What's happening
This bill requires ongoing review and adjustment of state Medicaid rules to maximize federal funding for special transportation services for children with disabilities provided by schools, counties, and New York City.
Why it matters
Could lead to increased federal funding. for New York schools, counties, and NYC by ensuring state policies are fully aligned with federal Medicaid rules, tapping into all available federal financial participation for special transportation services.
Expands eligibility and accommodations. by requiring the state to seek Medicaid reimbursement for transportation not just for physical disabilities, but also non-physical disabilities, and for a broad range of specialized needs (e.g., safety restraints, medical equipment, climate control).
Promotes ongoing policy improvement. by mandating regular review and adjustment of state rules, including learning from less restrictive policies in other states, which could reduce bureaucratic hurdles and improve services for children with disabilities.
Requires direct consultation with local stakeholders. (school districts, counties, NYC), ensuring that the needs and perspectives of those who provide and use these services are considered in shaping state Medicaid policy.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Review Special Needs Transport
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- 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 Special Needs Transport
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Julia Salazar
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
9010
IN ASSEMBLY
January 10, 2020
Introduced by M. of A. GOTTFRIED, FERNANDEZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
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, 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10936-04-0
A. 9010 2
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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.