Bill > A00817

This bill requires the commissioner of the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) to mandate mental health evaluations for participants in substance use disorder treatment programs. Specifically, the bill requires certified substance use disorder treatment programs to provide participants with a mental health evaluation conducted by a licensed professional who can diagnose mental health disorders. If appropriate, the evaluating professional should refer the participant to outpatient mental health treatment, and transportation services to such treatment must be provided. The bill establishes a bureau of qualified licensed providers to conduct these evaluations and allows treatment programs to alternatively use their own employees or contractors for evaluations and treatment of co-occurring disorders. Importantly, the bill stipulates that no primary diagnosis is required for treatment, and a mental health diagnosis cannot be used to deny admission to or expel someone from a substance use disorder treatment facility. The commissioner is authorized to create rules and regulations for implementing these requirements, including provisions for telehealth services, transportation reimbursement, and billing for integrated services. The goal is to ensure comprehensive care for individuals with substance use disorders and potential co-occurring mental health conditions.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A817