Provides that on and after April first, two thousand twenty-five, the department of health shall reimburse municipalities in an amount of sixty-six percent or more for the costs of early intervention services; directs the commissioner of health to review rates of reimbursement for early intervention services.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A4801
SPONSOR: Brown E
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to Medicaid
reimbursement rates for early intervention services
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Relates to early intervention reimbursement rates.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 2557 of the public health law, as
amended by chapter 820 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as
follows:
2. The department shall reimburse the approved costs paid by a munici-
pality for the purposes of this title, other than those reimbursable by
the medical assistance program, in an amount of fifty percent of the
amount expended in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
commissioner; provided, however, that in the discretion of the depart-
ment and with the approval of the director of the division of.the budg-
et, the department may reimburse municipalities in an amount greater
than fifty percent of the amount expended; provided, further, on and
after April first, two thousand twenty-three, the department shall reim-
burse municipalities in an amount of sixty-six percent or more. Such
state reimbursement to the municipality shall not be paid prior to April
first of the year in which the approved costs are paid by the munici-
pality, provided, however that, subject to the approval of the director
of the budget, the department may pay such state aid reimbursement to
the municipality prior to such date.
§ 2. Section 2559 of the public health law is, amended by adding a new
subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. On and after April first, two thousand twenty-three, the commissioner
shall review the rates of reimbursement made through the early inter-
vention program for rate adequacy. The review shall include, but not be
limited to:
(a) a comprehensive assessment of the existing methodology used to
determine payment for early intervention screenings, evaluations,
services and service coordination, including but not limited to:
(i) analysis of early intervention rules, regulations, and policies,
Including policies, processes, and revenue sources;
(ii) analysis of costs to providers participating in the early inter
vention program, including time and cost of travel, service provision,
and administrative activities; and
(iii) analysis by discipline and labor region of salary levels for Indi-
viduals providing early intervention services compared to the salary
Levels for individuals in the same disciplines and labor regions provid-
ing services other than in the early intervention program; and
(b) recommendations for maintaining or changing reimbursement methodol-
ogies. The commissioner shall make such recommendations within one year
of the effective date of this section. Copies of such recommendations
shall be submitted to the governor, the temporary president of the
senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the chair of the senate and
assembly committees on health and shall post the report on the depart-
ment's website.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to Medicaid
reimbursement rates for early intervention services.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023/24: A.5784-referred to health
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4801
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 6, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. E. BROWN, JENSEN -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to Medicaid
reimbursement rates for early intervention services
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 2557 of the public health law, as
2 amended by chapter 820 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 2. The department shall reimburse the approved costs paid by a munici-
5 pality for the purposes of this title, other than those reimbursable by
6 the medical assistance program, in an amount of fifty percent of the
7 amount expended in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
8 commissioner; provided, however, that in the discretion of the depart-
9 ment and with the approval of the director of the division of the budg-
10 et, the department may reimburse municipalities in an amount greater
11 than fifty percent of the amount expended; provided, further, on and
12 after April first, two thousand twenty-five, the department shall reim-
13 burse municipalities in an amount of sixty-six percent or more. Such
14 state reimbursement to the municipality shall not be paid prior to April
15 first of the year in which the approved costs are paid by the munici-
16 pality, provided, however that, subject to the approval of the director
17 of the budget, the department may pay such state aid reimbursement to
18 the municipality prior to such date.
19 § 2. Section 2559 of the public health law is amended by adding a new
20 subdivision 6 to read as follows:
21 6. On and after April first, two thousand twenty-five, the commission-
22 er shall review the rates of reimbursement made through the early inter-
23 vention program for rate adequacy. The review shall include, but not be
24 limited to:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04680-01-5
A. 4801 2
1 (a) a comprehensive assessment of the existing methodology used to
2 determine payment for early intervention screenings, evaluations,
3 services and service coordination, including but not limited to:
4 (i) analysis of early intervention rules, regulations, and policies,
5 including policies, processes, and revenue sources;
6 (ii) analysis of costs to providers participating in the early inter-
7 vention program, including time and cost of travel, service provision,
8 and administrative activities; and
9 (iii) analysis by discipline and labor region of salary levels for
10 individuals providing early intervention services compared to the salary
11 levels for individuals in the same disciplines and labor regions provid-
12 ing services other than in the early intervention program; and
13 (b) recommendations for maintaining or changing reimbursement method-
14 ologies. The commissioner shall make such recommendations within one
15 year of the effective date of this section. Copies of such recommenda-
16 tions shall be submitted to the governor, the temporary president of the
17 senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the chairs of the senate and
18 assembly committees on health, and shall post the report on the depart-
19 ment's website.
20 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.