BILL NUMBER: S3488

SPONSOR: ORTT
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to imposing a one
year residency requirement for eligibility for medical assistance

 
PURPOSE:

This bill would impose a one year state residency requirement for eligi-
bility for Medicaid program services.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 - amends Sec. 117 of the Social Services Law by adding a new
subdivision 4 to impose a one year state residency requirement for
eligibility for Medicaid.

Section 2 - Effective date.

              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York has one of the most generous Medicaid programs in the United
States. People from other states have taken advantage of this state's
generosity towards it residents and purposefully moved to New York sole-
ly for the benefit of its charitable social programs. Imposing a one
year state residency requirement before allowing individuals to qualify
for New York's Medicaid program would discourage individuals from moving
to the state solely for the purpose of receiving Medicaid while preserv-
ing Medicaid services for the people who have made New York their home.
At a time when the State is looking at devastating cuts to the Medicaid
system, we need to consider alternative ways of saving money, this
legislation represents one of the most pragmatic ,ways of cost cutting,
provide services to those individuals who are residents of New York,
rather than individuals looking to take advantage of this State's gener-
osity.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S.3363 Referenced to Senate Social Services
S.550 of 2013/2014 Referred to Senate Social Services
S.3652 of 2015/16;Referred to Senate Social Services
S.679 of 2017/2018; Referred to Senate Social Services
S.262 of 2019/2020; Referred to Senate Social Services

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Positive to the State.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
One Hundred Twenty days since effective date.