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A02018 Summary:

BILL NOA02018A
 
SAME ASSAME AS S02332-A
 
SPONSORPaulin
 
COSPNSRShrestha, Clark, Rosenthal, Levenberg, Gallagher, Carroll R, Shimsky, Simon, Dinowitz, Santabarbara, Steck, Eachus, Lupardo, Epstein, Bichotte Hermelyn, Kelles, Mamdani, Weprin, Gibbs, Reyes, Gonzalez-Rojas, Tapia, Forrest, Seawright, Colton, Braunstein, Meeks, Bronson, Conrad, Burdick, Kim, Hunter, Simone, De Los Santos, Mitaynes, Taylor, Alvarez, Benedetto, Davila, Sayegh, Zinerman, Hyndman, Raga, Anderson, McDonough, Griffin, Schiavoni
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Rpld & add §4403-f, rpld §2807-x, amd §§2801-e, 2807-v, 3605, 3614 & 4409, Pub Health L; amd §§365-a, 364-j, 364-jj, 365-f, 365-h & 366, Soc Serv L; amd §218, Eld L; amd §13.40, Ment Hyg L
 
Repeals managed long term care provisions for Medicaid recipients; establishes provisions for fully integrated plans for long term care including PACE and MAP plans.
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A02018 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                         2018--A
 
                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    January 14, 2025
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of A. PAULIN, SHRESTHA, CLARK, ROSENTHAL, LEVENBERG,
          GALLAGHER, R. CARROLL, SHIMSKY, SIMON, DINOWITZ, SANTABARBARA,  STECK,
          EACHUS,  LUPARDO,  BICHOTTE HERMELYN,  KELLES,  WEPRIN,  GIBBS, REYES,
          GONZALEZ-ROJAS, TAPIA, FORREST, SEAWRIGHT, COLTON, BRAUNSTEIN,  MEEKS,
          BRONSON,   CONRAD,   BURDICK,   KIM,  HUNTER,  SIMONE,  DE LOS SANTOS,
          MITAYNES, TAYLOR, ALVAREZ, BENEDETTO, DAVILA, SAYEGH, ZINERMAN,  HYND-
          MAN,  RAGA,  ANDERSON,  McDONOUGH, GRIFFIN, SCHIAVONI -- read once and
          referred to the Committee on Health -- recommitted to the Committee on
          Health in accordance  with  Assembly  Rule  3,  sec.  2  --  committee
          discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
          to said committee
 
        AN  ACT  to  amend  the  public health law, the social services law, the
          elder law and the mental hygiene law, in relation to  long  term  care
          options;  and  to  repeal  certain provisions of the public health law
          relating to managed long term care
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section  1.  Legislative  intent.   The state, as part of an ambitious
     2  effort to move all Medicaid recipients to some  form  of  managed  care,
     3  moved  those in need of home and community-based long term care services
     4  for over a one hundred twenty day period into  managed  long  term  care
     5  plans  on  a  mandatory basis over ten years ago. The original intent of
     6  the MLTC program was that the managed long term care plans would develop
     7  into fully capitated plans over time. This has not happened.
     8    Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to repeal the partially
     9  capitated managed long term care program and instead, provide  appropri-
    10  ate  home  and  community-based long term care benefits under a fee-for-
    11  service arrangement. Fully capitated programs such as the  PACE  program
    12  shall continue to be an option. This transition shall not be implemented
    13  until  the  commissioner  of  health is satisfied that all necessary and

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD05134-07-6

        A. 2018--A                          2
 
     1  appropriate transition planning has occurred, and federal approvals have
     2  been obtained.
     3    §  2.  Section  4403-f  of the public health law is REPEALED and a new
     4  section 4403-f is added to read as follows:
     5    § 4403-f. Long term care options. 1.  The following words or  phrases,
     6  as used in this section, shall have the following meanings:
     7    (a)  "Program  of all-inclusive care of the elderly" or "PACE" means a
     8  fully capitated federally recognized model  of  comprehensive  care  for
     9  persons  fifty-five years of age or older that are eligible for medicaid
    10  and may also be eligible  for  Medicare,  qualifying  for  nursing  home
    11  levels of care who wish to remain in their community (see, Sections 1894
    12  and  1934  to Title XVIII of the Social Security Act; 42 CFR 460), which
    13  are licensed to operate under article twenty-nine-EE of this chapter.
    14    (b) "Medicaid advantage plus program" or "MAP" means a fully capitated
    15  state developed model of comprehensive care for persons  eighteen  years
    16  of  age  or  older  that are eligible for Medicaid and also eligible for
    17  medicare, qualifying for nursing home levels of care.
    18    (c) "Care coordination entity"  means  an  entity  that  has  obtained
    19  approval  from  the  commissioner based on guidelines established by the
    20  department to promote continuity of care and  coordination  of  services
    21  for  all  enrollees.    The  entity  may  be  organized as a health home
    22  specially  certified  by the  commissioner to serve home and  community-
    23  based  services  eligible  recipients, but this shall not preclude other
    24  organizational structures as determined by the commissioner.
    25    2. The commissioner shall submit the  appropriate  waivers,  including
    26  but  not limited to those authorized pursuant to sections eleven hundred
    27  fifteen and nineteen hundred fifteen of the federal social security  act
    28  or  successor  provisions, and any other waivers necessary to require on
    29  or after April first,  two  thousand  twenty-eight,  medical  assistance
    30  recipients  who  are eighteen years of age or older and who require long
    31  term care services, as specified by the commissioner, for  a  continuous
    32  period  of  more  than one hundred twenty days, to receive such services
    33  through an available fully integrated plan including a PACE or MAP plan,
    34  or through a fee-for-service based model with services coordinated by  a
    35  care coordination entity. The commissioner shall establish guidelines on
    36  the  establishment  and  operation  of  care coordination entities. Such
    37  guidelines shall  address  the  payment  methods  that  ensure  provider
    38  accountability  for  cost  effective quality outcomes.   Such guidelines
    39  shall include a provision for the development of an individualized  plan
    40  of  care  that  contains a holistic evaluation of the recipient's needs.
    41  Copies of such waiver  applications  and  amendments  thereto  shall  be
    42  provided  to  the  chairs  of the senate finance committee, the assembly
    43  ways and means committee and the senate and assembly  health  committees
    44  before their submission to the federal government.
    45    3.  Persons  that  are  determined  eligible to receive long term care
    46  services through PACE or MAP, or through a fee-for-service  based  model
    47  with  services  coordinated  by  a  care coordination entity established
    48  pursuant to subdivision two of this section shall have  at least  thirty
    49  days  to  select a PACE or MAP provider, or care coordination entity and
    50  shall  be provided with information to make an informed choice. Where  a
    51  participant  has not selected such a provider or care coordination enti-
    52  ty,  the commissioner shall assign such participant to  a  care  coordi-
    53  nation  entity taking into account consistency with any prior community-
    54  based direct care workers having recently served the recipient,  quality
    55  performance criteria, capacity and geographic accessibility.

