The NYS Council has released its SFY 2027 Executive Budget Requests.  Below is a quick synopsis of the specific areas of focus.

The full Priorities document is available online here.

PRIORITY #1: INCREASE AND STABILIZE OUR WORKFORCE

BUDGET REQUESTS

• Targeted Inflationary Increase (2.7% consistent with July 25 CPI-U) for behavioral health (BH) workforce recruitment and retention, to address significant and persistent job vacancies and workforce shortages in mental health (MH) and substance use disorder (SUD) programs across New York.
• Amend State Education Department (SED) laws and regulations that restrict access to care by prohibiting certain practitioners from working at the top of their scope, and that do not take into consideration program models that may/may not offer staff the opportunity to acquire the clinical hours they need to obtain the license or permit they seek.
• Create an online portal so practitioners with license/permit applications in process can see, in real time, the status of their application, and if there is information missing.
• Hire additional SED staff to work in the applications review department, to speed up the process of approvals for licenses and permits.
• Implement universal background check ‘passport system.’
• Establish a Medicaid and commercial insurance reimbursement rate for services provided by certified peer specialists.
• Allow Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants to serve in professional roles that are currently limited to physicians.

PRIORITY #2: INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE THROUGHOUT NYS PUBLIC MENTAL HYGIENE SYSTEM

BUDGET REQUEST

• Carve out OMH and OASAS mental health and substance use disorder outpatient, residential, and rehabilitation services from NY’s Medicaid managed care program. 

PRIORITY #3: INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE throughout OASAS and OMH service delivery systems, and substantially enhance Commercial Insurer Oversight

 BUDGET REQUESTS

• Expand NYS CCBHC Program to permit any eligible provider to offer these services at the agency-based Medicaid cost-based PPS rate.
• Fix commercial insurer non-compliance with Part AA, New York’s new commercial insurance rate reimbursement mandate.
• Increase and expedite enforcements against non-compliant commercial insurers.
• Expand the range of MH and SUD services available to children, youth and families with commercial benefits.
• Prohibit retroactive prior authorization denials, and retroactive audits that result in recoupments for services dating back beyond one year.

PRIORITY #4: ENSURE CONTINUITY OF CARE FOR NEW YORKERS RECEIVING SERVICES THROUGH THE OMH AND OASAS SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS

BUDGET REQUESTS

• Increase funds available to Article 31 Outpatient Clinics through current OMH Uncompensated Care/CCBHC Indigent Care Pools.
• Seek authorization from CMS to implement a new OASAS Article 32-822 Uncompensated Care Pool.
• Permit OASAS net deficit funded agencies to retain excess funds and utilize them to support other OASAS programs and services flexibly.

For more information about the NYS Council, please contact Lauri Cole, Executive Director at 518-461-8200 or lauri@nyscouncil.org.