Buck-ing for Child Vics Act

ALBANY — Passing a bill to make it easier for child sex abuse victims to seek justice as adults is not only the moral thing to do but also makes fiscal sense for the state, advocates for the legislation say.

In calling for Gov. Cuomo to include the Child Victims Act in his upcoming 2018-19 budget proposal, the advocates say enacting the law could reduce state Medicaid spending by $250 million.

They say if a person who is on Medicaid wins a child sexual abuse settlement, a portion of that money must go to repay the Medicaid program for past coverage of treatment for problems related to the abuse.

The advocates estimate about 2,000 victims who under current law can no longer sue would be able to do so under the Child Victims Act. Child USA figures the average settlement would be $250,000, which is below the national average of about $350,000.

“There’s definitely an economic effect,” said Child USA CEO Marci Hamilton.

A Cuomo spokesman Tuesday would not say if the bill would be in the governor’s budget proposal.