BILL NUMBER: S8594

SPONSOR: BROUK
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to including care
and services of school psychologists under standard coverage for Medi-
caid recipients

 
PURPOSE:

To provide Medicaid coverage of services and care provided by certified
school psychologists.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill creates a new paragraph (mm) to provide Medicaid
coverage for care and services provided by school psychologists certi-
fied or otherwise authorized to provide such care and services within
their scope of practice under the education law.

Section two provides the effective date.
              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Alarmingly, the number of adolescents reporting poor mental health has
increased significantly in the last several years. In 2023, the NYS
Office of Mental Health released a report on youth mental health. The
report noted that from 2011 to 2021, the rates of youth who persistently
felt sad or hopeless increased from 21 percent to 29 percent for teen
boys, and from 36 percent to 57 percent for teen girls.

When mental health challenges are left unaddressed, they can lead to
adverse educational outcomes including academic and behavioral problems,
dropping out, and delinquency. Long term effects may include interfer-
ence with the development of positive relationships and work-related
skills. As such, access to adequately staffed school-employed mental
health professionals is essential for effective health services.

Unfortunately, services provided by certified school psychologists are
not reimbursable under Medicaid. While certified school psychologists
may lawfully provide counseling services and evaluations, those services
cannot be billed to Medicaid. As a result, there is a shortage of
psychologists to provide services to students.

It is critically important to the health and wellbeing of the youth in
this state to expand access to mental health services. This bill will
ensure that expansion by making care and services provided by certified
school psychologists eligible for coverage under Medicaid.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have 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.