        A. 2018--A                          3
 
     1    §  3.  Subdivision  2  of  section 365-a of the social services law is
     2  amended by adding two new paragraphs (oo) and (pp) to read as follows:
     3    (oo)  The  department  shall  promulgate  regulations for all Medicaid
     4  enrollees receiving services through a fee-for-service model pursuant to
     5  section forty-four hundred three-f of the public health law that include
     6  the establishment and operation of care coordination entities to promote
     7  continuity of care and coordination of  services  to  ensure  that  each
     8  enrollee  has  an  ongoing  source of care appropriate to their needs as
     9  required by 42 CFR § 438.208.   Such regulations  shall  provide  for  a
    10  minimum number of care coordination entities in order to ensure enrollee
    11  choice.   There shall be a minimum of two care coordination entities per
    12  county.   The regulations shall include  conflict-free  case  management
    13  protections  to  ensure that assessment and coordination of services are
    14  separate from the delivery of those services. In selecting providers  of
    15  case management services, the department shall prioritize providers with
    16  proven  experience  serving populations receiving home and personal care
    17  services.
    18    (pp) The department shall conduct an evaluation of  the  viability  of
    19  utilizing  care coordination entities operating pursuant to this section
    20  for assessments or reassessments required for  determining  an  individ-
    21  ual's needs for services that are controlled by the independent assessor
    22  established  pursuant to subdivision ten of section three hundred sixty-
    23  five-a of this title.
    24    § 4. Stakeholder engagement.  1.  The  commissioner  of  health  shall
    25  convene  an advisory group composed of stakeholder representatives which
    26  shall seek input from representatives of home and  community-based  long
    27  term  care  services  providers,  including representative associations,
    28  recipients, the department of health, local social  services  districts,
    29  and the direct care workforce, among others, to:
    30    (a)  further evaluate and promote the transition of persons in receipt
    31  of home and community-based long term care services into fee-for-service
    32  arrangements, where appropriate, and  to  develop  guidelines  for  such
    33  care; and
    34    (b)  determine  a  process  to transition providers, including but not
    35  limited to licensed home care services agencies, certified  home  health
    36  agencies,  and fiscal intermediaries, to a fee-for-service reimbursement
    37  system.
    38    2. In implementing the  transition  to  a  fee-for-service  model  the
    39  commissioner  of health, in consultation with the advisory group, shall,
    40  to the extent practicable, consider and  select  programs  and  policies
    41  that  seek to maximize continuity of care and minimize disruption to the
    42  provider labor workforce,  and  shall  continue  to  support  providers,
    43  licensed home care services agencies, and fiscal intermediaries that are
    44  based  on  a  commitment  to quality and value; provided that nothing in
    45  this subdivision shall supersede or invalidate any contracts  or  awards
    46  provided to fiscal intermediaries pursuant to subdivision 4-a of section
    47  365-f of the social services law, provided that the provisions of subdi-
    48  vision  4-b  of  section  365-f  of  the social services law shall still
    49  apply, or contracts or awards provided to licensed  home  care  services
    50  agencies pursuant to section 3605-c of the public health law.
    51    3. The commissioner of health shall report biannually on the implemen-
    52  tation  of  this  section. The reports shall include, but not be limited
    53  to: (a) satisfaction of enrollees with care coordination/case management
    54  and timeliness of care; (b) service utilization data  including  changes
    55  in the level, hours, frequency, and types of services and providers; (c)
    56  enrollment  data;  (d)  quality  data;  and  (e)  continuity of care for

