Final 2022-23 State Budget Enacted

On April 9, Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders announced an agreement on a $220 billion state budget for 2022-23. The final budget includes several items to address health care access and affordability, including:

• Expanding Eligibility for the Essential Plan (“EP”). The final budget accepts the Executive proposal to expand EP eligibility from 200 to 250 percent of the federal poverty level (“FPL”); provides continued coverage for women during pregnancy, and to women and newborns one year thereafter; and provides coverage for long term supports and services (“LTSS”).
• Undocumented Seniors: The final budget adds a proposal to make eligible for Medicaid any person over the age of 65, regardless of immigration status.
• “Prenatal and Post-natal Care. The final budget modifies the Executive proposal to , as proposed in the Assembly One House, specify that covered “pre-natal and post-partum care and services” shall include “nutrition services provided by certified dietitians and certified nutritionists; care coordination, case management, and peer support; patient navigation services; services provided by licensed clinical social workers; dyadic services; Bluetooth-enabled devices for remote patient monitoring; and other services determined by the Commissioner of Health.” The final budget does not include language extending coverage for pregnant individuals ineligible for Medicaid due to immigration status; but does:
  • Extend eligibility for postpartum women from 60 days to 12 months after pregnancy; and
  • Repeal the extension of EP post-partum coverage for certain individuals, as enacted as part of the SFY 22 NYS Budget.

Lawmakers are on a two week break, returning to Albany on April 25. The Legislative Session is scheduled to wrap up on June 2.