New York S 4247: Provides Medicaid reimbursement for interpretation services provided by hospital inpatient and outpatient departments

Bill Text

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S04247 Summary:

BILL NOS04247 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORPARKER

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §§2807-c & 2807, Pub Health L; amd §368-a, Soc Serv L

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Provides Medicaid reimbursement for interpretation services provided by hospital inpatient, outpatient and emergency department settings and in diagnostic treatment centers; provides further that time frames for notice, approval or certification of rates of payment and to the requirement of prior notice of rates of payment are suspended, deemed without any force and effect from and after February 1, 2027 for such rates effective for the period April 1, 2027 through March 31, 2028.

Go to top S04247 Actions:

BILL NOS04247 

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02/03/2025REFERRED TO HEALTH

01/07/2026REFERRED TO HEALTH

Go to topS04247 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS04247 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS04247 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 4247

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 February 3, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Health

 AN ACT to amend the public health law and the social services law, in
 relation to providing Medicaid reimbursement for interpretation
 services provided by hospital inpatient and outpatient departments

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Section 2807-c of the public health law is amended by
 2 adding a new subdivision 36 to read as follows:
 3 36. Interpretation services. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of law,
 4 rule or regulation to the contrary, the commissioner shall adjust inpa-
 5 tient medical assistance rates of payment to provide reimbursement for
 6 the costs associated with the provision of interpretation services for
 7 patients in receipt of medical assistance who have limited English
 8 proficiency. Reimbursement shall be available for the costs associated
 9 with the provision of interpretation services at all locations during
 10 all times that patient care is available, including but not limited to
 11 health care, billing and making appointments. To be eligible for
 12 reimbursement, the provision of interpretation services must be docu-
 13 mented in such a manner as to enable reporting to and audit by the
 14 commissioner.
 15 (b) Such adjustment shall be made for discharges on and after the
 16 first of April, two thousand twenty-seven.
 17 (c) For purposes of this subdivision, "patients with limited English
 18 proficiency" means patients whose primary language is not English and
 19 who cannot speak, read, write or understand the English language at a
 20 level sufficient to permit such patients to interact effectively with
 21 health care providers and their staff.
 22 (d) For the purposes of this subdivision, "interpretation services"
 23 refers to language assistance services provided by individuals with
 24 proven bilingual skills in both English and the relevant language to

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD07936-01-5

 S. 4247 2

 1 communicate information necessary for the patient to access services
 2 and, in the case of interpretation services provided during the course
 3 of a clinical encounter, services provided by individuals trained and
 4 skilled in medical interpreting techniques, ethics and terminology.
 5 § 2. Paragraph (g) of subdivision 2 of section 2807 of the public
 6 health law is amended by adding a new subparagraph (iv) to read as
 7 follows:
 8 (iv) Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule or regulation to the
 9 contrary, the commissioner shall adjust rates of payment for general
 10 hospital outpatient and emergency services to provide reimbursement for
 11 the costs associated with the provision of interpretation services for
 12 patients in receipt of medical assistance who have limited English
 13 proficiency. Such adjustment shall be made for outpatient and emergency
 14 services provided on and after April first, two thousand twenty-seven.
 15 Reimbursement shall be available for the costs associated with the
 16 prov