What's happening
This bill requires New York's Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to develop and publish SBIRT training materials for health care providers.
Why it matters
Expanding SBIRT Access. By requiring state-developed training materials for SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment), the bill aims to make evidence-based substance use interventions more accessible and consistent across New York’s health care system.
Supporting Health Care Providers. The bill ensures that both health care providers and other recognized health professionals receive clear, standardized guidance on how to deliver SBIRT, potentially increasing their comfort and competence in addressing substance and alcohol use issues with patients.
Promoting Early Intervention. By facilitating SBIRT implementation, the legislation may help to identify and address substance use problems earlier, which can improve patient outcomes, reduce the burden on emergency and treatment services, and lower long-term health care costs.
Public Health Infrastructure. Requiring that these materials be published online and distributed widely helps embed substance use screening and intervention as a routine part of health care, reflecting a shift toward preventative, integrated behavioral health services.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Train Doctors to Spot Addiction
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 7
History
- Referred to alcoholism and drug abuse
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.65
- Referred to alcoholism and substance abuse
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to alcoholism and drug abuse
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
Show 4 earlier actions
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.580
- Referred to alcoholism and substance abuse
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.
Train Providers to Screen Addiction
In Assembly Committee · Alcoholism And Drug Abuse · Sponsor Steven Cymbrowitz
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2507
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 25, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KAPLAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to requiring the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services to develop training materials for health care providers and qualified health professionals to encourage implementation of the screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 19.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new subdivision (m) to read as follows:
(m) The office of alcoholism and substance abuse services, in consultation with the commissioner of health, shall provide and publish, in electronic or other format, training materials for health care providers, as defined by subdivision six of section two hundred thirty-eight of the public health law, and qualified health professionals, recognized by the office to enable the implementation of the screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment program (SBIRT). Such training materials shall include any and all materials necessary to inform health care providers and qualified health professionals of the method for administering the SBIRT program to a patient in the care of health care providers or qualified health professionals. Such training materials shall be made available to health care providers and qualified health professionals through the official websites of the office and the department of health and by any other means deemed appropriate by the commissioner.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02754-01-9
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 requiring the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services to develop training materials for health care providers and qualified health professionals to encourage implementation of the screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment program
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill supports the expansion of SBIRT beyond hospital emergency rooms by making available training. materials that will help to educate health care providers and qualified health professionals on how to correctly administer SBIRT.
Summary of specific provisions
This legislation requires the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services to develop training materials for screening for alcoholism and chemical dependency.
Justification
Screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based practice model which is proven to be successful in modi- fying behavioral patterns with at-risk substance users and in identify- ing individuals who are in need of more extensive, specialized treat- ment. The implementation of SBIRT in primary health care settings (hospitals, outpatient clinics and private physician offices) will allow for the early detection of risky alcohol and drug use. Applied as a comprehensive, integrated, public health approach it can result in early intervention which helps to avert the serious and costly health conse- quences of undetected substance abuse.
The 2011-2012 New York State Enacted Budget included a proposal that will expand the use of SBIRT for alcohol/drug abuse beyond the emergency room setting. According to the Medicaid Redesign Team, New York State will realize a savings of $850,000 in the 2011-2012 State Fiscal Year (SFY) with state savings in the SFY 2012-2013 and in the outlying years increasing to $1.7 million.
The expansion of SBIRT beyond the emergency room will require health care professionals to learn a new set of skills and become familiar with new administrative processes. Training will help to ensure the effective implementation of SBIRT in primary care settings.
Prior legislative history
2011-12 A.7804 Referred to Finance S.6174 Klein-Reported & committed to Finance 2013-14 A.1610.A Referred to Alcoholism & Drug Abuse S.6309 - Tkaczyk- Referred to Alcoholism & Drug Abuse 2015-16 A.885 Referred to Rules; No same as 2018-2018; A 3091 Passed Assembly.
Fiscal implications
Undetermined
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.