<b>>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING </b> <b>HERE.</b> <b>>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.</b> <b>>> NOW, FROM YOUR PURVIEW, WHAT</b> <b>IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS </b> <b>PARTICULAR BILL AND HOW WILL IT </b> <b>IMPACT THE LIVES OF EVERY DAY </b> <b>NEW YORKERS?</b> <b>>> COMING OUT OF THE COVID </b> <b>PANDEMIC WE SAW SO MUCH TRAGIC </b> <b>OUTCOMES.</b> <b>THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES THAT DID </b> <b>COME FROM THE PANDEMIC IS SOME </b> <b>OF THE EMERGENCY MEASURES.</b> <b>THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEALTH </b> <b>EMERGENCY ISSUED BY THE FEDERAL </b> <b>GOVERNMENT, AND IT ALLOWED FOR </b> <b>CHILDREN WHO ARE ENROLLED IN </b> <b>CHIP, WHICH IS THE STATE </b> <b>CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE </b> <b>PROGRAM, OR MEDICAID, TO BE </b> <b>CONTINUALLY REENROLLED WITHOUT </b> <b>HAVING TO RECERTIFY EVERY SINGLE</b> <b>YEAR.</b> <b>THIS ALLOWED CONTINUITY OF CARE,</b> <b>AND IT ELIMINATED A LOT OF </b> <b>BURDENS ON FAMILIES THAT WERE </b> <b>STRUGGLING.</b> <b>NOW, THAT PUBLIC HEALTH </b> <b>EMERGENCY ENDED IN MAY, AND WE </b> <b>HAD TO DO A LOT OF OUTREACH WITH</b> <b>THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.</b> <b>IN FACT, I GOT TO CO-AUTHOR AN </b> <b>OP-ED WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF </b> <b>HEALTH, AND WE PUSHED TO MAKE </b> <b>SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY </b> <b>UNDERSTOOD THAT NOW YOU HAVE TO </b> <b>START RECERTIFYING AND </b> <b>REENROLLING.</b> <b>WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT 400,000 </b> <b>PEOPLE WERE DROPPED FROM THE </b> <b>MEDICAID ROLLS, AND MANY OF </b> <b>THOSE HAVE BEEN CHILDREN.</b> <b>OFTEN IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF </b> <b>ELIGIBILITY.</b> <b>IT WASN'T LIKE THEIR FAMILIES </b> <b>WERE MAKING SO MUCH MORE MONEY </b> <b>THAT THEY WERE DISQUALIFIED.</b> <b>IT WAS SIMPLY BECAUSE OF </b> <b>PAPERWORK.</b> <b>SO WHAT MY BILL WOULD DO WITH </b> <b>THE SENATE IS ALLOW FOR </b> <b>CONTINUAL ELIGIBILITY FROM ZERO </b> <b>TO 6 YEARS OLD TO ELIMINATE THAT</b> <b>BURDEN, INSURE CHILDREN ARE </b> <b>HEALTHY, AND ACTUALLY SAVE THE </b> <b>MONEY -- SAVE THE STATE MONEY.</b> <b>>> AND THE BILL FOCUSES ON </b> <b>CHILDREN AGE 0 TO 6, BUT IS </b> <b>THERE ANY OPPORTUNITY OR ANY </b> <b>ROOM TO EXTEND IT BEYOND THE AGE</b> <b>OF 6?</b> <b>I KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED THE </b> <b>400,000 NEW YORKERS WHO WERE NOT</b> <b>ELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF ISSUES.</b> <b>IS THERE ANY ROOM TO ADDRESS </b> <b>THAT ROOT CAUSE AS IT RELATES TO</b> <b>PAPERWORK?</b> <b>>> WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER </b> <b>TO GET THIS PASSED IS IMPLEMENT </b> <b>SOMETHING CALLED 1115 WAIVER, </b> <b>WHICH IS A FEDERAL WAIVER THAT </b> <b>ALLOWS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH</b> <b>CARE ACCESS AND REDUCING COSTS.</b> <b>NOW, MANY STATES HAVE ALREADY </b> <b>IMPLEMENTED THIS WAIVER, SO </b> <b>WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO INSURE </b> <b>THAT WE'RE MODELING WHAT'S </b> <b>ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE </b> <b>FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.</b> <b>OREGON AND WASHINGTON HAVE </b> <b>GOTTEN APPROVAL FOR THIS, AND </b> <b>MANY STATES ARE MOVING FORWARD </b> <b>AS WELL.</b> <b>IT'S BEEN SORT OF A MODEL.</b> <b>I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT HEALTH </b> <b>CARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT.</b> <b>I'M FIGHTING FOR THE NEW YORK </b> <b>HEALTH ACT, WHICH WILL PROVIDE </b> <b>UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, BUT UNTIL</b> <b>THEN, THIS IS A MODEL THAT WE'RE</b> <b>IMPLEMENTING TO INSURE THAT </b> <b>CHILDREN PRIOR TO MANY OF THEM </b> <b>GOING TO SCHOOL, THAT THEY'RE </b> <b>ABLE TO GET THAT CONTINUAL CARE </b> <b>OF HEALTH CARE.</b> <b>>> RIGHT.</b> <b>WILL THIS COST THE STATE </b> <b>ANYTHING, OR IS IT PARTICULARLY </b> <b>FOCUSED ON THE WAIVER THAT THE </b> <b>FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD PICK UP</b> <b>THE COST?</b> <b>>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL </b> <b>PICK UP MUCH OF THE COST.</b> <b>THE WIN WAS THAT THE GOVERNOR </b> <b>DID PUT IT IN HER EXECUTIVE </b> <b>BUDGET, WHICH IS REALLY </b> <b>EXCITING.</b> <b>WE DID GET SOME COST ESTIMATES.</b> <b>IT'S ABOUT $7.5 MILLION, BUT </b> <b>THAT IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET IN </b> <b>THE $200 BILLION-PLUS BUDGET FOR</b> <b>THE STATE.</b> <b>THIS WILL CERTAINLY SAVE US </b> <b>MONEY BECAUSE IT REDUCES THE </b> <b>ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR WORKERS</b> <b>HERE IN NEW YORK AND INSURES, </b> <b>AGAIN, CONTINUITY OF CARE AND </b> <b>THEN OUR CHILDREN ARE HEALTHY.</b> <b>>> I DID SEE, OF COURSE, THE </b> <b>GOVERNOR DID PUT IT IN HER </b> <b>EXECUTIVE BUDGET, LIKE YOU SAID.</b> <b>THAT'S A WIN.</b> <b>>> IT'S A BIG WIN.</b> <b>WE WERE ADVOCATING, AGAIN, AS </b> <b>THE SENATOR AND I ARE BOTH </b> <b>MOTHERS.</b> <b>WE CALLED ON OUR FIRST MOM </b> <b>GOVERNOR TO INCLUDE THIS IN HER </b> <b>BUDGET, WHICH IS REALLY </b> <b>EXCITING.</b> <b>IT WAS ROLLED OUT RECENTLY, AND </b> <b>WE SEE THAT IT'S IN THERE.</b> <b>WE WANT TO INSURE.</b> <b>THERE'S BUN U ONE PIECE MISSING </b> <b>THAT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO MOVE </b> <b>FROM S-CHIP, THE STATE </b> <b>CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND INSURANCE </b> <b>PROGRAM TO MEDICAID IF IT </b> <b>PROVIDES BETTER CARE FOR THEIR </b> <b>NEEDS.</b> <b>THAT PROVISION ISN'T IN THERE, </b> <b>BUT AGAIN, THAT'S PRETTY MINOR </b> <b>PROVISION.</b> <b>WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADD ROW </b> <b>INDICATE FOR THAT IN OUR </b> <b>ASSEMBLY ONE HOUSE AND SENATE </b> <b>ONE HOUSE.</b> <b>>> WHAT ARE YOUR CONVERSATIONS </b> <b>LIKE WITH THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER </b> <b>TO INCLUDE IT IN THE ONE HOUSE </b> <b>BUDGET AND POTENTIALLY BRING IT </b> <b>ON TO THE FLOOR?</b> <b>>> WE'VE BEEN STARTING TO MEET </b> <b>AS A CONFERENCE.