        A. 2018--A                          4
 
     1  participants as they move out of managed long term  care  and  into  the
     2  fee-for-service  model. The commissioner shall publish the report on the
     3  department's website and provide notice to the  temporary  president  of
     4  the  senate, the speaker of the assembly, the chair of the senate stand-
     5  ing committee on health and the chair of the assembly health committee.
     6    4. The commissioner of health shall seek input from representatives of
     7  home and community-based long term care services providers,  recipients,
     8  and  the  Medicaid  managed care advisory review panel, among others, to
     9  assist in the development of guidelines for the establishment and opera-
    10  tion of care coordination entities pursuant to  section  4403-f  of  the
    11  public  health  law. The guidelines shall be finalized and posted on the
    12  department of health's website no later than November first,  two  thou-
    13  sand twenty-seven.
    14    §  5.  Paragraph  (o)  of subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the social
    15  services law, as added by chapter 659 of the laws of 1997, is amended to
    16  read as follows:
    17    (o) care and services furnished by a [managed long term care  plan  or
    18  approved managed long term care demonstration pursuant to the provisions
    19  of]  PACE  or  MAP  plan as such terms are defined by section forty-four
    20  hundred three-f of the public health law to eligible individuals [resid-
    21  ing in the geographic area] served by such entity,  when  such  services
    22  are  furnished  in  accordance  with an agreement with the department of
    23  health and meet the applicable requirements of  federal  law  and  regu-
    24  lation.
    25    §  6.  Subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (e) of subdivision 2 of section
    26  365-a of the social services law, as amended by section 36-a of  part  B
    27  of chapter 57 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
    28    (iii)  the  commissioner shall provide assistance to persons receiving
    29  services under this paragraph who are transitioning  to  receiving  care
    30  from  a  [managed long term care plan certified pursuant to] PACE or MAP
    31  plan as such terms are defined by section forty-four hundred three-f  of
    32  the public health law, consistent with subdivision thirty-one of section
    33  three hundred sixty-four-j of this title;
    34    §  7.  Subdivision  10 of section 365-a of the social services law, as
    35  amended by section 25 of part B of chapter 57 of the laws  of  2025,  is
    36  amended to read as follows:
    37    10.  The  department of health shall establish or procure the services
    38  of an independent assessor or assessors no later than October  1,  2022,
    39  in a manner and schedule as determined by the commissioner of health, to
    40  take  over  from  local  departments  of social services[,] and Medicaid
    41  Managed Care providers, [and Medicaid  managed  long  term  care  plans]
    42  including  a MAP plan, or a PACE plan if the PACE plan elects to utilize
    43  the independent assessor as such terms are defined by section forty-four
    44  hundred three-f of the public health law, the performance of assessments
    45  and  reassessments  required  for  determining  individuals'  needs  for
    46  personal  care  services,  including  as  provided  through the consumer
    47  directed personal assistance program, and  other  services  or  programs
    48  available  pursuant  to the state's medical assistance program as deter-
    49  mined by such commissioner for  the  purpose  of  improving  efficiency,
    50  quality,  and  reliability  in assessment [and to determine individuals'
    51  eligibility for Medicaid managed long term care plans].  Notwithstanding
    52  the  provisions  of section one hundred sixty-three of the state finance
    53  law, or sections one hundred forty-two and one  hundred  forty-three  of
    54  the  economic  development  law,  or  any  contrary  provision  of  law,
    55  contracts may be entered or the commissioner may amend  and  extend  the
    56  terms of a contract awarded prior to the effective date and entered into

        A. 2018--A                          5
 
     1  to  conduct  enrollment broker and conflict-free evaluation services for
     2  the Medicaid program, if such contract or contract amendment is for  the
     3  purpose of procuring such assessment services from an independent asses-
     4  sor.  Contracts  entered  into,  amended,  or  extended pursuant to this
     5  subdivision shall not remain in force beyond September 30, [2025] 2028.
     6    § 8. Paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of section 218 of the  elder  law,
     7  as  amended  by section 1 of chapter 259 of the laws of 2018, is amended
     8  to read as follows:
     9    (d) "Long-term care facilities" shall  mean  residential  health  care
    10  facilities  as  defined  in  subdivision  three  of section twenty-eight
    11  hundred one of the public health law; adult care facilities  as  defined
    12  in  subdivision  twenty-one  of  section two of the social services law,
    13  including those adult homes and enriched housing  programs  licensed  as
    14  assisted  living  residences,  pursuant  to  article  forty-six-B of the
    15  public health law; or any facilities which hold themselves out or adver-
    16  tise themselves as providing assisted  living  services  and  which  are
    17  required  to  be  licensed or certified under the social services law or
    18  the public health law. Within the amounts appropriated therefor,  "long-
    19  term  care facilities" shall also mean [managed long-term care plans and
    20  approved managed long-term care or operating demonstrations] a  PACE  or
    21  MAP plan as such terms are defined in section forty-four hundred three-f
    22  of the public health law and the term "resident", "residents", "patient"
    23  and "patients" shall also include enrollees of such plans.
    24    §  9. Subdivisions (a), (c), (d), (f), the opening paragraph of subdi-
    25  vision (g) and subdivision (h) of section 13.40 of  the  mental  hygiene
    26  law, subdivisions (a), (d), (f) and the opening paragraph of subdivision
    27  (g)  as  added  by  section  72-b of part A of chapter 56 of the laws of
    28  2013, subdivision (c) as amended by section 17 of part Z of  chapter  57
    29  of the laws of 2018, and subdivision (h) as added by section 1 of part D
    30  of chapter 58 of the laws of 2014, are amended to read as follows:
    31    (a)  The  commissioner  and  the  commissioner of health shall jointly
    32  establish a people first waiver program for  purposes  of  developing  a
    33  care  coordination  model that integrates various long-term habilitation
    34  supports and/or health care.  The  people  first  waiver  program  shall
    35  include  the use of developmental disability individual support and care
    36  coordination organizations, herein referred to as  DISCOs,  pursuant  to
    37  section  forty-four  hundred  three-g  of  the public health law, health
    38  maintenance  organizations,  herein  referred  to  as  HMOs,   providing
    39  services  under subdivision eight of section forty-four hundred three of
    40  the public health law, and  [managed]  long  term  care  [plans,  herein
    41  referred  to as MLTCs] options, providing or coordinating services under
    42  [subdivisions twelve,  thirteen  and  fourteen  of]  section  forty-four
    43  hundred three-f of the public health law.  Services shall be provided as
    44  described  in  section  forty-four  hundred three-g of the public health
    45  law, subdivision eight of section forty-four hundred three of the public
    46  health law, and [subdivisions twelve, thirteen and fourteen of]  section
    47  forty-four hundred three-f of the public health law.
    48    (c)  No  person  with  a  developmental disability who is receiving or
    49  applying for medical assistance and who is  receiving,  or  eligible  to
    50  receive, services operated, funded, certified, authorized or approved by
    51  the  office,  shall be required to enroll in a DISCO, HMO or [MLTC] long
    52  term care option  in  order  to  receive  such  services  until  program
    53  features  and  reimbursement  rates are approved by the commissioner and
    54  the commissioner of health, and until such commissioners determine  that
    55  a  sufficient number of plans that are authorized to coordinate care for
    56  individuals pursuant to this section or that are authorized  to  operate

