BILL NUMBER: S1005
SPONSOR: BROUK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to providing mental
telehealth services to children, adolescents, and young adults
 
PURPOSE:
To improve access to mental health services to youth by offering up to
five mental telehealth services annually for youth or families at no
cost to the individual. These services will be available for acute
crisis response, mental health assessments, or initiation of care to
reduce barriers and facilitate engagement in long-term care.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 provides the legislative findings and intent.
Section 2 amends the Mental Hygiene Law to create a telehealth initi-
ative to facilitate access to mental health services for youth or fami-
lies that may not have access to mental health professionals in-person.
Providers shall be reimbursed, at a minimum, for up to five mental
health sessions annually with a youth. The Office of Mental Health and
the Office of Addiction Services and Supports shall enter into an agree-
ment with a vendor to provide these services by August 1, 2025.
Section 3 provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Demand for youth mental health and substance use services was increasing
even before the pandemic, and COVID-19 has led to social isolation, a
loss of normal routine, trauma, and grief for many. Troublingly, rates
of anxiety and depression amongst youth have surged, and suicide is the
second leading cause of death among those aged 10 to 24. Unfortunately,
mental health emergency room visits for children from age 5-17 increased
approximately 30% in 2020, and suicide attempts were 51% higher for
girls aged 12-17. It is safe to say that a youth mental health crisis is
at our doorstep, and the impacts of the continuing pandemic are likely
to exacerbate the need for access to care.
New York State needs to quickly and effectively respond to the mental
health needs of our youth, including the significant disparities in
access for young people of color, Indigenous youth, and LGBTQ+ youth.
If we fail to act today, the impacts of poor mental health will continue
to affect the lives of many in the future. All New Yorkers will benefit
from improved access to mental health services.
This bill will create a free-of-charge youth telehealth program to reach
children and their families who may not have access to in-person mental
health treatment.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022: S8277 Referred to Mental Health.
2023-24: S8146 Reported and committed to Finance.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S1005: 5.05 mental hygiene law