BILL NUMBER: S6575

SPONSOR: SAVINO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to making care and
services provided by licensed mental health practitioners eligible for
coverage under the Medicaid program

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to enable mental health practitioners
licensed pursuant to Article 163 of the Education law to bill Medicaid
directly for their services.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Amends Subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the social services law to
enable mental health practitioners licensed pursuant to Article 163 of
the Education law to bill Medicaid directly for their services within
their scope of practice.

              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill would allow licensed mental health practitioners to bill Medi-
caid directly for the services they provide. The status quo of excluding
mental health practitioners licensed under Article 163 of the Education
law from recognized providers within the Medicaid program results in
undue hardship for individuals, families, and communities, and a lack of
transparency in Medicaid billing.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one
in four American adults suffers from a mental illness, making the work
performed by all mental health professionals, including licensed mental
health practitioners, crucial to the provision of healthcare.  Individ-
uals in need of mental health care should be able to receive treatment
from appropriately licensed providers, and providers should be able to
bill Medicaid directly for their covered services.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019 - S3421 - passed both houses, vetoed by the Governor (VM 145 of
2019)

2018 - S.3981 - referred to Health, no further action

2017 - S.3981 passed-Senate (62-0) 2016 -S.7067 passed-Senate (61-0)

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
the ninety-first day after it shall have become a law.