        A. 2018--A                          6
 
     1  and to exclusively enroll persons with developmental disabilities pursu-
     2  ant to subdivision twenty-seven of section three hundred sixty-four-j of
     3  the  social  services law are operating in such person's county of resi-
     4  dence  to meet the needs of persons with developmental disabilities, and
     5  that such entities meet the standards of this section. No  person  shall
     6  be required to enroll in a DISCO, HMO or [MLTC] long term care option in
     7  order  to  receive  services  operated, funded, certified, authorized or
     8  approved by the office until there are at least two  entities  operating
     9  under  this section in such person's county of residence, unless federal
    10  approval is secured to require enrollment when there are less  than  two
    11  such entities operating in such county. Notwithstanding the foregoing or
    12  any other law to the contrary, any health care provider: (i) enrolled in
    13  the  Medicaid program and (ii) rendering hospital services, as such term
    14  is defined in section twenty-eight hundred one of the public health law,
    15  to an individual with a developmental disability who is  enrolled  in  a
    16  DISCO, HMO or [MLTC] long term care option, or a prepaid health services
    17  plan  operating  pursuant  to  section forty-four hundred three-a of the
    18  public health law, including, but not limited to, an individual  who  is
    19  enrolled in a plan authorized by section three hundred sixty-four-j [or]
    20  of the social services law, shall accept as full reimbursement the nego-
    21  tiated  rate or, in the event that there is no negotiated rate, the rate
    22  of payment that the applicable government agency would otherwise pay for
    23  such rendered hospital services.
    24    (d) DISCOs, HMOs and [MLTCs] long term care  options  operating  under
    25  this  section  shall  ensure,  to  the greatest extent practicable, that
    26  their assessment, services, and the grievance and appeals processes  are
    27  culturally and linguistically competent.
    28    (f) There shall be a joint advisory council chaired by the commission-
    29  er  and  the  commissioner of health that shall be charged with advising
    30  both commissioners in regard to the oversight of DISCOs, HMOs  providing
    31  services  under subdivision eight of section forty-four hundred three of
    32  the public health law, and [MLTCs]  long  term  care  options  providing
    33  services  under  [subdivisions twelve, thirteen and fourteen of] section
    34  forty-four hundred three-f of the public health law. The joint  advisory
    35  council may be comprised of the members of existing advisory councils or
    36  similar entities serving the office, provided that it shall be comprised
    37  of  twelve  members,  including individuals with developmental disabili-
    38  ties, family members of, advocates for, and  providers  of  services  to
    39  people with developmental disabilities. Three members of the joint advi-
    40  sory  council shall also be members of the special advisory review panel
    41  on medicaid managed care established under section three hundred  sixty-
    42  four-jj  of  the  social  services law. The joint advisory council shall
    43  review all managed care options provided to  individuals  with  develop-
    44  mental  disabilities,  including: the adequacy of habilitation services;
    45  the record of compliance with person-centered planning,  person-centered
    46  services  and  community  integration;  the  adequacy  of  rates paid to
    47  providers in accordance with the provisions of [paragraph one of  subdi-
    48  vision  four  of]  section forty-four hundred three of the public health
    49  law, paragraph [a-two] (a-2) of subdivision eight of section  forty-four
    50  hundred  three  of the public health law or [paragraph a-two of subdivi-
    51  sion twelve of] section forty-four hundred three-f of the public  health
    52  law;  and  quality  of life, health, safety and community integration of
    53  individuals with developmental disabilities enrolled  in  managed  care.
    54  The commissioner and commissioner of the office for people with develop-
    55  mental  disabilities or their designees shall attend all meetings of the
    56  joint advisory council. The joint  advisory  council  shall  report  its

