall, beginning upon the effective date of this subdivision and on an ongoing basis thereafter, review whether current state rules, regulations, policy, billing guidelines and amendments under the state plan for medical assistance concerning medicaid reimbursement for special transportation services, which are furnished by school districts to children with handicapping conditions receiving medical care and services that qualify for reimbursement under this title, are more restrictive than required by federal law, regulations, or policy. The commissioner shall take all practicable steps to ensure that any necessary changes are made to state rules, regulations, policy, and billing guidelines, and submit any necessary proposed state plan amendments to the centers for medicare and medicaid services, to ensure receipt of all available federal financial participation under title nineteen of the federal social security act for transportation services furnished by school districts to children with handicapping conditions. In so doing, the commissioner shall:
(a) seek to ensure receipt of all available federal financial participation for transportation services furnished to children with both physical and non-physical disabilities;
(b) seek to ensure receipt of all available federal financial participation for transportation services involving accommodations including, but not limited to, safety restraints and harnesses, medical equipment,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10936-03-9
A. 7962--A 2
paraprofessional or nursing services, smaller vehicle size, alternative vehicle routing, and climate control;
(c) consider whether other states have less restrictive rules, regulations, policy, billing guidelines and approved state plan amendments concerning medicaid reimbursement for special transportation services furnished by school districts to children with handicapping conditions; and
(d) consult with representatives of school districts, including school districts in any city with a population of one million or more.
§ 2. Section 368-e of the social services law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. The commissioner shall, beginning upon the effective date of this subdivision and on an ongoing basis thereafter, review whether current state rules, regulations, policy, billing guidelines and amendments under the state plan for medical assistance concerning medicaid reimbursement for special transportation services, which are furnished by counties and the city of New York to preschool children with handicapping conditions receiving medical care and services that qualify for reimbursement under this title, are more restrictive than required by federal law, regulations, or policy. The commissioner shall take all practicable steps to ensure that any necessary changes are made to state rules, regulations, policy, and billing guidelines, and submit any necessary proposed state plan amendments to the centers for medicare and medicaid services, to ensure receipt of all available federal financial participation under title nineteen of the federal social security act for transportation services furnished by counties and the city of New York to preschool children with handicapping conditions. In so doing, the commissioner shall:
(a) seek to ensure receipt of all available federal financial participation for transportation services furnished to preschool children with non-physical disabilities;
(b) seek to ensure receipt of all available federal financial participation for transportation services involving accommodations including, but not limited to, safety restraints and harnesses, medical equipment, paraprofessional or nursing services, smaller vehicle size, alternative vehicle routing, and climate control;
(c) consider whether other states have less restrictive rules, regulations, policy, billing guidelines and approved state plan amendments concerning medicaid reimbursement for special transportation services furnished by school districts to preschool children with handicapping conditions; and
(d) consult with representatives of counties and the city of New York.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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