Senate Bill S980A

                                BILL NUMBER:S980A

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the social services law, in relation to medicaid reimbursement
of private duty nursing services and care

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To increase Medicaid beneficiaries access to quality health care
services by increasing Medicaid fees for private duty nursing services.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one of this bill would add a new Section 365-o to the Social
Services Law governing reimbursement of private duty nursing services.
The bill would allocate $15 million in State Fiscal Year (SFY)
2012-2013 to increase reimbursement under the Medicaid program for
private duty nursing services for the period July 1, 2012 to March
31, 2013. The bill would allocate $20 million for such reimbursement
on annual fiscal year basis thereafter.

JUSTIFICATION:
The State is currently experiencing a very serious shortage in private
duty nursing. This shortage is due to a variety of factors including
the lowest unemployment rate in over a decade, and rates of
reimbursement in both the commercial and government sectors that have
not kept pace with market demands. In some areas of the State, the
              

Medicaid rates for private duty nursing have not changed in over a
decade.

The nursing shortage is making it difficult to recruit and retain
qualified nurses, particularly in specialty areas such as nursing
care for medically and technologically dependent children and adults.
This bill would provide the resources necessary to assist in
recruiting and retaining qualified nursing care for the State's most
vulnerable population - Medicaid beneficiaries. In addition to easing
the workforce shortage in nursing and increasing access to quality
care, the bill would provide badly needed respite to family members
who are struggling to care for medically complex children and adults.
The bill will reduce Medicaid costs over the long term by reducing
unnecessary hospitalization that are the result of a lack of access
to community care.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate:
2009-10:   S.5040 - Referred to Health
2007-08:   S.124A - Referred to Social Services
2005-06:   S.175A - Referred to Social Services
2003-04:   S.832A - Referred to Social Services
2001-02:   S.1732 - Referred to Social Services
1999-00:   S.7353 - Referred to Social Services

Assembly:
2009-10: A.692   -  (Jacobs) Referred to Social Services
2007-08: A.2290A -  Referred to Social Services, Reported to
                    Ways & Means
2005-06: A.1182A -  Referred to Social Services


2003-04: A.1558  -  Referred to Social Services
2001-02: A.78    -  Referred to Social Services
1999-00: A.9932  -  Referred to Social Services, Reported to
                    Ways & Means

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
This bill will increase the Status share of Medicaid costs by an
estimated $15 million in
SFY 2012-2013. However, the bill will likely
decrease Medicaid costs over the long term through the provision of
more timely care and a decrease in institutional costs.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
July 1, 2012