Healthcare (Mental Health)

in committee · New York · Assembly Feb 10, 2026

A 8055: Relates to outpatient mental health, substance use disorder, residential and rehabilitation services and Medicaid fee-for-service

Bill A 8055 proposes to change how outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services are administered under Medicaid. It shifts these services, along with comprehensive Medicaid case management, from a managed care model back to a fee-for-service system. This change, subject to federal approval, directly affects individuals with mental illness or substance use disorder who rely on these services and the licensed facilities that provide them. The bill also requires that any savings generated by this transition be reinvested into community-based behavioral health services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill shifts Medicaid mental health/substance use services to fee-for-service model, enhancing provider access and continuity of care for patients.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2240: Provides for absence from school for the mental or behavioral health of the minor

This bill amends New York's education law to explicitly allow students to be absent from school for "mental or behavioral health" reasons, alongside existing permitted absences like religious observance. It directly affects minor students and their schools, ensuring mental health needs are recognized as a valid reason for absence without penalty. The key mechanism requires the state education commissioner to establish specific rules for how schools must handle such absences. The law does not create new requirements but formalizes existing practice under a clear policy framework.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExplicitly allows mental health absences without penalty, recognizing student well-being as valid reason for absence, directly supporting educational access and student needs.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly recognizes mental health as valid school absence reason, enabling access to care without penalty, aligning with mental health service support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 137: Relates to hospitalization, care coordination, and assisted outpatient treatment for persons with mental illness

This bill amends New York's Mental Hygiene Law to clarify criteria for court-ordered outpatient treatment and hospitalization for people with severe mental illness. It updates definitions to explicitly include "serious harm" from self-neglect (like untreated psychosis or inability to meet basic needs) as grounds for intervention, beyond just immediate violence risk. The law requires clinicians to first assess whether outpatient treatment could be effective before pursuing involuntary hospitalization. It aims to expand access to existing assisted outpatient programs (like "Kendra's Law") by removing barriers preventing eligible individuals from receiving community-based care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill clarifies mental health treatment criteria, expands grounds to include self-neglect causing serious harm, and mandates outpatient assessment first, strengthening mental health care access and support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8600: Relates to children's behavioral health outpatient rates

Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain behavioral health services provided to individuals under the age of twenty-one; directs that funds in the healthcare stability fund can be used for the funding of children's behavioral health outpatient rate increases.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects healthcare stability fund to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for children's behavioral health services, explicitly allocating state funds to strengthen public health program funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases Medicaid reimbursement for children's behavioral health services and directs funds to expand access, directly supporting mental health care funding and access for minors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

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died · New York · Senate Jun 3, 2026

S 7136: Enacts the psychology interjurisdictional compact

Adopts the psychology interjurisdictional compact to increase public access to psychological services by allowing telepsychological practice and temporary in-person services across state lines.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases mental health access via telepsychology across state lines, directly supporting patient access to psychological services as defined in healthcare topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5123: Provides an incarcerated individual time for mental health services

Provides that, to the extent practicable, any incarcerated individual who is receiving mental health services or participating in a mental health program shall not have the time spent participating in such mental health services or programs deducted from any other activity time such incarcerated individual receives.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnsures mental health program time isn't deducted from other activities, supporting rehabilitation in corrections as part of criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures incarcerated individuals retain activity time while receiving mental health services, directly supporting access to mental health care without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1000: Relates to involuntary emergency admission of persons alleged to be mentally ill

Enacts "Jesse's law" to provide that a person subject to involuntary emergency admission for immediate observation, care, and treatment of mental illness shall have the right to select the hospital they are admitted to.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill grants mental health patients right to choose hospital for emergency admission, protecting patient rights and improving access to care in mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3176: Requires the commissioner of education to develop model mental health screenings for students and associated guidelines to assist school mental health screeners to perform mental health screening services

Requires the commissioner of education, in conjunction with the commissioner of health and the commissioner of mental health, to develop model mental health screenings for students and associated guidelines to assist school mental health screeners to perform mental health screening services to identify concerns in students' mental health.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires mental health screening guidelines for students, enhancing student support services within schools per education topic description.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates development of model mental health screenings and guidelines for school screeners to identify student mental health concerns, directly advancing mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Mental Health Public Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7050: Establishes a co-occurring disorders patient bill of rights

This bill establishes a "co-occurring disorders patient bill of rights" requiring state agencies (including mental health, social services, corrections, and education departments) to implement 11 specific rights for individuals with both mental health and substance use disorders. It directly affects patients and families by guaranteeing nondiscrimination, accurate diagnosis, integrated treatment matched to needs, continuity of care, family involvement, prevention access, peer support, and safe housing. Key mechanisms include mandating evidence-based services, requiring providers to be adequately resourced, and ensuring transparency through consumer input. The bill applies across all treatment settings - hospitals, schools, community programs - and takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDirectly requires corrections departments to implement integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders, promoting rehabilitation and rights within criminal justice system.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates 11 patient rights for co-occurring disorders, directly protecting patients and supporting integrated mental health/substance use services per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · New York · Senate Jan 22, 2025

J 202: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 2025, as Mental Health Month in the State of New York

This Senate Resolution (J 202) asks Governor Hochul to officially designate May 2025 as Mental Health Month in New York State. It does not create new laws or programs but requests a symbolic proclamation to raise public awareness about mental health. The resolution highlights statistics on mental illness prevalence, treatment gaps, and suicide risks to underscore the importance of awareness. It directly affects New Yorkers by promoting community recognition of mental health challenges during this designated month.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareResolution requests symbolic proclamation for Mental Health Month to raise awareness, aligning with promoting mental health services under healthcare topic.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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