This announcement was made on July 21st, 2022 at the Medicaid Conference held every year by the United Hospital Fund of New York. Amir Bassiri is the New York State Department of Health’s Medicaid Director, and he was chosen to share this crucial bit of news.
Big changes – hopefully for the better
The Medicaid Program in New York has just announced new policies that will go into effect as soon as January 1st, 2023 hits. These changes include the expansion of New York’s Medicaid Program as well as increasing its equitability to provide fairer coverage to all.
The program director offered his assurance of Medicaid’s commitment to guaranteeing that no one who already has coverage eligibility is going to lose that coverage. At this time, Medicaid serves more than 7.5 million people in New York alone.
Creating consistent eligibility for all age groups
The income eligibility range for people who are at least 65 years old, as well as for the blind or disabled, will go up. Previously, it as at 87% of the federal poverty level. Now, it will be at 138%. This expansion is an effort to maintain consistency between the eligibility threshold for New York Medicaid patients who are at least 65 and those who are younger.
An additional part of this plan involves extending coverage to New Yorkers who are at least 65 and undocumented. The hope is that this change will be implemented by March of 2023.
Other plans involve improving health equity through the implementation of a waiver application. This will be achieved by collecting the most relevant data, making sure the organization is looking out for the social needs of everybody and working together with organizations in the community. These changes will have a substantial impact on who is eligible for Medicaid coverage.