S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  1890--A
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 13, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  HARRIS,  SEPULVEDA, HYNDMAN, WRIGHT, MOSLEY,
   JENNE,  D'URSO,  THIELE,  JONES,  LAVINE,  HOOPER,   ORTIZ,   DICKENS,
   BICHOTTE,  MAGNARELLI,  JOYNER,  ABINANTI,  BLAKE,  BRONSON, JAFFEE --
   Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, CROUCH, SIMON --  read  once  and
   referred  to  the  Committee on Health -- reported and referred to the
   Committee on Ways and Means --  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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01543-04-7

              

 A. 1890--A                          2
 
   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.
   §  2.  Subdivision  2  of  section 365-a of the social services law is
 amended by adding a new paragraph (ff) to read as follows:
   (FF)  CARE  AND  SERVICES  PROVIDED  BY  MENTAL  HEALTH  PRACTITIONERS
 LICENSED  PURSUANT  TO  ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE OF THE EDUCATION
 LAW.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the ninety-first day after it shall
 have become a law.