S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6002
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
December 6, 2013
___________
Introduced by Sens. HANNON, SEWARD, BONACIC, BOYLE, CARLUCCI, DeFRANCIS-
CO, FARLEY, GOLDEN, GRISANTI, LARKIN, LAVALLE, LITTLE, MAZIARZ,
RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be
committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to the financial
responsibility for and reimbursement of payment for early intervention
services by the state
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 2557 of the public health law, as
amended by section 4 of part C of chapter 1 of the laws of 2002, is
amended to read as follows:
1. The approved costs for an eligible child who receives an evaluation
and early intervention services pursuant to this title shall be a charge
upon the municipality wherein the eligible child resides AND THE STATE
or, where the services are covered by the medical assistance program,
upon the social services district of fiscal responsibility with respect
to those eligible children who are also eligible for medical assistance.
All approved costs shall be paid IN FULL AT THE STATE APPROVED EARLY
INTERVENTION RATE in the first instance [and at least quarterly by the
appropriate governing body or officer of the municipality upon vouchers
presented and audited in the same manner as the case of other claims
against the municipality] BY THE STATE OR ITS DESIGNATED FISCAL AGENT TO
A PROVIDER WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF THE RECEIPT BY THE STATE OR ITS DESIG-
NATED STATE FISCAL AGENT OF AN INITIAL CLAIM FROM A PROVIDER. WHERE A
PROVIDER'S ASSIGNMENT IS CALLED FOR UNDER PARAGRAPH (D) OF SUBDIVISION
THREE OF SECTION TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY-NINE OF THIS TITLE, THE
ASSIGNMENT SHALL BE PART OF THE PROVIDER'S CLAIM. Notwithstanding the
insurance law or regulations thereunder relating to the permissible
exclusion of payments for services under governmental programs, no such
exclusion shall apply with respect to payments made pursuant to this
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13146-02-3
S. 6002 2
title. Notwithstanding the insurance law or any other law or agreement
to the contrary, benefits under this title shall be considered secondary
to any plan of insurance or state government benefit program under which
an eligible child may have coverage. Nothing in this section shall
increase or enhance coverages provided for within an insurance contract
subject to the provisions of this title.
S 2. The opening paragraph of paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of
section 2559 of the public health law, as amended by section 11 of part
A of chapter 56 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
[Providers of evaluations and early intervention services, hereinafter
collectively referred to in this subdivision as "provider" or "provid-
ers",] THE STATE OR ITS DESIGNATED FISCAL AGENT shall [in the first
instance and], where applicable, seek payment from all third party
payors including governmental agencies [prior to claiming payment from a
given municipality] for evaluations conducted under the program and for
services rendered to eligible children, provided that, the obligation to
seek payment shall not apply to a payment from a third party payor who
is not prohibited from applying such payment, and will apply such
payment, to an annual or lifetime limit specified in the insured's poli-
cy. THE STATE OR ITS DESIGNATED FISCAL AGENT SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
FILING AND CONDUCTING ALL APPEALS OF PAYMENT DENIALS BY ALL THIRD PARTY
PAYORS INCLUDING GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, AND TRACKING CLAIMS SUBMITTED TO
ALL THIRD PARTY PAYORS INCLUDING GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES.
S 3. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 2559 of the public
health law is amended by adding a new subparagraph (iv) to read as
follows:
(IV) THE FISCAL AGENT SHALL, AT LEAST QUARTERLY, CONDUCT A RECONCIL-
IATION OF THIRD PARTY REIMBURSEMENT PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION AND
PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT AT LEVELS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS TITLE TO THE
STATE AND MUNICIPALITIES.
S 4. Paragraph (d) of subdivision 3 of section 2559 of the public
health law, as amended by section 11 of part A of chapter 56 of the laws
of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
(d) A municipality, or its designee, and [a provider] THE STATE OR ITS
DESIGNATED FISCAL AGENT shall be subrogated, to the extent of the
expenditures by such municipality or for early intervention services
furnished to persons eligible for benefits under this title, to any
rights such person may have or be entitled to from third party
reimbursement. The [provider] STATE OR ITS DESIGNATED FISCAL AGENT shall
submit notice to the insurer or plan administrator of [his or her] ITS
exercise of such right of subrogation [upon the provider's assignment as
the early intervention service provider for the child]. The right of
subrogation does not attach to benefits paid or provided under any
health insurance policy or health benefits plan prior to receipt of
written notice of the exercise of subrogation rights by the insurer or
plan administrator providing such benefits.
S 5. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
have become a law, and (a) shall apply to any claim for payment by a
provider for services under title 2-A of article 25 of the public health
law that has not been fully paid pursuant to such title on or after such
effective date, whether filed before or after the effective date of this
act and (b) effective immediately, the commissioner of health is author-
ized and directed to promulgate regulations and take all actions neces-
sary and appropriate to implement the provisions of this act on its
effective date.