Governor Cuomo signed the New York State Budget for fiscal year 2021-2022 into law on April 19, 2021. Highlights in the State Budget for dentistry are: 1) funding of $125,000 for the NYSDA Dental Demonstration Project charitable dental services program; 2) dental Medicaid funding was not reduced at all [as had been expected given the fiscal crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic]; 3) telehealth can now be delivered anywhere the patient is in the state by a qualified health care provider from anywhere in the United States; 4) all changes to the excess dental malpractice insurance program were eliminated and the program just continues for another year as usual; 5) Medicaid expense reports from the New York State Department of Health will now be quarterly instead of monthly; 6) the Department of Health “Family Plus Health Program” is replaced by the Department of Health “Basic Health Program” and dental and vision services will now be a part of the Basic Health Program, with the Commissioner of Health to determine exactly what services will be covered and with no cost-sharing allowed for dental services; and 7) residential health care facilities must spend 70% on direct resident care, which is defined to include spending on dental services. To read Governor Cuomo's announcement and summary of signing the State Budget into law, use the first link below. To read Governor Cuomo's announcement and summary of the highlights of the new State Budget, use the second link below.
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-signs-fy-2022-budget-and-announces-continuation-middle-class-tax-cuts-help-new (Governor Cuomo announcement and summary of signing State Budget into law)
https://www.governor.ny.gov/programs/fy-2022-new-york-state-budget (Governor Cuomo announcement and summary of State Budget highlights)