</b> <b>THE SESSION JUST BEGAN ABOUT TWO</b> <b>WEEKS AGO.</b> <b>SO THIS CAME UP ACTUALLY </b> <b>YESTERDAY BECAUSE WE'RE </b> <b>REVIEWING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.</b> <b>AGAIN, THERE'S POSITIVE FEEDBACK</b> <b>ON IT.</b> <b>I BELIEVE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO </b> <b>INCLUDE IT IN OUR ONE HOUSE AND,</b> <b>AGAIN, GET IT OVER THE FINISH </b> <b>LINE TO MAKE SURE IT'S IN THE </b> <b>FINAL ENACTED BUDGET.</b> <b>>> THIS, OF COURSE, IS A VERY </b> <b>BUSY LEGISLATIVE SESSION.</b> <b>THERE ARE SO MANY LEGISLATIVE </b> <b>PRIORITIES.</b> <b>WHAT IS THE STRATEGY TO INSURE </b> <b>THAT IT DOESN'T GET LOST IN THE </b> <b>POLITICS OF THIS SESSION?</b> <b>IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR.</b> <b>WHAT ARE YOU AND THE SENATOR </b> <b>GOING TO BE DOING TO CONTINUE TO</b> <b>GARNER SUPPORT AS THE SESSION </b> <b>PROGRESSES?</b> <b>>> WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT RESTING </b> <b>ON OUR LAURELS.</b> <b>AGAIN, IT'S A REALLY BIG WIN TO </b> <b>HAVE IT IN THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET,</b> <b>BUT WE'RE CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE</b> <b>FOR THIS.</b> <b>WE'VE BROUGHT UP THE WHOLE </b> <b>COALITION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS </b> <b>UP TO ALBANY LAST WEEK TO LAUNCH</b> <b>A PRESS CONFERENCE.</b> <b>WE'RE HAVING THESE </b> <b>CONVERSATIONS.</b> <b>WE'RE MEETING WITH OUR FELLOW </b> <b>LEGISLATORS.</b> <b>WE'RE REALLY CONTINUING TO PUSH </b> <b>TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T FALL </b> <b>OFF, AND AS, AGAIN, WE COME OUT </b> <b>OF THIS PANDEMIC AND STARTED TO </b> <b>SEE THE ELIMINATION OF MANY OF </b> <b>THE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FOOD </b> <b>ACCESS PROGRAMS AND HEALTH </b> <b>ACCESS PROGRAMS, WE WANT TO MAKE</b> <b>SURE THAT WE'RE CAPTURING THOSE </b> <b>FAMILIES AND THOSE COMMUNITIES </b> <b>AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE </b> <b>HEALTHY IN NEW YORK BECAUSE, </b> <b>AGAIN, UNHEALTHY FAMILIES COST </b> <b>THE STATE MORE MONEY.</b> <b>IT'S IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO DO </b> <b>SO.</b> <b>AGAIN, AS SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES </b> <b>HEALTH IS A HUMAN RIGHT, IT IS </b> <b>OUR DUTY TO DO THAT.</b> <b>>> WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM </b> <b>YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN YOUR </b> <b>DISTRICT ABOUT THIS?</b> <b>HOW ARE YOU SAYING IT WOULD HELP</b> <b>THEM?</b> <b>>> YES.</b> <b>CERTAINLY THE BURDEN OF </b> <b>COMPLETING PAPERWORK OVER AND </b> <b>OVER AND OVER AGAIN HAS BEEN </b> <b>REALLY TOUGH.</b> <b>AGAIN, MANY OF THE CHILDREN THAT</b> <b>HAVE BEEN DISENROLLED ARE NOT </b> <b>DISENROLLED BECAUSE THEY'RE </b> <b>INELIGIBLE.</b> <b>IT'S SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE </b> <b>PAPERWORK BURDEN.</b> <b>THIS WOULD RELIEVE SUCH A BURDEN</b> <b>ON SO MANY FAMILIES.</b> <b>I REPRESENT A LARGE WORKING </b> <b>CLASS, IMMIGRANT-RICH COMMUNITY.