Senate Bill S8751

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8751
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 8, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee 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
   (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.
 
              

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13909-01-5
 S. 8751                             2
 
   §  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-
 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.