Directs the commissioner of health to establish an opioid treatment and hospital diversion demonstration program

26 Co-sponsors

• Greg Ball
• John J. Bonacic
• Phil Boyle
• David Carlucci
• Simcha Felder
• Patrick M. Gallivan
• Terry Gipson
• Martin J. Golden
• Joseph A. Griffo
• Andrew J. Lanza
• William J. Larkin Jr.
• Kenneth P. LaValle
• Betty Little
• Carl L. Marcellino
• Kathleen A. Marchione
• Jack M. Martins
• George D. Maziarz
• Michael F. Nozzolio
• Thomas F. O'Mara
• Michael H. Ranzenhofer
• Patty Ritchie
• Joseph E. Robach
• Diane J. Savino
• James L. Seward
• David J. Valesky
• Catharine Young

BILL NUMBER:S2948

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing an opioid addiction treatment and hospital diversion demon- stration program

Purpose

Directs the commissioner of health to establish an opioid addiction treatment and hospital diversion demonstration program

Summary of provisions

Section 1 adds a new Public Health Law 3309-b to establish the Opioid Addiction Treatment and Hospital Diversion Demonstration Program. Under the program the commissioner in consultation with the Office of Alcohol- ism and Substance Abuse Services, is authorized to established up to six demonstrations with, at minimum, one located in each of the following locations; Western New York, Central New York, State Island, Brooklyn, and Long Island. Additionally, this section requires the commissioner to report within 2 years on the effectiveness of the demonstration program and recommendations regarding the expansion of the program.

Section 2 provides the act take effect immediately.

Justification

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that in one year, 27,000 Americans died of uninten- tional drug overdoses - that is one death every 19 minutes. Further, the CDC reported that for every unintentional overdose death related to opioids, nine persons are admitted for substance abuse treatment and 35 individuals visit emergency departments. According to a study in the journal Psychiatric Services, substance abuse disorders are costing states millions of dollars in Medicaid expenses. This study found that in six states, the Medicaid programs spent over $200 million more on beneficiaries with substance abuse disorders than those without.

Presumably, in an effort to cut these costs, both the state and national government have been supportive of the concept of making detox an outpa- tient, rather than inpatient service. Withdrawal from opioid drugs is generally not life threatening and can be readily managed in less inten- sive and costly environments. However, despite the support of more effi- cient, cost saving alternatives, there is a shortage of community options for individuals seeking assistance with opioid addiction. The lack of available treatment facilities was raised several times at the recent roundtables on the prescription drug abuse crisis held by the Senate Standing Committee on Health and the Senate Standing, Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.

This demonstration program aims to address these issues by providing alternative outpatient short term treatment, avoiding the unnecessary emergency room costs, and studying the effectiveness of this treatment model. The demonstration program established herein is modeled after programs such as the Rose House Hospital Diversion Program, located in

Poughkeepsie, Voices of the Health,serving Washington and Warren County, and the Essex County Crisis Alternatives Program - which are all deemed to be successful programs providing, mental health respite services. While there will be costs to the state associated with the creation of this demonstration, such costs are expected to be offset by Medicaid savings resulting from the decrease in emergency room services.

Legislative history

S.7326 of 2012 Passed Senate

Fiscal implications

The costs of the program are expected to be offset by Medicaid savings.

Effective date

Immediately.