Directs the commissioner of health to do a comprehensive assessment of the existing methodology used to determine payment for early intervention screenings, evaluations, services and service coordination; directs recommendations on reimbursement methodology as well as needs under the program.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6579
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 19, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GOTTFRIED -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to a review and
recommendations of reimbursement adequacy and other matters relating
to early intervention
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 2559-c to read as follows:
3 § 2559-c. Early intervention rate adequacy review. 1. The commissioner
4 shall review the rates of reimbursement made through the early inter-
5 vention program for rate adequacy. The review shall include:
6 (a) a comprehensive assessment of the existing methodology used to
7 determine payment for early intervention screenings, evaluations,
8 services and service coordination, including but not limited to:
9 (i) analysis of early intervention rules, regulations, and policies,
10 including policies, processes, and revenue sources;
11 (ii) analysis of costs to providers participating in the early inter-
12 vention program, including time and cost of travel, service provision,
13 and administrative activities; and
14 (iii) analysis by discipline and labor region of salary levels for
15 individuals providing early intervention services compared to the salary
16 levels for individuals in the same disciplines and labor regions provid-
17 ing services other than in the early intervention program;
18 (b) recommendations for maintaining or changing reimbursement method-
19 ologies. Recommendations under this paragraph shall be consistent with
20 federal law and shall include recommendations for appropriate changes in
21 state law and regulations. The recommendations shall consider appropri-
22 ate payment methodologies and rates for in-person and telehealth early
23 intervention evaluations and services to address barriers in timely
24 service provision as well as racial and socioeconomic disparities in
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10413-01-1
A. 6579 2
1 access, with consideration of factors including, but not limited to,
2 payment for bilingual services, travel time, geographic variability,
3 access to and cost of technology, cost of living, and other barriers to
4 timely service provision;
5 (c) the projected number of children who will need early intervention
6 services in the next five years disaggregated by county;
7 (d) the workforce needed to provide services in the next five years to
8 all children eligible for early intervention services, disaggregated by
9 county; and
10 (e) opportunities for stakeholder input on current rate methodologies.
11 2. Within one year after the effective date of this section, the
12 commissioner shall submit a report of the findings and recommendations
13 under this section to the governor, the temporary president of the
14 senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the chairs of the senate and
15 assembly committees on health, and shall post the report on the depart-
16 ment's website.
17 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
