BILL NUMBER: S3051B
SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, the public health law and the
social services law, in relation to setting integrated behavioral health
services
 
PURPOSE:;
Relates to establishing a joint license for mental health and substance
use comprehensive outpatient services (COS).
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 defines terms related to the provision of comprehensive outpa-
tient service centers, authorizes the commissioners of the office of
mental health and the office of addiction services and supports jointly
license COS centers and develop standards and requirements for the
construction, operation reporting and surveillance of comprehensive
outpatient centers and details what the standards and requirements
should include.
Section 2 amends subdivision 4 of section 488 of the social services law
to place COS centers under the jurisdiction of the Justice Center.
Section 4, 5, and 6 amend the current law to allow for licensed COS
centers to provide integrated physical health, mental health, and
substance use services under the joint license established under this
act and would not require any additional licensing.
Section 7 provides that this act shall take effect upon the completion
of the regulations required under this act and the process for setting
rate reimbursement is complete.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Oftentimes patients suffering from substance use disorder have one or
more co-occuring mental disorders that attribute greatly to their
substance use disorder. Unfortunately, individuals who are suffering
with substance use disorder and their loved ones are left to navigate
multiple systems because there is no one place that will treat the whole
person.
To families and providers it is apparent that their substance use and
mental health is deeply intertwined. Too often, the result is that both
needs are left unmet as each system wastes valuable time deciding who
this patient belongs to, and the consequences can be deadly.
We are failing these individuals when we treat a substance use disorder
while neglecting to recognize the mental health issue that may be the
root cause of the patient's substance use disorder. This bill would
provide a more patient-centered focus on holistic care and co-occurring
disorders while reducing barriers to treatment. Individuals who receive
integrated mental health and substance services show better clinical
improvements and report better treatment satisfaction.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S2704/A3870 - Died in Health/Died in Mental Health
2021-2022: S6311/A8099 - Died in Health/Died in Mental Health
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect January 1, 2026; provided, however, that the
amendments to section 364-m of the social services law be made by
section two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and
shall be deemed to repeal therewith. Effective immediately, the commis-
sioner of the department of health, the commissioner of the office of
mental health and the commissioner of the office of addiction services
and supports are authorized to issue any rule or regulation necessary
for the implementation of this act on or before its effective date.

Statutes affected:
S3051: 364-m social services law, 488 social services law, 488(4) social services law, 2801 public health law, 2801(1) public health law, 31.02 mental hygiene law, 32.05 mental hygiene law
S3051A: 488 social services law, 488(4) social services law, 2801 public health law, 2801(1) public health law
S3051B: 36.06 mental hygiene law, 488 social services law, 488(4) social services law, 2801 public health law, 2801(1) public health law