Relates to medicaid eligibility for youth leaving court ordered placement

• Democratic1

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Kevin S. Parker says this is needed

Youth placed or committed to the state's juvenile justice system suffer many hardships. Among them are high rates of mental health diagnosis with over half of the children prescribed psychotropic mediations. Releasing these youth without health care coverage puts them at unneces- sary risk as they work to try and successful transition back into the community. New York State has recognized the importance of providing health care coverage through Medicaid for various groups of people including presumptive those leaving hospitals and entering long-term care and for those in need of treatment for various forms of cancer. We also allow prisoners to continue their pre-incarceration Medicaid eligibility so they are not release without Medicaid and we provide continued Medicaid coverage until 21 for foster children who are the responsibility of the local social services district until their 18th birthday. Health care coverage is not only vitally important to the individual's ultimate success in transitioning back into the community, it is cost effective for the state and local communities who would otherwise pay the costs of higher recidivism and unnecessary hospitalizations. Youth who enter the juvenile justice system are not currently afforded the same protections for Medicaid coverage as these other populations, yet they experience similar needs. For example, these youth often depend on the continuation of medications vital to their emotional stability and may need the added support of the community mental health system which they can access through Medicaid if they are not eligible for private health insurance coverage. This bill gives youth, who were in care as a result of a court order, presumptive Medicaid eligibility once they are released from care for up to 60 days while determination of their Medicaid eligibility is made. It is an important piece of the safety net that is currently missing.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.