BILL NUMBER: S8618
SPONSOR: CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing a
transportation assistance voucher demonstration program for certain
outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services
 
PURPOSE:
To improve access to outpatient behavioral health services by establish-
ing a transportation voucher demonstration program for individuals who
are not eligible for Medicaid-funded non-emergency medical transporta-
tion.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill adds a new section 7.49 to the Mental Hygiene Law directing
the Office of Mental Health (OMH), in consultation with the Office of
Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), to create a transportation
assistance voucher demonstration program.
The program would provide round-trip transportation vouchers to eligible
individuals who have scheduled appointments at OMH-licensed outpatient
mental health programs or OASAS-certified outpatient substance use
disorder programs, have household income up to 250% of the federal
poverty level, and lack access to safe and reliable transportation.
Individuals receiving Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation
would be excluded.
The commissioner of OMH is authorized to establish eligibility verifica-
tion processes, voucher issuance protocols, limits on usage, and safe-
guards to prevent fraud or duplication of benefits. OMH and OASAS must
conduct outreach, collect data on program participation and outcomes,
and report annually to the Governor and Legislature.
A coordinating section 19.46 is added to authorize OASAS to collaborate
with OMH in program implementation.
The act takes effect 180 days after becoming law, with agencies author-
ized to promulgate regulations immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Reliable transportation is one of the most frequently cited barriers to
maintaining outpatient behavioral health treatment While Medicaid covers
non-emergency medical transportation for recipients, many New Yorkers
with modest incomes slightly above Medicaid eligibility do not qualify
and must absorb the full cost of travel to therapy, counseling, medica-
tion management, or recovery services. For individuals who rely on
rideshare services or lack access to predictable public transit, trans-
portation expenses can quickly become unaffordable.
Missed appointments and early disengagement from outpatient care are
associated with psychiatric deterioration, relapse, overdose risk,
hospitalization, and involvement with the criminal justice system.
Providing limited, targeted transportation assistance for low-income
individuals can improve treatment adherence, reduce avoidable crises,
and support continuity of care across both mental health and substance
use disorder systems.
A statewide demonstration program administered through OMH, with OASAS
collaboration, will allow the State to test cost-effective approaches to
transportation support, gather data on utilization and outcomes, and
evaluate potential longer-term models for improving access to behavioral
health services.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined. Costs will depend on program design, participation
levels, and available state, federal, or private funding sources. The
bill does not establish an entitlement
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the 180th day after becoming law. Agen-
cies may promulgate necessary regulations immediately.