File #: Res 0592-2023    Version: * Name: Mental Health Roadmap Legislative Package - Expand the availability of mental health professionals for low and moderate income New Yorkers by increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for behavioral health services.
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction
On agenda: 4/27/2023
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling on the New York State and Federal governments to expand the availability of mental health professionals for low and moderate income New Yorkers by increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for behavioral health services.
Sponsors: Lynn C. Schulman, Keith Powers , Linda Lee, Carlina Rivera , Kevin C. Riley, Farah N. Louis, Lincoln Restler, Crystal Hudson, Diana I. Ayala, Robert F. Holden, Gale A. Brewer, Sandra Ung, Rita C. Joseph, Shaun Abreu, Amanda Farías, Alexa Avilés, Sandy Nurse, Tiffany Cabán, Eric Dinowitz, (in conjunction with the Brooklyn Borough Presiden
Council Member Sponsors: 19
Attachments: 1. Res. No. 592, 2. April 27, 2023 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 3. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 4-27-23, 4. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - April 27, 2023, 5. Committee Report 5/4/23, 6. Hearing Testimony 5/4/23, 7. Hearing Transcript 5/4/23, 8. Committee Report 6/22/23, 9. Hearing Transcript 6/22/23, 10. June 22, 2023 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 11. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 6-22-23, 12. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - June 22, 2023

Res. No. 592

 

Resolution calling on the New York State and Federal governments to expand the availability of mental health professionals for low and moderate income New Yorkers by increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for behavioral health services.

 

By Council Members Schulman, Powers, Lee, Rivera, Riley, Louis, Restler, Hudson, Ayala, Holden, Brewer, Ung, Joseph, Abreu, Farías, Avilés, Nurse, Cabán and Dinowitz (in conjunction with the Brooklyn Borough President)

 

Whereas, According to the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH), approximately one in five adults in New York City lives with a mental illness; and

Whereas, According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, less than half of Americans struggling with mental illness receive the treatment they need; and

Whereas, According to OCMH, about 30 percent of the total population of New York City lives in federally designated mental health professional shortage areas; and

Whereas, According to the New York State Office of Mental Health, the demand for mental health care services continues to grow; and

Whereas, Access to treatment for behavioral health conditions relies, in part, on the supply of available providers that accept insurance; and

Whereas, 4,368,608 New York City residents receive their health insurance through Medicaid as of January 2023; and

Whereas, In New York, Medicaid reimburses providers 57 percent of the amount that Medicare does for the same service;

Whereas, Many mental health providers do not accept Medicaid because of low reimbursement rates, according to a 2022 Government Accountability Office report; and

Whereas, Low Medicaid payment rates limit participation in Medicaid and further exacerbate existing shortages of mental health professionals; and

Whereas, According to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, just 36 percent of psychiatrists accepted new Medicaid patients as of 2019; and

Whereas, New York State’s Medicaid reimbursement rates are set by the Division of Finance and Rate Setting within the Office of Health Insurance Programs under the guidance of the federal Center for Medicaid Services; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State and Federal governments to expand the availability of mental health professionals for low and moderate income New Yorkers by increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for behavioral health services.

 

NM

LS # 11693

3/23/2023