        A. 2018--A                          7
 
     1  findings,  recommendations,  and  any  proposed  amendments to pertinent
     2  sections of the law to the commissioner and the commissioner of  health,
     3  the  senate majority leader and speaker of the assembly. The joint advi-
     4  sory  council  shall  have access to any and all information that may be
     5  lawfully disclosed to it and that is necessary to perform its  functions
     6  under this section.
     7    Notwithstanding  any  inconsistent  provision  of sections one hundred
     8  twelve and one hundred sixty-three of the state finance law, or  section
     9  one  hundred forty-two of the economic development law, or any other law
    10  to the contrary, the commissioner and the  commissioner  of  health  are
    11  authorized  to  enter  into a contract or contracts under section forty-
    12  four hundred three-g of the public  health  law,  subdivision  eight  of
    13  section forty-four hundred three of the public health law, and [subdivi-
    14  sion  twelve of] section forty-four hundred three-f of the public health
    15  law, provided, however, that:
    16    (h) Consistent with and subject to the terms of federal approval,  the
    17  commissioner  shall establish the managed care for persons with develop-
    18  mental disabilities advocacy program, hereinafter  referred  to  as  the
    19  advocacy  program. The activities of the advocacy program shall be coor-
    20  dinated with the  independent  Medicaid  managed  care  ombuds  services
    21  provided  to  persons  with  disabilities  enrolling in Medicaid managed
    22  care. The advocacy program shall advise individuals of applicable rights
    23  and responsibilities, provide information and assistance to address  the
    24  needs of individuals with disabilities, and pursue legal, administrative
    25  and other appropriate remedies or approaches to ensure the protection of
    26  and advocacy for the rights of the enrollees. The advocacy program shall
    27  provide  support to eligible individuals with developmental disabilities
    28  enrolling in developmental disability individual support and care  coor-
    29  dination organizations pursuant to section forty-four hundred three-g of
    30  the  public  health  law,  health  maintenance  organizations  providing
    31  services pursuant to subdivision eight  of  section  forty-four  hundred
    32  three of the public health law, [managed long term care plans] long term
    33  care options providing services under [subdivisions twelve, thirteen and
    34  fourteen  of]  section  forty-four  hundred three-f of the public health
    35  law, and fully integrated dual advantage plans providing services  under
    36  subdivision  twenty-seven  of  section three hundred sixty-four-j of the
    37  social services law. The commissioner shall select an independent organ-
    38  ization or organizations to provide advocacy services under this  subdi-
    39  vision.
    40    §  10.  Paragraph (c) of subdivision 6 of section 2801-e of the public
    41  health law, as amended by chapter 257 of the laws of 2005, is amended to
    42  read as follows:
    43    (c) The commissioner may, as necessary, waive  existing  methodologies
    44  for  determining  public  need under this article, article thirty-six of
    45  this chapter and article seven of the social services law[, as  well  as
    46  enrollment  limitations under section forty-four hundred three-f of this
    47  chapter,] to accommodate permanent conversions of beds to other programs
    48  or services on the basis that any such increases in capacity are  linked
    49  to  commensurate  reductions  in  the  number of residential health care
    50  facility beds.
    51    § 11. The opening paragraph of paragraph (ccc)  of  subdivision  1  of
    52  section  2807-v  of  the  public health law, as amended by section 12 of
    53  part C of chapter 57 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows:
    54    Funds shall be deposited by the commissioner, within amounts appropri-
    55  ated, and the state comptroller is hereby  authorized  and  directed  to
    56  receive for the deposit to the credit of the state special revenue funds

        A. 2018--A                          8
 
     1  -  other, HCRA transfer fund, medical assistance account, or any succes-
     2  sor fund or  account,  for  purposes  of  funding  the  state  share  of
     3  increases  in  the  rates  for certified home health agencies, long term
     4  home health care programs, AIDS home care programs, hospice programs and
     5  [managed]  long  term  care  [plans  and approved managed long term care
     6  operating demonstrations as defined in] options  in  section  forty-four
     7  hundred  three-f of this chapter for recruitment and retention of health
     8  care workers pursuant to subdivisions nine and ten of section thirty-six
     9  hundred fourteen of this chapter from the tobacco control and  insurance
    10  initiatives  pool established for the following periods in the following
    11  amounts:
    12    § 12. Section 2807-x of the public health law is REPEALED.
    13    § 13. Subdivision 8 of section 3605  of  the  public  health  law,  as
    14  amended  by  section  49 of part D of chapter 56 of the laws of 2012, is
    15  amended to read as follows:
    16    8. Agencies licensed pursuant to this section but not certified pursu-
    17  ant to section [three thousand six  hundred  eight]  thirty-six  hundred
    18  eight  of  this article, shall not be qualified to participate as a home
    19  health agency under the provisions of title XVIII or XIX of the  federal
    20  Social  Security  Act  provided, however, an agency which has a contract
    21  with a state agency or its locally designated office or, as specified by
    22  the commissioner, with a managed care organization participating in  the
    23  managed  care  program  established  pursuant  to  section three hundred
    24  sixty-four-j of the social services law or with  a  [managed  long  term
    25  care  plan  established  pursuant to] PACE or MAP plan as such terms are
    26  defined by section forty-four  hundred  three-f  of  this  chapter,  may
    27  receive  reimbursement  under  title  XIX of the federal Social Security
    28  Act.
    29    § 14. The opening paragraph of subdivision 9 of section  3614  of  the
    30  public  health  law, as amended by section 56 of part A of chapter 56 of
    31  the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
    32    Notwithstanding any law  to  the  contrary,  the  commissioner  shall,
    33  subject  to  the availability of federal financial participation, adjust
    34  medical assistance rates of payment for certified home  health  agencies
    35  for  such  services provided to children under eighteen years of age and
    36  for services provided to a special needs population of medically complex
    37  and fragile children, adolescents and young disabled adults  by  a  CHHA
    38  operating  under  a  pilot program approved by the department, long term
    39  home health care programs, AIDS home care programs established  pursuant
    40  to  this  article,  hospice  programs established under article forty of
    41  this chapter and for  [managed]  long  term  care  [plans  and  approved
    42  managed  long  term care operating demonstrations as defined in] options
    43  under section forty-four hundred three-f of this chapter.  Such  adjust-
    44  ments  shall  be  for  purposes  of  improving recruitment, training and
    45  retention of home health aides or other personnel  with  direct  patient
    46  care responsibility in the following aggregate amounts for the following
    47  periods:
    48    §  15.  Paragraph  (a) of subdivision 10 of section 3614 of the public
    49  health law, as amended by section 57 of part A of chapter 56 of the laws
    50  of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
    51    (a) Such adjustments to rates of payments shall be  allocated  propor-
    52  tionally  based  on  each  certified  home health agency, long term home
    53  health care program, AIDS home care and hospice  program's  home  health
    54  aide  or  other  direct  care  services  total  annual  hours of service
    55  provided to medicaid patients, as reported in each  such  agency's  most
    56  recently available cost report as submitted to the department or for the

