Committee on Health
     Richard N. Gottfried, Chair
Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
     Peter M. Rivera, Chair
Task Force on People with Disabilities
     Amy R. Paulin, Chair

The Pataki Administration, by administrative action, is requiring SSI recipients to enter Medicaid Managed Care. Previously, this had been optional for them. The Governor's budget attributed spending cuts to this action.

A March, 2001 report of the Health Department's SSI Task Force identified steps that must be taken to ensure that SSI recipients receive proper services under Medicaid managed care, including improved outreach and education, a strong specialty provider network, and good case management and care coordination capabilities.

This hearing will examine whether the proper mechanisms are in place to ensure continued access to proper services as individuals on SSI move to Medicaid Managed Care.

Persons wishing to attend or present testimony at this hearing should complete and return the reply form as soon as possible, but no later than January 19, 2006. It is important that the form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation of the hearing.

Oral testimony will be limited to ten minutes in length. All testimony is under oath. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. This request should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as soon as possible. Ten copies of any prepared statement should be submitted at the hearing registration table.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the New York State Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Questions about this hearing may be directed to Bryan O'Malley of the Health Committee staff at 518-455-4941 or omalleb@assembly.state.ny.us

MANDATORY MANAGED CARE FOR SSI BENEFICIARIES
REPLY FORM -- PLEASE RESPOND BY JANUARY 19, 2006.

Mail or fax to: Assembly Health Committee, Room 822 LOB, Albany, NY 12248; fax: 518-455-5939

[    ]   I plan to testify at the January 26, 2006 hearing on Mandatory Managed Care for SSI beneficiaries.

[    ]   I plan to attend, but not testify.

[    ]   I require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Type of assistance required: