Ensures services provided in school-based health centers are not provided to medical assistance recipients through managed care programs.
Summary
Bill S01224 amends the social services law to ensure that services provided by school-based health centers for medical assistance recipients are not included in managed care programs. The bill specifically adds a new paragraph to section 364-j of the social services law, stating that these services will continue to be offered outside of managed care frameworks. This legislative change aims to maintain direct access to essential health services for students without the complexities often associated with managed care systems.
Impact
The impact of this bill on state laws is significant as it alters how medical assistance is delivered to students through school-based health centers. By excluding these services from managed care programs, the bill aims to simplify access for medical assistance recipients, ensuring that they receive necessary healthcare services directly from school-based providers. This may lead to increased utilization of health services in schools and potentially improve health outcomes for students.
Sentiment
The general sentiment around Bill S01224 has been overwhelmingly positive, as indicated by the unanimous support in both the Senate and Assembly votes. The bill passed the Senate Health Committee with a vote of 15-0 and later received a final passage vote of 59-0 in the Senate and 136-0 in the Assembly. This strong bipartisan support reflects a shared recognition of the importance of accessible healthcare services for students.
Contention
There were no notable points of contention raised during the discussions surrounding Bill S01224. The unanimous votes in both chambers suggest that there was broad agreement among legislators regarding the necessity of ensuring that school-based health services remain accessible to medical assistance recipients without the complications of managed care programs.
Provides parity to durable medical equipment providers by requiring Medicaid managed care organizations to reimburse such providers at no less than one hundred percent of the medical assistance durable medical equipment fee schedule for the same service or item.