        A. 2018--A                          9

     1  purpose  of  the  [managed]  long  term care [program] option a suitable
     2  proxy developed by the department in consultation  with  the  interested
     3  parties.  Payments made pursuant to this section shall not be subject to
     4  subsequent  adjustment or reconciliation; provided that such adjustments
     5  to rates of payments to certified home health agencies shall only be for
     6  that portion of services provided to children under  eighteen  years  of
     7  age and for services provided to a special needs population of medically
     8  complex and fragile children, adolescents and young disabled adults by a
     9  CHHA operating under a pilot program approved by the department.
    10    §  16.  Paragraph  (b)  of subdivision 2 of section 4409 of the public
    11  health law, as added by section 5 of part NN of chapter 57 of  the  laws
    12  of 2023, is amended to read as follows:
    13    (b)  The department is authorized to address to any health maintenance
    14  organization, and [managed long term care plan  with  a  certificate  of
    15  authority  pursuant  to] a PACE or MAP plan as such terms are defined by
    16  section forty-four hundred three-f of this article, or officers thereof,
    17  any inquiry in relation to its contracts with providers and other  enti-
    18  ties    providing   covered   services   to   the   health   maintenance
    19  organization's, or [managed long term care plan's] PACE  or  MAP  plans'
    20  enrollees, including but not limited to the rates of payment and payment
    21  terms  and conditions therein. Every entity or person so addressed shall
    22  reply in writing to such inquiry promptly and truthfully, and such reply
    23  shall be, if required by the department, signed by such  individual,  or
    24  by  such  officer  or officers of a corporation, as the department shall
    25  designate, and affirmed by them as true under penalty of perjury.  Fail-
    26  ure to comply with the requirements of this section shall be subject  to
    27  civil penalties under section twelve of this chapter. Each day after the
    28  deadline  established  by  the department for reply until such time that
    29  the provider submits a good faith response shall be considered  a  sepa-
    30  rate  and  subsequent violation. In accordance with the process outlined
    31  in this paragraph, employers shall provide any documents or materials in
    32  the employer's possession, custody, or control that are requested by the
    33  department as needed to support or verify the employer's reply.
    34    § 17. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (e) of subdivision  3  of  section
    35  364-j  of the social services law, as amended by section 38 of part A of
    36  chapter 56 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
    37    (i) an individual dually eligible for medical assistance and  benefits
    38  under  the  federal  Medicare program; provided, however, nothing herein
    39  shall: (a) require an individual enrolled in a [managed] long term  care
    40  [plan]  option,  pursuant  to  section forty-four hundred three-f of the
    41  public health law, to disenroll from such program; or (b)  make  enroll-
    42  ment  in  a  Medicare  managed care plan a condition of the individual's
    43  participation in the managed care program pursuant to this  section,  or
    44  affect  the  individual's  entitlement to payment of applicable Medicare
    45  managed care or [fee for service] fee-for-service coinsurance and deduc-
    46  tibles by the individual's managed care provider.
    47    § 18.  Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subdivision 27 of  section  364-j  of
    48  the  social services law, as added by section 72 of part A of chapter 56
    49  of the laws of 2013, are amended to read as follows:
    50    (b)  The  FIDA  program  shall   provide   targeted   populations   of
    51  [medicare/medicaid]   Medicare/Medicaid  dually  eligible  persons  with
    52  comprehensive health services that include the full range of  [medicare]
    53  Medicare  and  [medicaid]  Medicaid  covered services, including but not
    54  limited to primary and acute care, prescription drugs, behavioral health
    55  services,  care  coordination  services,  and  long-term  supports   and
    56  services,  as well as other services, through managed care providers, as

        A. 2018--A                         10

     1  defined in subdivision one of this section[, including managed long term
     2  care plans, certified pursuant to section forty-four hundred three-f  of
     3  the public health law].
     4    (c)  Under  the FIDA program established pursuant to this subdivision,
     5  up to three managed [long term] care plans may be authorized  to  exclu-
     6  sively  enroll individuals with developmental disabilities, as such term
     7  is defined in section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law.  The  commissioner
     8  of  health may waive any of the department's regulations as such commis-
     9  sioner, in consultation with the commissioner of the office  for  people
    10  with  developmental  disabilities, deems necessary to allow such managed
    11  [long term] care plans to provide or arrange for service for individuals
    12  with developmental disabilities that are  adequate  and  appropriate  to
    13  meet the needs of such individuals and that will ensure their health and
    14  safety.  The  commissioner  of  the office for people with developmental
    15  disabilities may waive any of the office for people  with  developmental
    16  disabilities' regulations as such commissioner, in consultation with the
    17  commissioner  of  health,  deems  necessary  to allow such managed [long
    18  term] care plans to provide or arrange for services for individuals with
    19  developmental disabilities that are adequate and appropriate to meet the
    20  needs of such individuals and that will ensure their health and safety.
    21    § 19.  Subdivision 31 of section 364-j of the social services law,  as
    22  added  by  section  36-b of part B of chapter 57 of the laws of 2015, is
    23  amended to read as follows:
    24    31. [(a)] The commissioner shall require managed care providers  under
    25  this section, [managed long-term care plans]  a PACE or MAP plan as such
    26  terms are defined under section forty-four hundred three-f of the public
    27  health  law  and  other  appropriate long-term service programs to adopt
    28  expedited procedures for approving personal care services for a  medical
    29  assistance  recipient  who  requires immediate personal care or consumer
    30  directed personal assistance  services  pursuant  to  paragraph  (e)  of
    31  subdivision  two  of section three hundred sixty-five-a of this title or
    32  section three hundred sixty-five-f of this title, respectively, or other
    33  long-term care, and provide such care or services as appropriate,  pend-
    34  ing approval by such provider or program.
    35    § 20. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subdivision 32 of section 364-j of the
    36  social  services  law, as amended by section 1 of part KKK of chapter 56
    37  of the laws of 2020, are amended to read as follows:
    38    (a) The commissioner, or for the  purposes  of  subparagraph  (iv)  of
    39  paragraph  (c)  of  this  subdivision, the Medicaid inspector general in
    40  consultation  with  the  commissioner,  may,  in  [his  or  her]   their
    41  discretion,  apply  penalties  to  managed care organizations subject to
    42  this section and article forty-four of the public health law,  including
    43  [managed  long  term  care  plans]  a PACE or MAP plan as such terms are
    44  defined by section forty-four hundred three-f of the public health  law,
    45  for untimely or inaccurate submission of encounter data; provided howev-
    46  er,  no  penalty shall be assessed if the managed care organization or a
    47  PACE or MAP plan submits, in good faith, timely and accurate data and  a
    48  material amount of such data is not successfully received by the depart-
    49  ment  as a result of department system failures or technical issues that
    50  are beyond the control of the managed care organization.
    51    (c) (i) Penalties assessed pursuant  to  this  subdivision  against  a
    52  managed  care  organization  other  than  a [managed long term care plan
    53  certified pursuant to] PACE or MAP plan as such  terms  are  defined  by
    54  section  forty-four hundred three-f of the public health law shall be as
    55  follows:

