Bill Text: NY A06517 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Provides for state grant funding to municipalities for early intervention services for toddlers with disabilities and their families.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 17-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-05-02 - print number 6517a [A06517 Detail]

Download: New_York-2013-A06517-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         6517
                              2013-2014 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                     April 4, 2013
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  M.  of A. PAULIN, GOTTFRIED, CAHILL, CLARK, COOK, GALEF,
         GUNTHER, JACOBS, JAFFEE, LIFTON, MARKEY, LAVINE, MAGNARELLI, DINOWITZ,
         BENEDETTO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. MAISEL,  SWEENEY,  WEISEN-
         BERG -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
       AN  ACT  to  amend  the  public health law, in relation to funding early
         intervention services
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1.  The  public health law is amended by adding a new section
    2  2807-o to read as follows:
    3    S 2807-O.  EARLY  INTERVENTION  SERVICES  POOL.  1.  DEFINITIONS.  THE
    4  FOLLOWING  WORDS  OR  PHRASES  AS  USED  IN  THIS SECTION SHALL HAVE THE
    5  FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
    6    (A) "EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES" SHALL MEAN SERVICES DELIVERED TO  AN
    7  ELIGIBLE  CHILD, PURSUANT TO AN INDIVIDUALIZED FAMILY SERVICE PLAN UNDER
    8  THE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM.
    9    (B) "EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM" SHALL  MEAN  THE  EARLY  INTERVENTION
   10  PROGRAM  FOR TODDLERS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES AS CREATED BY
   11  TITLE TWO-A OF ARTICLE TWENTY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER.
   12    (C) "MUNICIPALITY" SHALL MEAN ANY COUNTY OUTSIDE OF THE  CITY  OF  NEW
   13  YORK OR THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
   14    2. GRANTS FOR EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES. (A) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL,
   15  FROM FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR SUCH PURPOSE UNDER PARAGRAPH (G) OF SUBDIVISION
   16  SIX OF SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED SEVEN-S OF THIS ARTICLE, MAKE GRANTS
   17  TO  MUNICIPALITIES FOR THE DELIVERY OF EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES. SUCH
   18  GRANTS SHALL BE DEEMED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THIRD  PARTY  PAYORS  TO  SUCH
   19  MUNICIPALITIES  AND  THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE EARLY
   20  INTERVENTION PROGRAM.
   21    (B) GRANTS UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE AWARDED  TO  MUNICIPALITIES
   22  BY  THE  COMMISSIONER. EACH MUNICIPALITY AND THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL
   23  RECEIVE A SHARE OF SUCH GRANTS EQUAL TO ITS PROPORTIONATE SHARE  OF  THE
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD03039-02-3
       A. 6517                             2
    1  TOTAL APPROVED STATEWIDE DOLLARS NOT REIMBURSABLE BY THE MEDICAL ASSIST-
    2  ANCE  PROGRAM  PAID  TO  PROVIDERS OF EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES BY THE
    3  STATE AND MUNICIPALITIES ON ACCOUNT OF EARLY  INTERVENTION  SERVICES  IN
    4  THE LAST COMPLETE STATE FISCAL YEAR FOR WHICH SUCH DATA IS AVAILABLE.
    5    S  2.  Subdivision  6  of  section  2807-s of the public health law is
    6  amended by adding two new paragraphs (g) and (h) to read as follows:
    7    (G) A FURTHER GROSS STATEWIDE AMOUNT FOR TWO THOUSAND  FOURTEEN  SHALL
    8  BE FOUR HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
    9    (H) THE AMOUNT SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH (G) OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE
   10  ALLOCATED  AMONG  THE  MUNICIPALITIES AND THE STATE OF NEW YORK BASED ON
   11  EACH MUNICIPALITY'S SHARE AND THE STATE'S SHARE  OF  EARLY  INTERVENTION
   12  PROGRAM  EXPENDITURES NOT REIMBURSABLE BY THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
   13  FOR THE LATEST TWELVE MONTH PERIOD FOR WHICH SUCH DATA IS AVAILABLE.
   14    S 3. Subdivision 7 of section 2807-s  of  the  public  health  law  is
   15  amended by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
   16    (D)  FUNDS  SHALL  BE ADDED TO THE FUNDS COLLECTED BY THE COMMISSIONER
   17  FOR DISTRIBUTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED SEVEN-O
   18  OF THIS ARTICLE, IN THE FOLLOWING AMOUNT:  FOUR HUNDRED MILLION  DOLLARS
   19  FOR  THE  PERIOD  JANUARY  FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN THROUGH DECEMBER
   20  THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN.
   21    S 4. Subdivision 1 of section  2557  of  the  public  health  law,  as
   22  amended  by  section  4  of  part C of chapter 1 of the laws of 2002, is
   23  amended to read as follows:
   24    1. The approved costs for an eligible child who receives an evaluation
   25  and early intervention services pursuant to this title shall be a charge
   26  upon the municipality wherein the eligible child resides or,  where  the
   27  services  are covered by the medical assistance program, upon the social
   28  services district of fiscal responsibility with respect to those  eligi-
   29  ble  children who are also eligible for medical assistance. All approved
   30  costs shall be paid in the first instance and at least quarterly by  the
   31  appropriate  governing body or officer of the municipality upon vouchers
   32  presented and audited in the same manner as the  case  of  other  claims
   33  against  the  municipality.  Notwithstanding  the insurance law or regu-
   34  lations thereunder relating to the permissible exclusion of payments for
   35  services under governmental programs, no such exclusion shall apply with
   36  respect to payments made pursuant to  this  title.  Notwithstanding  the
   37  insurance  law  or  any other law or agreement to the contrary, benefits
   38  under this title shall be considered secondary to any [plan of insurance
   39  or] state government benefit program under which an eligible  child  may
   40  have coverage. [Nothing in this section shall increase or enhance cover-
   41  ages provided for within an insurance contract subject to the provisions
   42  of this title.]
   43    S  5. Section 2557 of the public health law is amended by adding a new
   44  subdivision 4 to read as follows:
   45    4. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL COLLECT DATA, BY MUNICIPALITY, ON THE  EARLY
   46  INTERVENTION PROGRAM AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS TITLE FOR PURPOSES OF IMPROV-
   47  ING  THE  EFFICIENCY,  COST  EFFECTIVENESS, AND QUALITY OF SUCH PROGRAM.
   48  SUCH MUNICIPALITY DATA COLLECTION SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   49    (A) THE NUMBER AND AGES OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE EARLY INTERVENTION
   50  PROGRAM;
   51    (B) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN, WITHIN A MUNICIPALITY,  RECEIVING  A
   52  SINGLE  SERVICE,  THE  PERCENTAGE OF THOSE CHILDREN BY SERVICE TYPE, AND
   53  THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF VISITS PER WEEK FOR SUCH SERVICE TYPE;
   54    (C) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN,  WITHIN  A  MUNICIPALITY,  RECEIVING
   55  MULTIPLE SERVICES, THE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE CHILDREN BY SERVICE TYPE, THE
       A. 6517                             3
    1  AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF VISITS PER WEEK FOR SUCH SERVICE TYPE AND THE AVER-
    2  AGE NUMBER OF SERVICE TYPES THAT EACH CHILD RECEIVES;
    3    (D)  THE  NUMBER OF NEW YORK STATE APPROVED AGENCIES, INSTITUTIONS, OR
    4  ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES BY SERVICE SPECIALTY
    5  OR SPECIALTIES AND THE NUMBER OF NEW  YORK  STATE  APPROVED  INDEPENDENT
    6  PROVIDERS  OF  EARLY  INTERVENTION  SERVICES  BY  SERVICE  SPECIALTY  OR
    7  SPECIALTIES;
    8    (E) THE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN RECEIVING A  SINGLE  SERVICE
    9  BY  TYPE OF NEW YORK STATE APPROVED SERVICE PROVIDER, AND THE NUMBER AND
   10  PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN RECEIVING MULTIPLE SERVICES BY TYPE OF  NEW  YORK
   11  STATE APPROVED SERVICE PROVIDER;
   12    (F)  THE  OVERALL  NUMBER  OF  NEW YORK STATE APPROVED EVALUATORS. THE
   13  NUMBER OF APPROVED EVALUATORS WHO ALSO PROVIDE SERVICES TO EARLY  INTER-
   14  VENTION CHILDREN THEY HAVE EVALUATED;
   15    (G)  THE  NUMBER OF FAMILIES RECEIVING FAMILY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES SUCH
   16  AS FAMILY TRAINING, COUNSELING, PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS, AND RESPITE;
   17    (H) THE TYPES OF CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES,  EVALUATION  TOOLS  AND
   18  TESTING  INSTRUMENTS  USED BY MUNICIPALITIES TO ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY OR
   19  NEED FOR EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES;
   20    (I) BOTH SERVICE, COST AND PAYMENT OVERSIGHT MECHANISMS USED BY  COUN-
   21  TIES  TO  ENSURE  QUALITY  AND  EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF EARLY INTERVENTION
   22  SERVICES;
   23    (J) THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT ARE COVERED BY THE MEDICAL  ASSISTANCE
   24  PROGRAM;
   25    (K)  THE  NUMBER OF CLAIMS SUBMITTED TO THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
   26  BY MUNICIPALITY. THE PERCENTAGE OF CLAIMS DENIED BY THE MEDICAL  ASSIST-
   27  ANCE PROGRAM. THE REASONS FOR THE DENIALS.
   28    THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  COLLECT  AND  ANALYZE  SUCH DATA ELEMENTS TO
   29  DETERMINE SERVICE AND UTILIZATION PATTERNS AND TO  ENHANCE  THE  DEPART-
   30  MENT'S ONGOING PROVISION OF PROGRAM OVERSIGHT AND GUIDANCE. IN ADDITION,
   31  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  REPORT FOR THE PERIOD JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND
   32  FOURTEEN TO DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN, AND  FOR  EACH
   33  CALENDAR  YEAR THEREAFTER, TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE, BY MARCH
   34  FIRST OF EACH YEAR, THE INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS REQUIRED BY THIS SUBDI-
   35  VISION.
   36    S 6. Subdivision 2 of section  2557  of  the  public  health  law,  as
   37  amended  by  section 9-a of part A of chapter 56 of the laws of 2012, is
   38  amended to read as follows:
   39    2. The department shall reimburse the approved costs paid by a munici-
   40  pality for the purposes of this title, other than those reimbursable  by
   41  the  medical assistance program [or by third party payors], in an amount
   42  of fifty percent of the amount expended in accordance with the rules and
   43  regulations  of  the  commissioner;  provided,  however,  that  in   the
   44  discretion  of  the  department and with the approval of the director of
   45  the division of the budget, the department may reimburse  municipalities
   46  in  an  amount  greater  than fifty percent of the amount expended. Such
   47  state reimbursement to the municipality shall not be paid prior to April
   48  first of the year in which the approved costs are paid  by  the  munici-
   49  pality,  provided, however that, subject to the approval of the director
   50  of the budget, the department may pay such state  aid  reimbursement  to
   51  the municipality prior to such date.
   52    S  7. The section heading of section 2559 of the public health law, as
   53  added by chapter 428 of the laws of 1992, is amended to read as follows:
   54    [Third  party  insurance  and  medical]  MEDICAL  assistance   program
   55  payments.
       A. 6517                             4
    1    S 8.  Subdivision 3 of section 2559 of the public health law, as added
    2  by  chapter  428  of  the  laws  of 1992, paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) as
    3  amended by section 11 of part A of chapter 56 of the laws  of  2012  and
    4  paragraph  (b) as further amended by section 104 of part A of chapter 62
    5  of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
    6    3. (a) Providers of evaluations and early intervention services, here-
    7  inafter  collectively  referred  to in this subdivision as "provider" or
    8  "providers", shall in the first  instance  and  where  applicable,  seek
    9  payment  from  [all  third party payors including governmental agencies]
   10  THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM prior to claiming payment  from  a  given
   11  municipality  for  evaluations  conducted  under  the  program  and  for
   12  services rendered to eligible children, provided that, the obligation to
   13  seek payment shall not apply [to a payment from a third party payor  who
   14  is  not  prohibited  from  applying  such  payment,  and will apply such
   15  payment, to an annual or lifetime limit specified in the insured's poli-
   16  cy] WHERE THE INSURED IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PURSUANT TO
   17  THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW.
   18    (i) Parents shall provide the  municipality  and  service  coordinator
   19  information  on  any  insurance  policy, plan or contract under which an
   20  eligible child has coverage.
   21    (ii) Parents shall provide the municipality and the service  coordina-
   22  tor  with  a written referral from a primary care provider as documenta-
   23  tion, for eligible children, of the medical necessity  of  early  inter-
   24  vention services.
   25    (iii)  providers  shall utilize the department's fiscal agent and data
   26  system for claiming payment for evaluations and services rendered  under
   27  the early intervention program.
   28    (b) [The commissioner, in consultation with the director of budget and
   29  the  superintendent  of financial services, shall promulgate regulations
   30  providing public reimbursement for deductibles and copayments which  are
   31  imposed  under  an insurance policy or health benefit plan to the extent
   32  that such deductibles and copayments  are  applicable  to  early  inter-
   33  vention services.
   34    (c)  Payments  made for early intervention services under an insurance
   35  policy or health benefit plan, including payments made  by  the  medical
   36  assistance  program  or  other governmental third party payor, which are
   37  provided as part of an IFSP  pursuant  to  section  twenty-five  hundred
   38  forty-five  of  this  title  shall not be applied by the insurer or plan
   39  administrator against any maximum lifetime or annual limits specified in
   40  the policy or health benefits plan, pursuant to section  eleven  of  the
   41  chapter  of  the  laws  of  nineteen hundred ninety-two which added this
   42  title.
   43    (d)] A municipality, or its designee, and a provider shall  be  subro-
   44  gated,  to  the  extent  of the expenditures by such municipality or for
   45  early intervention services furnished to persons eligible  for  benefits
   46  under  this  title, to any rights such person may have or be entitled to
   47  from [third party reimbursement] THE  MEDICAL  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM.  The
   48  provider shall submit notice to the insurer or plan administrator of his
   49  or her exercise of such right of subrogation upon the provider's assign-
   50  ment as the early intervention service provider for the child. The right
   51  of  subrogation  does not attach to benefits paid or provided [under any
   52  health insurance policy or health benefits plan]  prior  to  receipt  of
   53  written  notice of the exercise of subrogation rights [by the insurer or
   54  plan administrator providing such benefits]. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY  INCON-
   55  SISTENT PROVISION OF THIS TITLE, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR HEREIN, NO THIRD
       A. 6517                             5
    1  PARTY  PAYOR OTHER THAN THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SHALL BE REQUIRED
    2  TO REIMBURSE FOR EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS TITLE.
    3    S  9.  This act shall take effect April 1, 2014; provided, however the
    4  amendments to section 2807-s of the public health law made  by  sections
    5  two  and  three  of  this  act  shall  not affect the expiration of such
    6  section and shall be deemed to expire therewith.
feedback