BILL NUMBER: S7984
SPONSOR: FERNANDEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to exemptions from
the recipient restriction program
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To exclude prescriptions for any FDA approved medications included on
the New York State Medication Assisted Treatment Formulary, services
obtained from an OASAS licensed or certified facilities including Opioid
Treatment program from the Medicaid Recipient Restriction Program.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 exempts from all recipient restriction program coverage and
payment restrictions any opioid treatment program services, including
methadone maintenance treatment and the use of buprenorphine.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York's Medicaid Recipient Restriction Program (RRP) is a program
that restricts certain Medicaid enrollees to care provided or referred
by a Primary Care Provider (PCP), Inpatient Hospital, and/or Primary
Pharmacy. This can be problematic for Medicaid recipients receiving
medical care from opioid treatment programs and other providers and
using medications to treat a substance use disorder, as these treatments
often require multiple visits a week. Excluding services from the recip-
ient restriction program that include prescriptions for any FDA approved
medications included on the New York State Medication Assisted Treatment
Formulary-services obtained from an OASAS licensed or certified facili-
ties including opioid treatment programs-protects our most vulnerable
New Yorkers.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.