S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9477--A
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 10, 2016
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HARRIS, ABBATE, ABINANTI, BLAKE, COLTON, COOK,
CORWIN, CROUCH, CYMBROWITZ, DUPREY, GUNTHER, HYNDMAN, MILLER, MOSLEY,
PEOPLES-STOKES, ROBINSON, HUNTER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.
SEPULVEDA, SIMON, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Health -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to making care and
services provided by licensed mental health practitioners eligible for
coverage under the Medicaid program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. Whereas Medicaid covers mental health
services in New York state to psychiatrists, psychologists and social
workers, Medicaid does not recognize New York state licensed mental
health practitioners as providers within the Medicaid program. Mental
health practitioners are often the only mental health providers in urban
underserved minority communities. A critical result of this lack of
providers is that minority communities bear a disproportionate number of
burdens of mental health disabilities and inadequately treated mental
health disorders. Excluding mental health practitioners from treating
Medicaid beneficiaries with untreated mental illness puts such benefici-
aries disproportionately at risk for engagement with the criminal
justice system. This puts individuals, families and communities at risk
of harm. Approximately 26 percent of adults experience a diagnosable
behavioral health disorder each year, and researchers have reported 20
percent of adolescents display psychological problems. Behavioral health
disorders, ranging from inattention to violence are often a result of
those psychological problems.
Mental health practitioners are valuable providers of mental health
services in New York state. Unfortunately Medicaid does not recognize
their important contribution to the present health care delivery system.
S 2. Subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the social services law is
amended by adding a new paragraph (dd) to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08250-03-6
A. 9477--A 2
(DD) CARE AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS
LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE OF THE EDUCATION
LAW, INCLUDING SUCH CARE AND SERVICES PROVIDED IN A HOSPITAL OUT-PATIENT
OR CLINIC FACILITY REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the ninety-first day after it shall
have become a law.