October 7, 2024
Good morning,
Last week, we sent information to all NYS Council members (October 2 at 7:25 a.m.) regarding a newly enacted law that makes significant changes to agency operations as they relate to patient consent and patient protections (you can review the two docs below in case you missed it last week).
On Friday I wrote to the leads at both OASAS and OMH, making sure they are aware of the new law and the numerous impacts this will have on provider operations. We requested that they swiftly advise on whether this law includes OASAS and OMH mental health and substance use disorder providers and if so, which Programs are impacted. We also pointed out that the law is effective October 20, 2024 and note that this deadline will be impossible for providers to meet.
Here’s more of our communication to the O agency leads: “…Our members have several questions and many concerns including what we read as new requirements that patient handbooks and other documents utilized by healthcare providers in transactions with care recipients must be translated into 15 different languages. We also worry that recent changes to CFR 42 Part 2 that we all believe make life less complicated for both care recipients and providers will be effectively neutralized by these new demands here. The requirement to provide a cost estimate requires a new level of training and education of front desk staff that isn’t the norm at the present time. Our read that fees must be discussed only after assessment AND that each financial consent action must be unbundled and separate creates huge burdens on the provider and hinders swift action to get the individual the care they are requesting…”Today I will be reaching out to DoH and the Governor’s Office to relay our concerns, to push for answers to our questions and to extend the effective date. Stand by for more.
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David Lombard hosts The Capitol Pressroom, a daily radio show covering NYS politics and policy. Today at 11:00, Division of the Budget Director Blake Washington will discuss the upcoming budget process with a focus on the proposed Medicaid managed care tax, and in a separate interview OMH Commissioner Ann Sullivan will discuss the 9-8-8 Hotline.
You can listen by following the link here: https://capitolpressroom.org/?mc_cid=5a02971428&mc_eid=fe4eb60fda
Coming up on The Capitol Pressroom
New York State Budget Director Blake Washington swung by The Capitol Pressroom studio to talk about the current fiscal year, including potential revenues from a Medicaid managed care tax, and the upcoming budget process, including potential revenue from fees to polluters, savings from the administration of home care, and controlling agency spending.
New York State Mental Health Commissioner Ann Sullivan discusses the rollout of the 9-8-8 hotline, which is intended to help New Yorkers dealing with a mental health or substance abuse crisis.