What's happening
This bill ensures Medicaid-eligible individuals under 21 referred for mental health services receive up to 30 days of care pending expedited review, and requires data collection and assessment of such placements.
Why it matters
Guarantees immediate access to needed mental health services for Medicaid-eligible youth at critical transition points. meaning children won’t face gaps in care while waiting for bureaucratic reviews, which could reduce risk of relapse or crisis.
Places responsibility on the commissioner to create individualized, needs-based procedures. this could improve care quality and consistency across the state, and ensure placements are clinically appropriate.
Mandates data collection and system assessment. by tracking who uses these expedited placements, how many are admitted, and how effective the services are, the state can identify systemic gaps and plan for future needs (including whether new programs or referral methods are needed).
Requires collaboration between state, local agencies, and providers. this may improve coordination and accountability in the mental health system, helping children navigate complex transitions more smoothly.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Faster Mental Health Access
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 62
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
- Print number 725a
- Amend (t) and recommit to finance
- Reported and committed to finance
- 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.
Expand Kids' Mental Health Access
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor William Magnarelli
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
725--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities -- reported favorably from said committee and committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to access to mental health services for children who are referred to the pre-admission certification committee
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 9.51 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding two new subdivisions (h) and (i) to read as follows:
(h) Whenever a Medicaid eligible individual up to twenty-one years of age is referred to the pre-admission certification committee by a physician authorized to discharge such individual from an inpatient hospital, such individual shall have access to the mental health services for which they are determined to be in need of by the referring physician for up to thirty days pending the expedited review of the pre-admission certification committee. For the purposes of this subdivision, any referral by a physician for mental health services shall be done in consultation with the facility being considered for such referral. The commissioner, in carrying out the provisions of this subdivision, shall:
(1) develop, establish, and promulgate procedures to implement the provisions of this subdivision. Such procedures shall be based upon the specific needs of the individual and authorized in the environment necessary to achieve the purposes of treatment prescribed by the referring physician until such individuals are approved by the pre-admission certification committee or determined not to be eligible for such placement; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04610-03-7
S. 725--A 2
(2) notify, cooperate, guide, and assist local agencies, local government units, community service boards, and/or providers of service.
(i) The commissioner shall:
(1) collect information, including the characteristics and number of children requiring such thirty-day placements and expedited reviews by the pre-admission certification;
(2) assess the number of children admitted to residential treatment facilities through such means and recommend a plan to meet the future needs of such children, including but not limited to whether such referral method should be continued, whether there is a need to develop a new referral methodology and whether there is a need to develop a new program that is a level of care other than residential treatment facilities; and
(3) make an assessment of the success of the services so provided.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which 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 amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to access to mental health services for children who are referred to the pre-admission certification committee
Purpose or general idea of bill
To ensure access to residential treatment services for children with serious mental illness.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill would require that Medicaid eligible individuals up to age twenty one that have been referred to the pre-admission certification committee (PACC) process by a physician, have access to mental health services for up to thirty days pending expedited PACC review. This bill would also require the Office of Mental Health to collect information on children requiring 30 day placements and expedited PACC review, and evaluate the referral process for admission to residential treatment facilities.
Effects of present law this bill would alter
Amends section 9.51 of the mental hygiene law by adding two new subdivisions (h) and (i).
Justification
Residential Treatment Facilities (RTFs) are hospitals licensed by the Office of Mental Health (OMH) to provide 24-hour, residential care to youth between the ages of 5 and 21. Mental Hygiene Law § 9.51 establishes a procedure for assessing seriously emotionally disturbed children and certifying them as needing placement in a RTF, however, many children are denied RTF placement or equivalent services. As the children's mental health service delivery system continues its transition to a managed care payment delivery model, it is imperative that children with serious mental health needs are provided the appropriate level of care. The state must continue to examine ways to enhance current service models such as RTF's or develop new programs which improve upon the current service delivery methods. Streamlining the PACC process would better serve children and their families when a child needs a safe, out of home placement to advance their responsiveness to treatment.
Prior legislative history
2015-16:A.3860; reported and referred to Ways and Means 2013-14:A.5265; referred to the Committee on Mental Health 2011-12:A.4075; referred to the Committee on Mental Health 2009-10:A.2525; reported and referred to Ways and Means 2007-08:A.1441; reported and referred to Ways and Means 2005-06:A.2017; reported and referred to Ways and Means 2003-04:A/436; referred to the Committee on Mental Health 2001-02:A.738.; reported and referred to Ways and Means
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the next succeeding January 1st after
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.