S 4589: Provides for the calculation and analysis of certain health center costs.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4589 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE February 10, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. RIVERA, BORRELLO, BROUK, CLEARE, COMRIE, COONEY, FERNANDEZ, GALLIVAN, GOUNARDES, HARCKHAM, HELMING, HINCHEY, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, JACKSON, KAVANAGH, LIU, MARTINS, MAY, OBERACKER, PARK- ER, SALAZAR, SEPULVEDA, SKOUFIS, STAVISKY, STEC, WEBB -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to federally quali- fied health center rate adequacy The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 8 of section 2807 of the 2 public health law, as added by section 28 of part B of chapter 1 of the 3 laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows: 4 (b) For each twelve month period following September thirtieth, two 5 thousand one and continuing through September thirtieth, two thousand 6 twenty-five, the operating cost component of such rates of payment shall 7 reflect the operating cost component in effect on September thirtieth of 8 the prior period as increased by the percentage increase in the Medicare 9 Economic Index as computed in accordance with the requirements of 42 USC 10 § 1396a(aa)(3) and as adjusted pursuant to applicable regulations to 11 take into account any increase or decrease in the scope of services 12 furnished by the facility. For each twelve month period following 13 September thirtieth, two thousand twenty-five, the operating cost compo- 14 nent shall be calculated consistent with rates of payment established 15 pursuant to paragraph (c-1) of this subdivision, and then annually 16 adjusted by using the FQHC Market Basket inflator as calculated under 17 federal law, and as adjusted pursuant to applicable regulations to take 18 into account any increase or decrease in the scope of services furnished 19 by the facility; provided, however, that no facility shall be subject to 20 an operating cost component lower than what was applied prior to Septem- 21 ber thirtieth, two thousand twenty-five. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD00317-01-5 
 S. 4589 2 1 § 2. Subdivision 8 of section 2807 of the public health law is amended 2 by adding a new paragraph (c-1) to read as follows: 3 (c-1) As soon as practicable the department shall analyze the actual 4 federally qualified health center costs filed as required by department 5 regulations, during the prior five year reporting periods. In addition 6 to such data, the commissioner shall consider the scope of services, 7 including type, intensity, duration and amount, provided by such facili- 8 ties; staffing to meet competitive market and case mix needs of popu- 9 lations served; physical plant and maintenance costs; infrastructure 10 costs; technology costs associated with telehealth modality of service 11 delivery; informational technology costs; and other costs deemed neces- 12 sary by the commissioner. Notwithstanding any other statute, rule, or 13 regulation otherwise imposing ceilings or caps on payments to federally 14 qualified health centers, provided that such payments are still subject 15 to federal financial participation, beginning on April first, two thou- 16 sand twenty-five, and then again every three years thereafter, the 17 department shall develop and issue updated rates of payments reflecting 18 the actual costs and updated aggregated data consistent with the method- 19 ology described in this paragraph; provided, however, that no facility 20 shall be subject to a rate that is less than the rate used prior to 21 September thirtieth, two thousand twenty-five. 22 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.