A09648 Summary:
BILL NO | A09648A |
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SAME AS | SAME AS S08395 |
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SPONSOR | Reyes |
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COSPNSR | |
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MLTSPNSR | |
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Add 206-c, Pub Health L | |
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Authorizes the commissioner of health to issue a statewide standing order for the provision of doula services. |
A09648 Actions:
BILL NO | A09648A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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03/27/2024 | referred to health | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
04/08/2024 | amend (t) and recommit to health | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
04/08/2024 | print number 9648a |
A09648 Memo:
Go to topNEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)   BILL NUMBER: A9648A SPONSOR: Reyes
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public health law, in relation to directing the commissioner of health to issue a statewide standing order for the provision of doula services   PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: Requires the Department of Health Commissioner to issue a standing order for doula services that waives the requirement of recommendation from a licensed physician, eliminating unnecessary barriers for all qualifying Medicaid providers and patients, and ensuring utilization of doula services   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1. Amends the public health law by adding a new section 206-c to issue a non-patient specific statewide standing order for the provision of doula services for pregnant, birthing, and postpartum individuals through twelve months postpartum. Section 2. Establishes the effective date.   JUSTIFICATION: New York State ranks 23rd in the nation in maternal mortality. Pregnant persons of low-income or from other underprivileged communities are more likely to experience birthing challenges, complications, and even death. Especially concerning, is that Black and American Indian/Alaska Native birthing persons experienced pregnancy-related deaths at ratios four to five times that of non-Hispanic white birthing persons. In response to the growing crisis, and as a result of continued advocacy from mothers, doulas, organizations, and legislators from across the state, the Executive Budget outlined the inclusion of doula services to be covered under the States Medicaid system. A State Plan Amendment was filed in December of 2023, providing a Medicaid Benefit Design for doula services. In this benefit design, doula services are classified as a preventative medical service. As Medicaid providers, doulas must follow federal guidelines to obtain a recommendation from a licensed practi- tioner to receive reimbursement for services rendered to Medicaid patients. The current state plan amendment requires that anyone must obtain a signature from a licensed physician before doula services can be provided. This requirement creates a barrier for any potential prena- tal, birthing, or postpartum individual, who is seeking doula services. This bill remedies this issue by requiring the Commissioner to issue a standing order for doula services to relinquish any need for said addi- tional signatures. It is vital to assure that all qualifying Medicaid providers and patients have access to doula services. By issuing this standing order for doula coverage, New York will eliminate an unneces- sary hurdle for an extremely vulnerable population and ensure New York- ers can utilize doula services without an individualized recommendation from a licensed physician.   LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2023-24: New Bill   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: To be determined.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.
A09648 Text:
Go to top STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 9648--A IN ASSEMBLY March 27, 2024 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. REYES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to directing the commissioner of health to issue a statewide standing order for the provision of doula services The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2 206-c to read as follows: 3 § 206-c. Special powers to issue standing orders for doula services. 4 Notwithstanding section sixty-five hundred thirty of the education law, 5 the commissioner shall issue a non-patient specific statewide standing 6 order for the provision of doula services for pregnant, birthing, and 7 postpartum individuals through twelve months postpartum. 8 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD14106-04-4