Opinion
2017–07098 Index No. 10858/16
01-30-2019
In the Matter of Gayle MANGELS, etc., Petitioner, v. Howard A. ZUCKER, etc., et al., Respondents.
Korsinsky & Klein, LLP, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Michael Korsinsky, Samuel Diamantstein, and Jonathan Engel of counsel), for petitioner. Letitia James, Attorney General, New York, N.Y. (Anisha S. Dasgupta and Mark H. Shawhan of counsel), for respondents Howard A. Zucker and Samuel D. Roberts. Dennis M. Brown, County Attorney, Hauppauge, N.Y. (Elaine M. Barraga and Dana Kobos of counsel), for respondent John F. O'Neill.
Korsinsky & Klein, LLP, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Michael Korsinsky, Samuel Diamantstein, and Jonathan Engel of counsel), for petitioner.
Letitia James, Attorney General, New York, N.Y. (Anisha S. Dasgupta and Mark H. Shawhan of counsel), for respondents Howard A. Zucker and Samuel D. Roberts.
Dennis M. Brown, County Attorney, Hauppauge, N.Y. (Elaine M. Barraga and Dana Kobos of counsel), for respondent John F. O'Neill.
WILLIAM F. MASTRO, J.P., REINALDO E. RIVERA, COLLEEN D. DUFFY, VALERIE BRATHWAITE NELSON, JJ.
DECISION, ORDER & JUDGMENT Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the New York State Department of Health dated August 8, 2016. The determination, after a fair hearing pursuant to Social Services Law § 22, upheld a determination of the Suffolk County Department of Social Services denying an application of one of the petitioner's residents for Medicaid benefits. Motion by the respondent John F. O'Neill, as Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Social Services, to dismiss the proceeding insofar as asserted against him.
ADJUDGED that the proceeding is dismissed insofar as asserted against Samuel D. Roberts, as Commissioner of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, and John F. O'Neill, as Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Social Services, the determination is confirmed, the petition is denied, and the proceeding is dismissed on the merits insofar as asserted against Howard A. Zucker as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health; and it is further,
ORDERED that the motion of John F. O'Neill, as Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Social Services, to dismiss the proceeding insofar as asserted against him is denied as academic in light of our determination; and it is further, ORDERED that one bill of costs is awarded to the respondents appearing separately and filing separate briefs.
The petitioner, a skilled nursing facility, commenced this proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 seeking to annul a determination by the New York State Department of Health (hereinafter the DOH), made after a fair hearing. The DOH upheld a determination of the Suffolk County Department of Social Services (hereinafter the DSS) denying an application for Medicaid benefits made by Lola Aronowitz, a resident in the petitioner's facility, due to her failure to submit proper documentation. Aronowitz, a legally incapacitated individual, has been residing at the facility since September 16, 2014. The Supreme Court transferred the proceeding to this Court pursuant to CPLR 7804(g).
The determination rendered by the DOH is final and binding upon the DSS (see 18 NYCRR 358–6.1 [b] ). Thus, the proceeding must be dismissed insofar as asserted against John F. O'Neill, as Commissioner of the DSS, since he is not a proper party to the proceeding (see Matter of Niosi v. Blass, 94 A.D.3d 892, 893, 942 N.Y.S.2d 358 ; see also Matter of Weiss v. Suffolk Dept. of Social Servs., 121 A.D.3d 703, 706, 993 N.Y.S.2d 368 ). The proceeding also must be dismissed insofar as asserted against Samuel D. Roberts, as Commissioner of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (hereinafter the OTDA), as the OTDA did not render the final determination at issue here (see Matter of Bosco v. McGuire, 111 A.D.3d 931, 933, 975 N.Y.S.2d 687 ; see also Matter of La Russo v. Neuringer, 105 A.D.3d 743, 744, 962 N.Y.S.2d 633 ).
In reviewing a Medicaid eligibility determination made after a fair hearing, the court must review the record, as a whole, to determine if the agency's decisions are supported by substantial evidence (see Matter of Pagnani v. Suffolk County Dept. of Social Servs., 152 A.D.3d 696, 696, 55 N.Y.S.3d 912 ; Matter of Bosco v. McGuire, 111 A.D.3d at 932, 975 N.Y.S.2d 687 ). Substantial evidence means such relevant proof as a reasonable mind may accept as adequate to support a conclusion or ultimate fact (see Matter of Pagnani v. Suffolk County Dept. of Social Servs., 152 A.D.3d at 696, 55 N.Y.S.3d 912 ; Matter of Bosco v. McGuire, 111 A.D.3d at 932, 975 N.Y.S.2d 687 ). The petitioner bears the burden of demonstrating eligibility (see Matter of Medford Multicare Ctr. v. Zucker, 161 A.D.3d 1160, 1162, 77 N.Y.S.3d 524 ; Matter of Bosco v. McGuire, 111 A.D.3d at 932, 975 N.Y.S.2d 687 ).
Here, the DOH's determination upholding the DSS's denial of Aronowitz's application for Medicaid benefits is supported by substantial evidence. The record of the proceeding shows that Aronowitz did not provide the documents necessary for the processing of her application in a timely manner (see Matter of Pagnani v. Suffolk County Dept. of Social Servs., 152 A.D.3d at 696, 55 N.Y.S.3d 912 ; Matter of Bosco v. McGuire, 111 A.D.3d at 932, 975 N.Y.S.2d 687 ). Aronowitz's guardian admitted at the fair hearing that the requested documents had not been provided, and failed to establish that Aronowitz was unable to obtain the documentation or establish other good cause for her failure to do so (see 18 NYCRR 351.5 [a]; 360–2.3[a][3]; Matter of Bosco v. McGuire, 111 AD3d at 932, 975 N.Y.S.2d 687 ; Matter of Niosi v. Blass, 94 A.D.3d at 893, 942 N.Y.S.2d 358 ; Matter of LoBlanco v. Hansell, 83 A.D.3d 1072, 1073, 921 N.Y.S.2d 551 ).
Accordingly, we confirm the DOH's determination, deny the petition, and dismiss the proceeding on the merits insofar as asserted against Howard A. Zucker, as Commissioner of the DOH.
MASTRO, J.P., RIVERA, DUFFY and BRATHWAITE NELSON, JJ., concur.