BILL NUMBER: S489
SPONSOR: FERNANDEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to referring individ-
uals to appropriate service providers for substance use disorders
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Connects individuals with appropriate service providers for substance
use disorders.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends Section 2803-u of the public health law requiring that
the office of addiction services and supports, in consultation with the
department, shall develop or utilize existing education materials to be
provided to general hospitals to disseminate to individuals with a docu-
mented substance use disorder or who appear to have or be at risk for a
substance use disorder during discharge planning pursuant to section
twenty-eight hundred three-i of this article.
Requires that general hospitals are to offer treatment, including medi-
cation assisted treatment when deemed necessary, to the individual with-
in seventy-two hours, provided, further, that every hospital shall imme-
diately address symptoms of withdrawal. Additionally, if the individual
refuses services then the hospital shall actually connect individuals in
need of substance use disorder services to an appropriate service
provider, including a hypodermic syringe and needle exchange program.
Requires that when an individual with a documented substance use disor-
der or who appears to have or be at risk for a substance use disorder,
including discharge from the emergency department, such hospital shall
inform the individual of the availability of the substance use disorder
treatment services that be available to them through substance use
disorder or harm reduction services program and if requested, connect
the individual to the appropriate services. Such efforts to connect the
individual shall be documented in such individual's medical record.
States that the commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of
OASAS, shall make regulations as necessary and proper to carry out the
provisions of this section.
Section 2 states the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
According to the CDC over 81,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the
United States in the last 12 months ending in May 2020. This is the
highest number of overdose within a 12 month period. The latest numbers
suggest an acceleration of overdose during the COVID-19 pandemic. We
need to do more to help those who are suffering with substance use
disorder get connected to the care they need.
There should be no wrong door to enter treatment. If someone is admitted
to the hospital at risk of suffering from addiction everything should be
done to make sure that the individual gets connected to services that
can help them. This legislation seeks to help prevent overdose death and
assist those who are seeking treatment to find providers by requiring
that general hospitals provide education and connect them with service
providers.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24:S3348/A4436
2021-22:S4359/A7354
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law.