February 6, 2025

The NYS Council submitted the attached written testimony to the members of the NYS Joint Legislative Budget Committee during the Mental Hygiene budget hearing yesterday.  We prepared written testimony because groups can only request to testify (in person) at one budget hearing and for close to a decade we have opted to provide in person testimony during the Health/Medicaid budget hearing which is coming up on February 11.

It is harder to secure a spot on the witness list for the Health/Medicaid hearing due to the massive amount of funding under discussion in these areas of the state budget.  This results in fierce competition for a seat at the witness table where speakers are limited to 3 minutes to provide their testimony.

The goal is to go to the Medicaid/Health table so I can discuss our need for a 25% set aside of MCO Tax funds for the behavioral health sector, the dire need for our outpatient services to be carved out of the state’s Medicaid managed care program, the disparity that exists between access to a broad range of services for children, youth and families with commercial insurance as opposed to those with Medicaid insurance, and more, and the ongoing regulatory and other barriers that result in fragmented care for New Yorkers.   The Health/Medicaid hearing is all about the state Medicaid Program and executive budget proposals in this area as they impact healthcare.  We have a lot at stake at this table.  I just wanted to let you know why we do what we do at this time of year.

See attached for our written Mental Hygiene testimony.  As always, we are interested in your feedback.