        A. 2018--A                         11
 
     1    (A) for encounter data submitted or resubmitted past the deadlines set
     2  forth in the model contract, the Medicaid capitated  premiums  shall  be
     3  reduced by one-third percent; [and]
     4    (B)  for incomplete or inaccurate encounter data, evaluated at a cate-
     5  gory of service level, that fails to  conform  to  department  developed
     6  benchmarks  for completeness and accuracy, the Medicaid capitated premi-
     7  ums shall be reduced by one and one-third percent; and
     8    (C) for submitted data that results in a rejection rate in  excess  of
     9  ten  percent  of  department  developed  volume benchmarks, the Medicaid
    10  capitated premiums shall be reduced by one-third percent.
    11    (ii) Penalties assessed pursuant to  this  [subdivisions]  subdivision
    12  against  a  [managed] long term care [plan] option certified pursuant to
    13  section forty-four hundred three-f of the public health law shall be  as
    14  follows:
    15    (A) for encounter data submitted or resubmitted past the deadlines set
    16  forth  in  the  model contract, the Medicaid capitated premiums shall be
    17  reduced by one-quarter percent;
    18    (B) for incomplete or inaccurate encounter data, evaluated at a  cate-
    19  gory  of  service  level,  that fails to conform to department developed
    20  benchmarks for completeness and accuracy, the Medicaid capitated  premi-
    21  ums shall be reduced by one percent; and
    22    (C)  for  submitted data that results in a rejection rate in excess of
    23  ten percent of department  developed  volume  benchmarks,  the  Medicaid
    24  capitated premiums shall be reduced by one-quarter percent.
    25    (iii)  For  incomplete or inaccurate encounter data, identified in the
    26  course of an audit, investigation or review by  the  Medicaid  inspector
    27  general,  the  Medicaid  capitated premiums shall be reduced by an addi-
    28  tional one percent.
    29    § 21. Paragraph (x) of subdivision (b) of section 364-jj of the social
    30  services law, as amended by section 39 of part C of chapter  60  of  the
    31  laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
    32    (x) in accordance with the recommendations of the joint advisory coun-
    33  cil  established  pursuant  to  section 13.40 of the mental hygiene law,
    34  advise the commissioners of health and developmental  disabilities  with
    35  respect  to  the oversight of DISCOs and of health maintenance organiza-
    36  tions and [managed] long term care [plans]  options  providing  services
    37  authorized,  funded, approved or certified by the office for people with
    38  developmental disabilities, and review all managed care options provided
    39  to persons with developmental disabilities, including: the  adequacy  of
    40  support  for  habilitation  services;  the  record  of  compliance  with
    41  requirements for person-centered planning, person-centered services  and
    42  community  integration;  the  adequacy  of  rates  paid  to providers in
    43  accordance with the provisions of [paragraph 1 of] subdivision  four  of
    44  section  forty-four  hundred  three  of the public health law, paragraph
    45  (a-2) of subdivision eight of section forty-four hundred  three  of  the
    46  public  health law or [paragraph (a-2) of subdivision twelve of] section
    47  forty-four hundred three-f of the public health law; and the quality  of
    48  life,  health, safety and community integration of persons with develop-
    49  mental disabilities enrolled in managed care; and
    50    § 22. Subdivision 6 of section 365-f of the social  services  law,  as
    51  added  by  section  50  of  part D of chapter 56 of the laws of 2012, is
    52  amended to read as follows:
    53    6. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this section  or  any
    54  other  contrary  provision  of  law,  managed  care programs established
    55  pursuant to  section  three  hundred  sixty-four-j  of  this  title  and
    56  [managed]  long  term  care  [plans] options and other care coordination

