BILL NUMBER: S7880

SPONSOR: FERNANDEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to including care
and services provided by a child advocacy center under standard coverage
for Medicaid recipients

 
PURPOSE:

To include care and services provided by child advocacy centers under
Medicaid

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the Social Services
Law by adding a new paragraph kk to include under Medicaid the care and
services provided by a child advocacy center which is licensed, certi-
fied, or otherwise authorized by the office of children and family
services.

              

Section 2 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Children's Advocacy Centers ("CACs") are child-focused facilities that
help abused children heal by coordinating the investigation and treat-
ment of child sexual abuse and providing children and families access to
long-term advocacy and healthcare. Without a CAC, a child may end up
having to tell the worst experience of their life repeatedly, to
doctors, police, lawyers, therapists, investigators, judges, and others.
They may not get the help they need to heal once the investigation is
over. At the CAC, the child tells what happened to them once to a
trained professional.  Children then receive various services and treat-
ments from numerous professionals, including physical and mental health
providers. These medical services are currently not reimbursable by
Medicaid. Allowing reimbursements for these services will provide addi-
tional sustainable and necessary funding and is crucial to the survival
of these amazing child advocacy centers.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eighteenth day after it
shall become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment,
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.