BILL NUMBER: S1706

SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to reimbursement for
certain costs and expenses related to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19

 
PURPOSE:

Authorizes voluntary providers of supports and services to individuals
with intellectual and developmental disabilities to bill and be reim-
bursed within thirty days of billing for novel coronavirus, COVID-19
related costs and expenses.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section
13.44 to read as follows: § 13.44 Reimbursement costs and expenses
related to novel coronavirus, COVID-19. OPWDD, DOH and division of the
budget shall authorize voluntary providers of supports and services to
individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to bill and
              

be reimbursed within thirty days of billing for novel coronavirus,
COVID-19 related costs and expenses, including, but not limited to,
increased staffing and personal costs, personal protective equipment
expenses, and increased residential cost.

Section 2: Effective Date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Voluntary not-for-profit residential service providers have been on the
front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic working each day to ensure the
safety of the individuals that they care for.'Since the start bf the
pandemic, these not-for-profit providers have had to obtain Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE), including masks, gowns, gloves, shields and
other protective materials on their own without receiving any allocation
of PPE from OPWDD and often facing roadblocks from county OEM's where
provider agencies were not prioritized.

Additionally, to ensure that providers had adequate staffing, many
providers statewide had to provide "combat/hazard pay" for front line
direct care and clinical staff, who serve and protect a vulnerable popu-
lation, offering double and even triple pay to these brave DSPs, house
managers and other essential staff as they serve a population often
ill-equipped to self-distance or whom cannot tolerate wearing a mask.
This legislation would facilitate the desperate need for cash flow to
already beleaguered providers during this unprecedented time.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S3788 - 2022/

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.