Identical bills introduced in the New York Senate (S3468) and Assembly (A3408) seek to provide parity to Medicaid beneficiaries by requiring managed care organizations (MCOs) to cover items at no less than 100 percent of established New York Medicaid fee rates. The Senate Bill is currently on the floor awaiting a vote, and the New York chapter of American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists (NYSAAOP) created a link for New York residents to automatically email their legislative leaders asking them to support the bills.
Similar parity legislation has been enacted in 20 states.
“Today, thousands of New Yorkers enrolled in Medicaid MCOs living with limb loss, limb difference, and mobility impairments are unable to access life-changing orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) care, due to insufficient fee schedules that reimburse providers less than traditional Medicaid.
“Without adequate reimbursement, O&P providers are unable to effectively serve their patients, forcing adults, children, and families to incur prohibitive out-of-pocket costs (ranging from $5,000-$50,000 per device), risk harm/injury using an improper device, or live sedentary lifestyles with costly health complications,” said NYSAAOP.
To contact your legislators, visit NYSAAOP’s webpage.
To read the bill, visit the New York State Senate website.
