What's happening
This bill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing services by up to $15 million in 2020-2021 and $20 million annually thereafter.
Why it matters
Expanding access to in-home care. By increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing, the bill could make it easier for medically complex or disabled individuals—especially children and seniors—to receive skilled nursing care at home rather than in hospitals or institutions.
Addressing workforce shortages. Higher reimbursement rates may help attract and retain more private duty nurses, which is important given widespread staffing shortages in home healthcare and nursing services across New York.
Potential for better health outcomes and cost savings. Improved access to private duty nursing can help reduce hospitalizations and emergency visits, which may enhance patient quality of life and create long-term savings for the Medicaid program by reducing reliance on more expensive institutional care.
Significant ongoing investment. The bill commits to a substantial and recurring increase in state spending (up to $20 million annually after the first year), signaling a long-term policy shift toward supporting home-based medical care for those who qualify.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Increase Nurse Medicaid Payments
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.
Increase Medicaid Nurse Payments
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor William Magnarelli
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2561
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 28, 2019
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 twenty to March thirty-first, two thousand twenty-one, and twenty million dollars annually thereafter for each period of April first to March thirty-first.
§ 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05454-01-9
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) 2019-2020 to increase reimbursement under the Medicaid program for private duty nursing services for the period July 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020. 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 quali- fied 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 popu- lation -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 hospitaliza- tion that are the result of a lack of access to community care.
Prior legislative history senate
2015-16: S.2188 - Referred to Health 2017-18: S.3795 - Referred to Health
Fiscal implications
This bill will increase the Status share of Medicaid costs by an esti- mated $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, 2019
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.