* § 19.18 Opioid addiction treatment and hospital diversion

demonstration program.

1. The commissioner, in consultation with the department of health,
shall establish a heroin and opioid addiction treatment and hospital
diversion demonstration program. This program shall provide a new model
of detoxification and transitional services for individuals seeking
treatment for heroin and opioid addiction that utilizes short-term,
residential and peer-supported services for opioid and heroin addiction
with a goal of reducing reliance on emergency room services while
providing appropriate supports to patients and families. Such
demonstration program shall utilize existing beds in medically monitored
detoxification programs, to the extent that beds are located, and
services are modified, appropriately, to serve those with heroin or
opioid addictions; and shall permit participation by all programs,
services, and facilities that are certified or licensed pursuant to this
article. Individuals who receive detoxification services pursuant to
this demonstration program shall, upon completion, be referred to
services that are appropriate to facilitate their recovery from heroin
and opioid addiction. The commissioner shall establish demonstrations
throughout the state.

2. Not later than two years after the effective date of this section,
the commissioner shall provide the governor, the temporary president of
the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the chair of the senate
standing committee on health and the chair of the assembly health
committee with a written evaluation of the demonstration program. Such
evaluation shall address the overall effectiveness of this demonstration
program as it relates to patients, the surrounding community, health
care providers and health care payors, and shall include, but not be
limited to: locations and utilization rates of the demonstration
program; the amounts of grants awarded pursuant to this section, and the
programs, services, and facilities that received such grants; the
effectiveness of the demonstration program in providing access to
services; the impact of these services; the associated cost savings; and
whether continuation or expansion of this demonstration program or
similar models are recommended.

3. The opioid addiction treatment and hospital diversion demonstration
program shall provide grants, within appropriations therefor, to
programs, services, and facilities that are certified or licensed
pursuant to this article. Grants may be awarded by the office to
programs, services, and facilities for the purpose of establishing the
demonstration program pursuant to subdivision one of this section.

* NB Repealed June 23, 2017