Assembly Bill A8641

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8641
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 10, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  GOTTFRIED  --  read once and referred to the
   Committee on Health
 
 AN ACT in relation to directing  the  commissioner  of  health  and  the
   commissioner  of the office for people with developmental disabilities
   to conduct a study of the delivery of  services  to  individuals  with
   traumatic brain injury

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature recognizes that a trau-
 matic brain injury results from a sudden blow or jolt to  the  head  and
 can present in individuals with a wide range of mild, moderate or severe
 symptoms.  Each traumatic brain injury case is unique and complex, often
 requiring supports and services to  allow  individuals  to  achieve  the
 highest  quality  of  life.  This legislation will direct a study on the
 delivery of services to New Yorkers with traumatic brain injury. Specif-
 ically, the study will evaluate the availability  and  accessibility  of
 quality  services, emerging trends, regional disparities, and the effec-
 tiveness of the administrative process for  individuals  with  traumatic
 brain  injury  who  receive  official  approvals or denials of services.
 Furthermore, the commissioner of health  and  the  commissioner  of  the
 office   for   people   with   developmental  disabilities  should  make
 suggestions to enhance New York  state's  response  to  traumatic  brain
 injuries based on the findings of this study.
   §  2. a. The commissioner of health and the commissioner of the office
 for people with developmental disabilities shall conduct a study on  the
 delivery  of  services  provided to individuals diagnosed with traumatic
 brain injury. Such services to be studied   shall include,  but  not  be
 limited to acute and sub-acute rehabilitation, counseling and behavioral
 services,  home care services, independent living skills training, envi-
 ronmental modifications, housing  opportunities,  and  any  services  or
 programs  specific  to  traumatic brain injury or that serve individuals
 with traumatic brain injury.  In conducting the study, the commissioners
 shall consult with people with traumatic brain injury  and  their  fami-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11893-07-2
              

 A. 8641                             2
 
 lies,  organizations  representing  such people, and providers of health
 care and other services to people with traumatic brain injury.
   b.  The  study  shall  examine  the  availability and accessibility of
 services for individuals diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, the cost
 of receiving such services, and any disparities that may  exist  in  the
 regional availability of services.
   c. The study shall identify emerging trends in traumatic brain injury,
 including  changes  in  incidences,  changes in the needs of individuals
 with traumatic brain injury, and assess the training  service  providers
 receive relating to traumatic brain injury.
   d. The study shall also examine the difference in services availabili-
 ty  and  outcomes  for  individuals that may be enrolled in any Medicaid
 waiver.
   e. The study shall examine the efficiency of the administrative  proc-
 esses  that  provide  individuals  with  traumatic brain injury official
 approvals or denials of service.
   f. The commissioner of health and the commissioner of the  office  for
 people  with  developmental  disabilities  shall make recommendations to
 improve the delivery, quality, accessibility, and cost of the full range
 of services available to individuals with traumatic brain injury.
   g. The commissioner of health and the commissioner of the  office  for
 people  with  developmental disabilities shall report and publish on the
 department of health's website, and transmit such  commissioners'  find-
 ings  and  recommendations to the governor, the speaker of the assembly,
 the minority leader of the assembly,  the  temporary  president  of  the
 senate  and the minority leader of the senate on or before one year from
 the date this act shall take effect.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.