</b> <b>THIS, AGAIN, WILL BE VERY </b> <b>HELPFUL FOR THOSE THAT HAVE </b> <b>ALREADY BEEN ENROLLED IN THE </b> <b>PROGRAM, AND WE WANT TO MAKE </b> <b>SURE TO GET OUT THE WORD AND </b> <b>MAKE SURE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT YET </b> <b>ENROLLED GET ENROLLED, AND THEN </b> <b>THEY'RE ABLE TO STAY ENROLLED </b> <b>THROUGH THE AGE OF 6.</b> <b>THEN IF THEY CONTINUE TO BE </b> <b>ELIGIBLE, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO </b> <b>CONTINUE TO RE-ENROLL.</b> <b>>> THIS, OF COURSE, STARTED </b> <b>BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC OR IN </b> <b>THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC, WHICH</b> <b>IS INTERESTING TO ME THAT IT WAS</b> <b>AN EMERGENCY MEASURE THAT WE ARE</b> <b>HOPING GETS EXTENDED.</b> <b>ARE THERE ANY OTHER EMERGENCY </b> <b>MEASURES THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE</b> <b>BENEFICIAL TO EXTEND, JUST LIKE </b> <b>THIS BILL WOULD POTENTIALLY BE </b> <b>DOING AS WE MOVE INTO A </b> <b>POST-PANDEMIC WORLD?</b> <b>>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.</b> <b>THERE'S A LOT OF MEASURES AROUND</b> <b>FOOD SECURITY THAT WAS AVAILABLE</b> <b>TO FAMILIES DURING THE PANDEMIC.</b> <b>WE'RE LOOKING AT SNAP AND MAKING</b> <b>SURE TO RAISE THE MINIMUM </b> <b>BENEFIT, AS I TALKED ABOUT HERE </b> <b>BEFORE.</b> <b>WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME </b> <b>OF THE POSITIVE POLICY OUTCOMES </b> <b>FROM THE PANDEMIC DON'T GET LOST</b> <b>SIMPLY BECAUSE THE PUBLIC HEALTH</b> <b>EMERGENCY IS OVER.</b> <b>WE KNOW COVID IS STILL VERY </b> <b>REAL.</b> <b>IN FACT, THE RATES ARE GOING UP.</b> <b>I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF </b> <b>POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN TERMS OF </b> <b>THE POLICY MEASURES THAT CAME </b> <b>DURING THAT EMERGENCY, AND WE </b> <b>HAVE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS AS A </b> <b>STATE TO INSURE THAT OUR </b> <b>COMMUNITIES ARE HEALTHY AND HAVE</b> <b>THAT OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.</b> <b>HOCHUL HAS TALKED ABOUT A </b> <b>LIVABLE, SAFER, AFFORDABLE NEW </b> <b>YORK.</b> <b>HEALTH IS SO CRITICAL TO THAT </b> <b>BEING ABLE TO LIVE AND THRIVE IN</b> <b>THIS STATE.</b> <b>THESE ARE MEASURES THAT WE WANT </b> <b>TO CONTINUE AND ADVOCATE FOR AND</b> <b>MAKE INVESTMENTS ON.</b> <b>>> A HUGE PORTION OF THIS BILL,</b> <b>AS YOU MENTIONED, IS FOCUSED ON </b> <b>A WAIVER THAT THE FEDERAL </b> <b>GOVERNMENT WOULD PICK UP.</b> <b>JUST IN CASE THERE IS ANY </b> <b>PUSHBACK FROM THE FEDERAL </b> <b>GOVERNMENT, WHAT ARE SOME </b> <b>CONTINGENCIES THAT WOULD PUT IN </b> <b>PLACE TO INSURE THAT WE ARE </b> <b>STILL HELPING CHILDREN FROM AGES</b> <b>0 TO 6, BUT WE MAY NOT GET THE </b> <b>HELP FROM THE FEDERAL </b> <b>GOVERNMENT.</b> <b>WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING TO INSURE</b> <b>THAT THEY GET THAT ASSISTANCE?</b> <b>>> I ACTUALLY FEEL CONFIDENT </b> <b>THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL</b> <b>APPROVE THIS WAIVER.</b> <b>WASHINGTON STATE AND OREGON </b> <b>ALREADY GOT APPROVAL.