What's happening
This bill creates a plan to coordinate and improve behavioral health and long-term care services for adults with mental illness or chemical dependence in New York.
Why it matters
Promotes integrated, cross-agency care. The bill requires multiple state agencies (mental health, health, substance abuse, aging) to coordinate their efforts, reducing gaps and fragmentation in services for adults with both mental health or substance use issues and long-term care needs.
Emphasizes alternatives to institutionalization. It calls for expanding community-based options and support services, aiming to help people avoid or delay placement in nursing homes or psychiatric facilities and remain in community settings.
Supports family caregivers. The plan specifically addresses the needs of families caring for adults with mental illness or chemical dependence, potentially reducing caregiver strain and improving outcomes for patients.
Builds in accountability and transparency. The bill mandates annual public reports on implementation and outcomes, which could drive ongoing improvements and ensure that the plan delivers measurable benefits to those it’s meant to serve.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Coordinate Mental Health and Elder Care
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to mental health
- Referred to mental health
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2472
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 20, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SEPULVEDA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT to enact the "behavioral health and long-term care act" providing for the establishment of a behavioral health and long-term care plan
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "behavioral health and long-term care act".
§ 2. The behavioral health and long-term care plan. 1. The commissioner of mental health, in conjunction with the commissioner of health, the commissioner of alcoholism and substance abuse services and the director of the office for the aging, shall develop and monitor the implementation of a behavioral health and long-term care plan. A subcommittee may be established through the interagency geriatric mental health and chemical dependency planning council to assist in the development of such plan.
(a) The behavioral health and long-term care plan shall include, but not be limited to:
(i) Coordination of provider services and interagency referrals of persons with a mental illness and/or chemical dependence, as defined in section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law, other than and in addition to dementia, who are in or who may be in need of long-term care,
(ii) Recommendations for integrating and coordinating federal, state and local funding sources for behavioral health and long-term care,
(iii) Recommendations for facilitating research on best practices and model programs, and the dissemination of such information,
(iv) An increase in alternatives to nursing homes for adults with mental illness and/or chemical dependence who also need long-term care, and
(v) Support services for family caregivers who assist adults with mental illness and/or chemical dependence who also need long-term care
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07142-01-7
A. 2472 2
in the community rather than in institutions such as adult homes, nursing homes or psychiatric inpatient units.
(b) The behavioral health and long-term care plan shall provide for specific actions to be taken for its implementation, the number of people to be served, measurable phases for the implementation, and a time schedule for the achievement of such phases.
(c) The provisions of the behavioral health and long-term care plan shall be included in the statewide comprehensive plan of services for the mentally disabled pursuant to section 5.07 of the mental hygiene law.
2. On or before October 1, 2019, the commissioner of mental health shall submit a report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly. On or before October 1, 2020, and annually until 2027, the commissioner of mental health shall submit a report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly regarding the implementation of the plan including the number of people served and other measurable outcomes.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.