Assembly Bill A9169

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9169
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             October 17, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. ALVAREZ -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Health
 
 AN ACT in relation to establishing the New York-Dominican  health  part-
   nership  act,  creating  a commission to study and develop a framework
   for authorizing New York state-funded  health  services  for  eligible
   seniors  and individuals with disabilities residing part-time or full-
   time in the  Dominican  Republic,  and  to  explore  bilateral  health
   collaboration  between  the state of New York and the Dominican Repub-
   lic; and provides for the repeal of such  provisions  upon  expiration
   thereof
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 the "New York-Dominican health partnership act".
   §  2. Legislative findings and intent. 1. The legislature finds that a
 significant number of New York residents, particularly seniors and indi-
 viduals with disabilities, maintain close cultural, familial, and  resi-
 dential  ties  with  the  Dominican Republic, often residing part of the
 year abroad while remaining eligible for health care and social services
 in New York state.
   2. The legislature further finds that medical services in the  Domini-
 can  Republic  can often be delivered at a substantially lower cost than
 comparable services in New York, while  maintaining  acceptable  quality
 standards, particularly when coordinated through accredited facilities.
   3. It is the intent of this legislation to explore innovative ways to:
   (a)  improve  health care accessibility and affordability for eligible
 New York residents abroad;
   (b) strengthen bilateral cooperation between the state of New York and
 the Dominican Republic in public health, medical  education,  and  elder
 care; and
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13909-01-5
 A. 9169                             2
              

 
   (c)  identify  potential  state-only  pilot programs or federal waiver
 mechanisms that could  permit  Medicaid  or  state  health  benefits  to
 support care provided in certified Dominican medical institutions.
   4.  Nothing  in  this act shall be construed to expand eligibility for
 federal Medicaid expenditures outside the United States, unless express-
 ly authorized by federal law or waiver.
   § 3.  Establishment  of  the  New  York-Dominican  health  partnership
 commission. 1. There is hereby established the New York-Dominican health
 partnership commission ("the commission").
   2. The commission shall consist of nine members, appointed as follows:
   (a) The commissioner of health, or their designee;
   (b) The commissioner of the office for the aging, or their designee;
   (c)  The commissioner of temporary and disability assistance, or their
 designee;
   (d) One member appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
   (e) One member appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
   (f) One member appointed by the governor;
   (g) One member representing the Consulate  General  of  the  Dominican
 Republic in New York;
   (h)  One  expert  in international health policy from a New York-based
 university; and
   (i) One representative from a recognized Dominican community organiza-
 tion in New York state.
   3. The commission shall select from among its  members  a  chairperson
 and vice-chairperson. Members shall serve without compensation but shall
 be  entitled  to  reimbursement  for  necessary expenses incurred in the
 performance of their duties.
   § 4. Duties of the commission. The commission shall:
   1. Conduct a comprehensive study on the  feasibility,  cost-effective-
 ness, and legal requirements of establishing a bilateral health partner-
 ship between the state of New York and the Dominican Republic.
   2. Explore potential models for:
   (a)  state-funded pilot programs allowing qualified New York residents
 to access approved medical services abroad;
   (b) accreditation systems for Dominican health facilities meeting  New
 York public health standards;
   (c) reciprocal telehealth and information exchange programs;
   (d) long-term care partnerships and geriatrics exchange programs; and
   (e)  opportunities  for federal collaboration or waivers under section
 1115 of the Social Security Act.
   3. Assess potential fiscal savings to New York's Medicaid program  and
 economic benefits for both jurisdictions.
   4. Develop recommendations for:
   (a) statutory or regulatory changes required at the state level;
   (b)  potential  memoranda  of understanding (MOUs) or bilateral agree-
 ments between New York and the Dominican Ministry of Public Health; and
   (c) next steps toward implementation of a demonstration project.
   § 5. Reporting. The commission shall submit  a  final  report  of  its
 findings  and recommendations to the governor, the speaker of the assem-
 bly, the temporary president of the senate, and the chairs of the health
 and aging committees no later than eighteen months after  the  effective
 date  of this act. The report shall include proposed statutory language,
 fiscal impact estimates, and an implementation plan for potential  pilot
 initiatives.
   §  6.  Cooperation  of  agencies.  All departments, divisions, boards,
 bureaus, commissions, and agencies of the state and its political subdi-
 A. 9169                             3
 
 visions shall provide the commission with any information and assistance
 it may require in carrying out its duties under this act.
   §  7.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed two years after such date.