        A. 2018--A                         12
 
     1  models established pursuant to section [four thousand  four]  forty-four
     2  hundred  three-f  of the public health law shall offer consumer directed
     3  personal assistance programs to enrollees.
     4    §  23.  Paragraph  (a) of subdivision 4 of section 365-h of the social
     5  services law, as amended by section 2 of part LL of chapter  56  of  the
     6  laws of 2020, is amended to read as follows:
     7    (a)  The commissioner of health is authorized to assume responsibility
     8  from a local social services official for the provision  and  reimburse-
     9  ment  of  transportation  costs  under this section. If the commissioner
    10  elects to assume such responsibility, the commissioner shall notify  the
    11  local  social  services official in writing as to the election, the date
    12  upon which the election shall be effective and such  information  as  to
    13  transition  of  responsibilities  as the commissioner deems prudent. The
    14  commissioner is authorized to contract with a transportation manager  or
    15  managers  to manage transportation services in any local social services
    16  district, other than transportation services provided  or  arranged  for
    17  enrollees  of  [managed  long  term  care  plans  issued certificates of
    18  authority under] a PACE or MAP plan as  defined  by  section  forty-four
    19  hundred  three-f of the public health law. Any transportation manager or
    20  managers selected by the commissioner to manage transportation  services
    21  shall  have proven experience in coordinating transportation services in
    22  a geographic and demographic area similar to the area in New York  state
    23  within which the contractor would manage the provision of services under
    24  this  section.  Such  a contract or contracts may include responsibility
    25  for: review, approval and processing of transportation  orders;  manage-
    26  ment  of  the  appropriate  level  of transportation based on documented
    27  patient medical need; and development of  new  technologies  leading  to
    28  efficient  transportation services. If the commissioner elects to assume
    29  such responsibility from a local social services district,  the  commis-
    30  sioner  shall examine and, if appropriate, adopt quality assurance meas-
    31  ures that may include, but are not limited to, global positioning track-
    32  ing system reporting requirements and service  verification  mechanisms.
    33  Any  and  all  reimbursement  rates developed by transportation managers
    34  under this subdivision shall be subject to the review  and  approval  of
    35  the commissioner.
    36    §  24.  Subparagraph (vi) of paragraph (b) of subdivision 4 of section
    37  365-h of the social services law, as added by section 2 of  part  LL  of
    38  chapter 56 of the laws of 2020, is amended to read as follows:
    39    (vi)  Responsibility  for transportation services provided or arranged
    40  for enrollees of [managed] long term care [plans issued certificates  of
    41  authority]  options  under  section  forty-four  hundred  three-f of the
    42  public health law, not including a program designated as  a  Program  of
    43  All-Inclusive  Care  for  the  Elderly  (PACE)  as authorized by Federal
    44  Public law 1053-33, subtitle I of title IV of the Balanced Budget Act of
    45  1997, and, at the commissioner's discretion, other plans that  integrate
    46  benefits  for  dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries based
    47  on a demonstration by the plan that inclusion of  transportation  within
    48  the  benefit  package  will  result  in  cost  efficiencies  and quality
    49  improvement, shall be transferred to a transportation management  broker
    50  that  has a contract with the commissioner in accordance with this para-
    51  graph. Providers of adult day health care may elect to, but shall not be
    52  required to, use the services of the transportation management broker.
    53    § 25. Subdivision 14 of section 366 of the  social  services  law,  as
    54  amended  by  section  1 of part NN of chapter 57 of the laws of 2021, is
    55  amended to read as follows:

        A. 2018--A                         13
 
     1    14. The commissioner of health may make any  available  amendments  to
     2  the  state  plan  for  medical  assistance submitted pursuant to section
     3  three hundred sixty-three-a of this title, or, if an  amendment  is  not
     4  possible,  develop  and submit an application for any waiver or approval
     5  under the federal social security act that may be necessary to disregard
     6  or exempt an amount of income, for the purpose of assisting with housing
     7  costs,  for  individuals receiving coverage of nursing facility services
     8  under this title, other than short-term rehabilitation services, and for
     9  individuals in receipt of medical assistance while in an adult home,  as
    10  defined  in subdivision twenty-five of section two of this chapter, who:
    11  are (i) discharged to the community; and (ii) if eligible,  enrolled  or
    12  required  to  enroll  and  have  initiated the process of enrolling in a
    13  [plan certified] long term care option pursuant  to  section  forty-four
    14  hundred  three-f  of  the  public  health law; and (iii) do not meet the
    15  criteria to be considered an "institutionalized spouse" for purposes  of
    16  section three hundred sixty-six-c of this title.
    17    § 26. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that:
    18    (i)  sections two, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve,
    19  thirteen, fourteen, fifteen,  sixteen,  seventeen,  eighteen,  nineteen,
    20  twenty,  twenty-one,  twenty-two,  twenty-three, twenty-four and twenty-
    21  five of this act shall take effect upon delivery  of  a  certificate  of
    22  readiness by the commissioner of health, in consultation with the direc-
    23  tor  of  the division of the budget; provided, however, that the commis-
    24  sioner of health shall notify the legislative bill  drafting  commission
    25  upon  the  delivery  of such certificate of readiness, in order that the
    26  commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective  data  base  of
    27  the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of
    28  effectuating  the  provisions  of  section 44 of the legislative law and
    29  section 70-b of the public officers law. Such delivery  shall  occur  no
    30  sooner than April 1, 2028;
    31    (ii) the amendments to paragraph (o) of subdivision 2 of section 365-a
    32  of  the  social  services law made by section five of this act shall not
    33  affect the expiration and/or repeal  of  such  paragraph  and  shall  be
    34  deemed to expire therewith;
    35    (iii)  the amendments to subparagraph (i) of paragraph (e) of subdivi-
    36  sion 3, paragraphs (b) and (c) of subdivision  27,  subdivision  31  and
    37  paragraphs  (a) and (c) of subdivision 32 of section 364-j of the social
    38  services law made by sections seventeen, eighteen, nineteen  and  twenty
    39  of  this  act  shall  be subject to the repeal of such section and shall
    40  expire and be deemed repealed therewith;
    41    (iv) the amendments to paragraph (x) of  subdivision  (b)  of  section
    42  364-jj of the social services law made by section twenty-one of this act
    43  shall  be subject to the expiration of such section and shall expire and
    44  be deemed repealed therewith; and
    45    (v) the amendments to section 365-h  of  the social services law  made
    46  by sections twenty-three and twenty-four of this act shall be subject to
    47  the  expiration  of such section and shall expire and be deemed repealed
    48  therewith.
    49    Effective immediately, the commissioner of health shall promulgate any
    50  rules and regulations and take steps, including requiring the submission
    51  of reports or surveys, submission and receipt of state plans, and neces-
    52  sary federal waivers, as may be necessary for the timely  implementation
    53  of this act on such effective date.
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