December 20, 2024
Good morning,
As 2024 ends, I want to thank each NYS Council member agency for your incredible perseverance, leadership, and unwavering support of our efforts throughout the past year. Together we have delivered numerous major policy and financial reforms including, but not limited to, the expansion of the NYS CCBHC Demonstration Program, bringing the total number of Demos in NYS to 39 by July 1, 2025, and the enactment of a groundbreaking law that requires state licensed commercial insurers to pay (at a minimum) the same rates as those currently paid by the Medicaid Program for the exact same services.
Earlier this year the NYS Council aggressively advocated to restore the OASAS vocational cut that would have jeopardized essential services for New Yorkers with substance use disorders and we continue to track DoH enforcement activities to recoup state funds that were paid to MCOs despite their having failed to meet contractually required expenditure targets for how much of what they receive from the state they must spend on actual services for Medicaid beneficiaries with mental health and/or substance use disorder challenges. This year, $120M was recouped and returned to OASAS and OMH (collectively). These funds continue to be used by both state agencies to deliver new rate increases and to pay for recently enacted increases that were only possible as the result of these funds being available to the agencies through an enforcement action we compelled the state to initiate. To date, the total amount of money that has been returned to OASAS and OMH, as a result of NYS Council advocacy, is $500M. We also secured a timely filing waiver for agencies that had FFS claims caught up in the CHANGE Healthcare cyberattack, and OMH is continuing to contact MCOs regarding their failure to reimburse providers for claims that got caught up in the CHANGE quagmire as the result of our relentless advocacy to ensure all providers receive the reimbursement for services already provided before, during and after the cyberattack.
In addition to our leadership in the advocacy arena, the NYS Council is the proud recipient of two new grants from NYC-based foundations who follow our work, understand our track record of success in the policy arena, and want to invest in us. The grants focus our attention on the needs of children, youth, and families in need of mental health and substance use disorder care, and our ongoing efforts to secure a carve out of most outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services from the state’s Medicaid managed care program. And this year we are proud to report that we signed a contract with the NYS BHCC/BHIPA Collaborative to provide them with support, consultation, and leadership as they continue to navigate the complex landscape facing their networks and to position them for success going forward, and we just completed our 6th year providing outreach, engagement, training and technical assistance services to the OASAS and OMH CHAMP Ombuds program.
In 2024, the NYS Council continued to support our Billing Geeks group that meets on Wednesday mornings to provide assistance and support to your billers, coders, revenue cycle managers and managed care contract managers, etc., and we launched two new workgroups – the NYS Council Compliance Workgroup, and the NYS Council Scope of Practice Workgroup. Next year we will be introducing workgroups and learning collaboratives for CCBHCs and for members that focus on serving children, youth, and families. In 2025, we will continue to meet on most Thursday mornings to provide member support and to focus on achieving our public policy priorities.
Attached please find the 2025 NYS Council Dues Calculation Worksheet and the 2025 Invoice you can use to renew your membership. I hope we have exceeded your expectations this year, and that every day you can see evidence of our dedication to your success. There is no doubt the year ahead will be difficult. But I continue to believe that our mighty army can achieve great things together.
As you review the documents used to calculate your 2025 NYS Council dues you will note a modest increase embedded in the formula. For over 20 years the NYS Council held the line and refrained from raising dues. Last year we incorporated a modest increase that raised dues between $100-$300 depending on the size of your budget. This year we include another modest increase to reflect our financial obligations to the National Council, and our growing operational expenses. Don’t forget — your membership with our association allows you to purchase a full membership with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing through us and when you do you can take advantage of a fantastic deal we have with them for a heavy discount on the $5k membership fee National Council members ordinarily pay on their own. (See page 2 of the Dues Worksheet).
I hope we have exceeded your expectations this year, and that our dedication to your success is palpable. While the year ahead will be difficult, we believe that our mighty army can achieve great things together!
THANK YOU for your service to New Yorkers with mental health and/or substance use disorder challenges. We are so proud to represent your organization! If you have questions about the documents (attached) or on any matter, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at your convenience.
Stay warm.
Lauri