SUBJECT:

PURPOSE:

The New York State Medicaid Buy-In program went into effect in 2003. It allows people with disabilities with incomes above the Medicaid eligibility level to enroll in Medicaid by paying a sliding-scale premium. This enables them to maintain critical benefits such as home care and prescription coverage while also being employed. The establishment of the Buy-In program was a huge victory for advocates and people with disabilities. However, in some instances it has fallen short of expectations. There are some significant instances where the program is simply not working. The Task Force and the Health Committee intend to take the information gathered at this hearing and use it to work with the Legislature, the Governor and state and local agencies to help make the Buy-In program more effective.

The Task Force and the Health Committee hope to hear from four groups in particular regarding the Medicaid Buy-In program:

• people with disabilities who are successfully utilizing the program,

• people with disabilities who have unsuccessfully attempted to enroll in the program,

• advocates who work with individuals who are attempting to enroll in the program, and

• state and local employees who are responsible for administering the program.

Please see the reverse side for a list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony.

Persons wishing to testify at the hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation of the hearing.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Task Force and the Health Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Assembly staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Task Force and the Health Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize the hearing, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Assembly's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:

1. Is the Medicaid Buy-In program working effectively in the area in which you live or work? If yes, please describe its benefits, and if no, please detail the problems people are facing in an attempt to utilize it.

2. Is information about the Buy-In program readily available, and is the application process clear?

3. Are the local agencies responsible for the Buy-In application process assisting prospective enrollees appropriately?

4. The number of people with disabilities currently enrolled in the Buy-In program (both by county and statewide).

5. Reforms necessary to improve the Medicaid Buy-In program.

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing regarding the strengths and weaknesses of New York State's Medicaid Buy-In program are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and send it to:

Kimberly Hill
Director
Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities
Agency Building 4, 13th Floor
Albany, New York 12248
E-mail: hillk@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4592
Fax: (518) 455-7099

I will address my remarks to the following subjects:

I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required: