New York's Medicaid program is continuing the movement of patients from fee-for-service into various forms of mandatory care management. The next major step - already being implemented - is the movement of long-term care patients and their providers into managed long-term care (MLTC) programs and Medicaid managed care plans.

Persons enrolled in Medicaid who had previously been exempted from managed care have to choose health plans or face auto-enrollment. This transition is taking place at a rapid pace. Patients and their care-givers have to make coverage decisions now that will have long lasting ramifications.

This hearing will explore how this transition is being experienced by long-term care patients and service providers and related issues.

Testimony at this hearing is by invitation only. Persons planning to attend the hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form by Thursday, November 29. 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 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 Committee staff as early as possible.

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

In order to meet the needs of those who may 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.

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Persons planning to attend the public hearing on Medicaid transition to care management for long-term care patients are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, email or fax it to: