BILL NUMBER: S9139
SPONSOR: SALAZAR
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to including
seizure detecting monitors for certain infants under standard coverage
for Medicaid recipients
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would provide coverage up to $150 for seizure detecting moni-
tors for infants covered by Medicaid who have epilepsy, other seizure
disorders, or a family history of seizure disorders.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds paragraph oo to Subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the
social services law that stipulates coverage for seizure detecting moni-
tors for certain infants.
Section 2 provides that this act shall take effect immediately and apply
to all policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered or
amended on or after such date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
For parents with children who have a seizure disorder, sleep can be a
very scary thing. Seizures during sleep can cause physical injury, more
prolonged seizures, suffocation, and in very rare instances, death.(1)
These effects get worse when a child experiences multiple untreated
seizures.(2) These seizures can cause a ripple effect within the family,
where parents may now stay up all night watching their child to make
sure another seizure does not happen. Although the exact number of chil-
dren with a seizure disorder in New York is unknown, the CDC estimates
that over 215,000 people across the state currently have epilepsy.(3)
This bill would help families on Medicaid get seizure detecting monitors
for their children with epilepsy, other seizure disorders, or a family
history of seizures. Seizure detecting monitors come in multiple forms,
including wearable devices, under the mattress sensors, or video moni-
tors. They can detect unusual movements, such as convulsions, and send
an alert to the caregiver. Each family may prefer a different device, so
this bill allows them to choose the one best suited for them and their
child.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The act shall take effect immediately.
(1) https://www.epilepsy.com/preparedness-safety/ staying-safe/safety-
whilesleeping
(2) https://www.epllepsy.com/what-is-epilepsy/unde sanding-
seizures/howserious-are-seizures
(3) https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/ conditions/epilepsy/

Statutes affected:
S9139: 365-a social services law, 365-a(2) social services law