BILL NUMBER: S2507

SPONSOR: KAPLAN
 
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.