What's happening
This bill establishes a plan to coordinate behavioral health and long-term care services and support for adults with mental illness or chemical dependence in New York State.
Why it matters
Creates a comprehensive, coordinated approach. to connect behavioral health (mental illness and substance use) services with long-term care for adults, aiming to close gaps that often leave people without integrated support.
Seeks to streamline funding and improve service delivery. by requiring recommendations for better coordination of federal, state, and local resources, potentially reducing inefficiencies and making it easier for individuals to access needed care.
Emphasizes alternatives to institutionalization. by prioritizing community-based options and support for family caregivers, which could improve quality of life and reduce reliance on nursing homes or psychiatric hospitals.
Mandates ongoing oversight and public reporting. by requiring annual progress reports through 2027, which increases government accountability and provides transparency about whether services and outcomes for this vulnerable population are improving.
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Who cares
- Watching
State mental health, health, addiction services and aging agencies
They would jointly develop and monitor a behavioral health and long-term care plan, with mental health officials responsible for implementation reports.
Adults with mental illness or chemical dependence who need long-term care
The plan would address coordinated services and referrals and increased alternatives to nursing homes.
Family caregivers
The plan would include support services for those helping adults with mental illness or chemical dependence receive long-term care in the community rather than institutions.
Behavioral health and long-term care providers
The plan would address service coordination, interagency referrals, funding coordination recommendations and dissemination of research on best practices and model programs.
Headline styles
Improve Mental Health Care
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Coordinate Mental Health and Elder Care
Stricken · Sponsor Luis R. Sepúlveda
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4873
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sen. DIAZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07142-01-7
S. 4873 2
(v) Support services for family caregivers who assist adults with mental illness and/or chemical dependence who also need long-term care 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
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
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to ensure that adults who have mental health and/or substance abuse and physical health needs are provided the opportunity to have their needs met using a comprehensive approach.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Short Title "Behavioral Health and Long Term Care Act".
Read the full memo (733 words)
Section 2. Requires the Commissioner of the Office of Mental Health in consultation with the Commissioner of the Department of Health, the Commissioner of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, and the Director of the State Office for the Aging to develop and implement a behavioral health and long-term care plan which must include coordination of provider services and interagency referrals, recommendations for integrating and coordinating federal, state and local funding, recommendations for facilitating research on best practices and model programs, an increase in alternatives to nursing homes, and supports for family caregivers. This bill would also require the plan to create specific actions to be taken, the number of people to be served, measurable phases, and a time schedule. The provisions of this plan must also be included in the statewide comprehensive plan of service for the mentally disabled pursuant to section 5.07 of the Mental Hygiene Law. This bill would require the Commissioner of the Office of Mental Health to submit a report to the Governor, the Temporary President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly on or before October 1, 2017. Requires the Commissioner of Mental Health to submit a report regarding the implementation of the plan, including the number of people served and other measurable outcomes, on or before October 1, 2018 and annually until 2025.
Section 3. Effective Date
Existing law
None
Justification
Data from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services indicate that 35% of individuals in nursing homes are clinically depressed and 17% have other psychiatric diagnoses. Similarly, a 2002 study of home health care patients found that 13.7% suffered from major depression and an additional 10.6% suffered from minor depression. Of those with major depression, only 123% received adequate treatment. Only 3% of older adults in the community without a chronic physical illness have major depression, however once a chronic physical illness is added that rate jumps to 7%. If the person requires home health care the rate of major depression doubles to 14%, and if the person needs a nursing home the rate doubles again to 30%.
In New York State, individuals receive long-term care through programs offered through one of four state agencies: the Office of Mental Health, the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Health, or the State Office for the Aging. It is uncommon for an individual to receive services from a staff who has been cross trained, or by a program that offers mental health services and care for physical health. It is well known that demographics in New York State are changing. In fact, New York State citizens who are over the age of 65 will double from 35 million to 70 million by 2030. Not only will the need for long term care increase, but long-term care that offers mental health and substance abuse treatment and is responsive to developmental disabilities will be absolutely necessary. New York State must plan now to meet the multiple needs of this vulnerable population.
Prior legislative history
2016: S.129A - REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2015: S.129 - AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2014: S.445A - Amend and Recommit to Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities/A.2360A - Amend and Recommit to Mental Health 2013: S.445 - Referred to Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities/A.2360 - Referred to Mental Health 2012: S.58- Referred to Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities/ A.4496 - Enacting Clause Stricken 2011: S.58 - Reported and Committed to Finance/A.4496 - Referred to Health 2010: S.3341A - Reported and Committed to Finance; Amended (T) S.3341C and Recommitted to Finance/A.7027C - Reported Referred to Ways and Means. 2009: S.3341 - Reported and Committed to Finance/A.7027 - Reported Referred to Ways and Means.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined.
Effective date
Sixty days after enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.