Defines medically fragile young adults for certain purposes

Continued nursing care for medically fragile adults

New York defines medically fragile young adults as people ages 21 through 35 who meet its definition for children with medical fragility. The Health Department must issue rules allowing these adults to remain in pediatric specialized nursing facilities beyond age 21. Daily payments and bed-hold coverage keep the pre-21 rate and payment method unless the department expressly approves a higher rate. Medicaid pays 100% of the rate for medically fragile children for beds held during hospitalization or therapeutic or hospice leave. These bed-hold payments have no daily limit, and the section applies only to the extent federal matching funds are available. The law takes effect immediately, but its substantive changes start with the related 2024 law. The timing amendment takes effect nine months after enactment, with immediate rulemaking authorized to meet that deadline.