Senate Bill S7067A

2015-2016 Legislative Session

Makes care and services provided by licensed mental health practitioners eligible for coverage under the Medicaid program

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Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Assembly Committee


  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2015-S7067 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A9477
Current Committee:
Assembly Health
Law Section:
Social Services Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §365-a, Soc Serv L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2013-2014: A9678
2017-2018: S3981, A1890, A10707
2019-2020: S3421, A648
2021-2022: S6575, A6323

2015-S7067 - Summary

Makes care and services provided by licensed mental health practitioners eligible for coverage under the Medicaid program.

2015-S7067 - Sponsor Memo

2015-S7067 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  7067

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             March 22, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  SAVINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Health

AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to making care  and
  services  provided  by  licensed mental health counselors 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 counselors as  providers  within  the  Medicaid  program.  Mental
health  counselors  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 counselors from treating Medi-
caid beneficiaries with untreated mental illness puts such beneficiaries
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 psycho-
logical problems.
  Mental  health counselors represent over 40 percent of licensed mental
health practitioners in New York state. Unfortunately Medicaid does  not
recognize their important contribution to the present health care deliv-
ery 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:
  (DD) CARE AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY MENTAL HEALTH  COUNSELORS  LICENSED
PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  EIGHTY-FOUR  HUNDRED  TWO  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.

              

co-Sponsors

2015-S7067A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A9477
Current Committee:
Assembly Health
Law Section:
Social Services Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §365-a, Soc Serv L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2013-2014: A9678
2017-2018: S3981, A1890, A10707
2019-2020: S3421, A648
2021-2022: S6575, A6323

2015-S7067A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Makes care and services provided by licensed mental health practitioners eligible for coverage under the Medicaid program.

2015-S7067A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2015-S7067A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 7067--A

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             March 22, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sens. SAVINO, COMRIE, HAMILTON -- read twice and ordered
  printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Health
  -- reported favorably from said committee and committed to the Commit-
  tee on Finance -- reported favorably from said committee and committed
  to  the  Committee  on  Rules  --  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.
                                                           LBD08250-04-6
              

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