Senate passes bill to permanently carve school‑based health centers out of Medicaid managed care

The Senate approved legislation on June 10 that, according to sponsor remarks on the floor, permanently carves school‑based health centers out of Medicaid managed care. Sponsor Senator Rivera said the action would preserve continuity of care for thousands of children who rely on school‑based health centers across the state and said the proposal responds to earlier disruptions when centers announced closures amid changes in payment arrangements.

Senator Rivera said school‑based health centers “provide care for thousands and thousands of children across the state of New York” and that carving them out of managed care permanently would avoid repeated disruptions. Senator Oberacker, speaking in support, said school‑based health services are vital in rural areas where distances to care are large and parents depend on centers for children’s medical attention.

The Senate read the final section and recorded the roll call; the clerk announced “Ayes, 59. Bill’s passed.” The floor listed the measure as Title number 485 / Senate print 1224 by Senator Rivera (social services law enactment noted on the record).

Why it matters: Supporters said the bill seeks to ensure continuity of care for children who use school‑based health centers by removing those centers from the Medicaid managed‑care contracting model, which had led some centers to announce closures when payment arrangements changed.

Next steps: Implementation requires executive‑branch action; sponsors framed the measure as a statutory protection to stabilize the funding and service model for school‑based clinics.

Provenance: Floor remarks by Senator Rivera and roll call announced June 10, 2025.