S1617

The New York State Senate passed S1617, a bill to amend the Public Health Law, on a 37-20 vote. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Rivera, would automatically renew Medicaid applications. Opposition centered on concerns about fraud and verification in the state's Medicaid system. Sen. Borrello, voting against the bill, argued that roughly 3 million people are eligible for Medicaid in New York at an annual cost exceeding $20 billion, with more than a million recipients that the Department of Health cannot verify as actually existing. He contended that automatic renewal would worsen the problem rather than address it. Borrello noted that 44 percent of New Yorkers and 60 percent of New York City residents are currently on Medicaid. Twenty senators voted against the bill, while 37 voted in favor. The bill takes effect 180 days after becoming law.