Relates to reimbursement for early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment

• Democratic27

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Samra Brouk says this is needed

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical role that schools play in providing health and wellness services to students. All students in New York State should have equitable access to physical, mental, and behavioral health services for their wellness and success. Currently, New York State is able to bill the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for school-based health and mental health services for Medicaid-enrolled students that have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). This policy, which was reversed in 2014 is known as the Free Care Reversal Rule. This change now allows States to amend their Medi- caid plans to expand billing of Medicaid for services provided to students without IEPs. This change in Medicaid policy will address devastated communities that have been stigmatized when potentially iden- tifying and addressing issues with mental health or disabilities, which negatively influences how families approach securing IEPs for their children. The legislation would mandate the Department of Health and the State Education Department to submit a Medicaid state plan amendment to CMS, which will ensure that the state's policy extends coverage of school based mental, physical, and behavioral health services to all under- served students in the state. Additionally, this bill would expand the services covered and provided to students. Lastly, this legislation would allow the state to leverage federal matching funds to cover the expansion of coverage and the increase in the types of services and qualifying providers.

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.