A7996 Summary

• Allocates $20 million annually from covered lives assessment collections to fund early intervention services for toddlers with disabilities, distributed to municipalities and the state based on proportionate share of prior year costs.

• Creates new early intervention services pool mechanism with Department of Health making payments to municipalities for delivery of early intervention services to eligible children.

• Removes requirements for providers to seek payment from third-party insurers (other than Medicaid) before billing municipalities, and eliminates insurance coverage limitations on early intervention services.

• Requires fiscal agents processing early intervention claims to pay claims within timeframes specified in insurance law and develop processes for handling claims with minor errors.

• Repeals provisions of Public Health Law and Insurance Law relating to third-party insurance requirements and copayment reimbursement for early intervention services, effective January 1, 2022.