What's happening
This bill allows licensed mental health practitioners to provide Medicaid-covered services within their existing scope of practice.
Why it matters
Expands access to mental health care for Medicaid recipients. by allowing a broader range of licensed professionals—such as mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, creative arts therapists, and psychoanalysts—to provide covered services, potentially reducing wait times and geographic barriers for patients.
May improve continuity and personalization of care. because patients can access a greater variety of therapy styles and providers, aligning treatment options more closely with individual needs and cultural backgrounds.
Could help address provider shortages and system bottlenecks. in New York’s mental health system, especially in underserved or rural areas where psychiatrists or clinical psychologists may be scarce, by leveraging the existing workforce of licensed mental health practitioners.
Preserves professional boundaries and public safety. by explicitly stating that the scope of practice for each provider type is not changed or expanded, ensuring that only services already deemed safe and appropriate for these professionals remain eligible for Medicaid reimbursement.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Medicaid Covers Mental Health Care
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Vetoed memo.145
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.91
- Substituted for A648A
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–1
- Ordered to third reading cal.815
- Reported and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to finance
Show 3 earlier actions
- Print number 3421a
- 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.
Cover Mental Health Under Medicaid
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Harry B. Bronson
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3421--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 6, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SAVINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed 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 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.
LBD04769-03-9
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 making care and services provided by licensed mental health practi- tioners eligible for coverage under the Medicaid program
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to enable mental health practitioners licensed pursuant to Article 163 of the Education law to bill Medicaid directly for their services.
Summary of specific provisions
Amends Subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the social services law to enable mental health practitioners licensed pursuant to Article 163 of the Education law to bill Medicaid directly for their services within their scope of practice.
Justification
This bill would allow licensed mental health practitioners to bill Medi- caid directly for the services they provide. The status quo of excluding mental health practitioners licensed under Article 163 of the Education law from recognized providers within the Medicaid program results in undue hardship for individuals, families, and communities, and a lack of transparency in Medicaid billing.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one in four American adults suffers from a mental illness, making the work performed by all mental health professionals, including licensed mental health practitioners, crucial to the provision of healthcare. Individ- uals in need of mental health care should be able to receive treatment from appropriately licensed providers, and providers should be able to bill Medicaid directly for their covered services.
Prior legislative history
2018 - S.3981 - referred to Health, no further action 2017 - S.3981 passed-Senate (62-0) 2016 -S.7067 passed-Senate (61-0)
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
the ninety-first day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.