S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 7067--A

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             March 22, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sens. SAVINO, COMRIE, HAMILTON -- read twice and ordered
  printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Health
  -- reported favorably from said committee and committed to the Commit-
  tee on Finance -- reported favorably from said committee and committed
  to  the  Committee  on  Rules  --  committee discharged, bill amended,
  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to making care  and
  services provided by licensed mental health practitioners eligible for
  coverage under the Medicaid program

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative intent. Whereas Medicaid covers  mental  health
services  in  New  York state to psychiatrists, psychologists and social
workers, Medicaid does not recognize  New  York  state  licensed  mental
health  practitioners  as  providers within the Medicaid program. Mental
health practitioners are often the only mental health providers in urban
underserved minority communities. A critical  result  of  this  lack  of
providers is that minority communities bear a disproportionate number of
burdens  of  mental  health disabilities and inadequately treated mental
health disorders. Excluding mental health  practitioners  from  treating
Medicaid beneficiaries with untreated mental illness puts such benefici-
aries  disproportionately  at  risk  for  engagement  with  the criminal
justice system. This puts individuals, families and communities at  risk
of  harm.    Approximately 26 percent of adults experience a diagnosable
behavioral health disorder each year, and researchers have  reported  20
percent of adolescents display psychological problems. Behavioral health
disorders,  ranging  from  inattention to violence are often a result of
those psychological problems.
  Mental health practitioners are valuable providers  of  mental  health
services  in  New  York state. Unfortunately Medicaid does not recognize
their important contribution to the present health care delivery system.
  S 2. Subdivision 2 of section 365-a of  the  social  services  law  is
amended by adding a new paragraph (dd) to read as follows:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD08250-04-6
              

S. 7067--A                          2

  (DD)  CARE  AND  SERVICES  PROVIDED  BY  MENTAL  HEALTH  PRACTITIONERS
LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE  OF  THE  EDUCATION
LAW, INCLUDING SUCH CARE AND SERVICES PROVIDED IN A HOSPITAL OUT-PATIENT
OR CLINIC FACILITY REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
  S 3. This act shall take effect on the ninety-first day after it shall
have become a law.