</b> <b>AGAIN, THAT MODEL OF THE 0 TO 6 </b> <b>IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SEEING </b> <b>SOME STATES IMPLEMENT AND START </b> <b>TO MOVE FORWARD.</b> <b>THE WAIVER IS DESIGNED TO INSURE</b> <b>THAT WE HAVE CONTINUITY CARE AND</b> <b>WE'RE ADDRESSING HEALTH </b> <b>INEQUITIES AND SAVING THE STATE </b> <b>MONEY.</b> <b>WE DO FEEL CONFIDENT IT'S ABOUT </b> <b>GETTING THAT LANGUAGE IN, </b> <b>GETTING THAT WAIVER SUBMITTED </b> <b>AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE </b> <b>ACTUALIZING THE PROGRAM.</b> <b>WE FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT.</b> <b>AGAIN, IT'S A VERY SMALL COST TO</b> <b>THE STATE AND.</b> <b>OF IT WOULD BE PICKED UP BY THE </b> <b>FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS A </b> <b>WIN-WIN FOR THE STATE AND THE </b> <b>COUNTRY.</b> <b>>> WHAT IS AT RISK IF, FOR </b> <b>EXAMPLE, THIS DOESN'T MAKE IT </b> <b>OVER THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH </b> <b>LINE?</b> <b>I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO TRY YOUR</b> <b>BEST TO GET IT PASSED THIS </b> <b>SESSION.</b> <b>IF IT DOESN'T MAKE IT THIS </b> <b>SESSION, OF COURSE, BRING IT </b> <b>BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR.</b> <b>WHAT IS THAT RISK?</b> <b>WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT?</b> <b>>> WELL, THE IMPACT WOULD BE </b> <b>THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN.</b> <b>AS A MOM I KNOW THAT TENDER AGE </b> <b>BETWEEN 0 AND 6 YOU ARE </b> <b>CONSTANTLY GETTING CHECK-UPS AND</b> <b>CONSTANTLY GETTING VACCINES.</b> <b>AS CHILDREN ENTER THE PRESCHOOL </b> <b>AND PRE-K, YOU ARE EXPOSED TO </b> <b>MORE GERMS.</b> <b>IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT </b> <b>CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO THE FULL</b> <b>RANGE OF HEALTH CARE.</b> <b>ESPECIALLY AT THE TENDER AGE.</b> <b>THROUGHOUT THEIR WHOLE LIFE, </b> <b>OBVIOUSLY.</b> <b>THOSE ARE THE AGES YOU HAVE TO </b> <b>MAKE SURE THEY'RE MEETING THE </b> <b>VACCINATION REQUESTS, THE NEEDS </b> <b>AND REQUIREMENTS AND EVERYTHING </b> <b>THAT INSURES THAT THEY'RE </b> <b>HEALTHY.</b> <b>THAT MEANS THE HEALTH OF THEIR </b> <b>COMMUNITIES TOO AND OUR </b> <b>COMMUNITIES.</b> <b>SO IT WOULD BE TRAGIC, ACTUALLY,</b> <b>TO SEE THIS FALL OFF.</b> <b>I DON'T BELIEVE IT WILL.</b> <b>I BELIEVE WE'RE REALLY COMMITTED</b> <b>TO IT, AND WE'LL GET IT DONE.</b> <b>IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO </b> <b>UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF </b> <b>NOT ACTING.</b> <b>>> WELL, THERE'S A LOT HERE AND</b> <b>AS YOU UNDERSCORED, THIS IS AN </b> <b>IMPORTANT BILL.</b> <b>WE'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO CHECK </b> <b>IN WITH YOU AS THE SESSION </b> <b>PROGRESSES.</b> <b>THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING </b> <b>HERE.</b> <b>>> ABSOLUTELY.</b> <b>THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.</b> <b>>> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH </b> <b>ASSEMBLY MEASURE JESSICA </b> <b>GONZALEZ ROJAS.</b>