An act to amend the social services law, in relation to allowing local social services districts discretion to provide certain Medicaid services and to cover certain categories of eligibility.

Synopsis:
This bill seeks to amend the social services law and allow local social services districts to decide what state-required Medicaid programs to offer and who would be eligible for such programs.

Status:
This bill was reported and committed to the Senate Health Committee on 5/22/07. The bill was referred to the Assembly Social Services Committee and Senate Social Services Committee on 1/9/08.

Summary of Provisions:

• If enacted, local social service districts will have the authority to choose whether or not they provide state required Medicaid services and what they will be.
• If enacted, local social service districts will also have the authority to determine what the eligibility guidelines will be for such state-required Medicaid services.
• Local social service districts will not have the authority to determine what federally required programs they provide; those will continue to be mandatory.

NASW-NYS Position:
NASW-NYS opposes this legislation and has issued a Memorandum in Opposition.