Transformative Plan to Increase Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment Capacity, Boost Insurance Coverage and Dramatically Expand Outpatient Services

Investments will Create Transitional and Supportive Housing to Serve New Yorkers with Mental Illness; Create Systemic Accountability for Hospital Admissions and Discharges 

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced details of her comprehensive $1 billion multi-year plan to overhaul the continuum of mental health care and drastically reduce the number of individuals with unmet mental health needs throughout the state. First outlined during the 2023 State of the State last month, the plan aims to dramatically expand access to mental health care, reduce wait times and ensure appropriate levels of care to correct a mental health care system that has suffered from chronic underinvestment.

"New York State's mental health care system was strained and suffering from years of underinvestment even before the global pandemic exacerbated the problem and made things worse," Governor Hochul said. "New Yorkers who struggle with mental illness deserve a system that is suited for and responsive to their needs. From creating transitional and supportive housing to expanding our comprehensive network of outpatient services, this bold plan is aimed at providing the funding and resources needed to ensure everyone in our state can access high-quality mental health care."

The plan includes $890 million in capital and $120 million in operating funding to establish and operate 3,500 new residential units for New Yorkers with mental illness. These units include 500 community residence-single room occupancy units, which provide housing and intensive services to individuals with serious mental illness who are at the highest risk of homelessness; 900 transitional step-down units; 600 licensed apartment units serving individuals who require an intermediate level of services.

Also funded through this allocation are 1,500 supportive housing units, which serve individuals with a serious mental illness who have less acute needs but still require support to live in the community. In addition, the plan includes $25 million in capital and $7.3 million in operating costs for 60 community step-down housing units in New York City to serve formerly unhoused individuals who are transitioning from inpatient care.

Governor Hochul is proposing to invest $60 million in capital and $121.6 million operating funding to dramatically expand outpatient services. This includes establishing 12 new comprehensive psychiatric emergency programs providing hospital-level crisis care; tripling the number of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in New York, from 13 to 39, that offer walk-in, immediate integrated mental health and substance use disorder services for New Yorkers of all ages and insurance status; creating 42 additional Assertive Community Treatment teams to provide mobile, high intensity services to the most at-risk New Yorkers and eight additional Safe Options Support teams - five in New York City and three in the rest of state - to provide outreach and connection to services for homeless populations with mental illness and substance use disorders; and expanding capacity at 20 Article 31 clinics that provide core mental health services serving the most vulnerable New Yorkers.

The plan also includes requirements that hospitals responsibly admit and discharge patients, with new, comprehensive standards for evaluation and increased state-level oversight to ensure that new protocols are being used effectively. To ensure the success of these new requirements for discharge planning, a $28 million investment will create 50 new Critical Time Intervention care coordination teams to help provide wrap-around services for discharged patients - from housing to job supports.

Additionally, an investment of $2.8 million will expand the Intensive and Sustained Engagement Treatment program to offer peer-based outreach and engagement for adults with serious mental illness. The plan invests $3.3 million in the Individual Placement and Supports program will ensure that the Office of Mental Health expands the use of this evidence-based model of supported employment for adults with mental illness. 

Governor Hochul will advance legislation to close gaps in insurance coverage for behavioral health services and prohibit carriers from denying access to medically necessary, high-need, acute and crisis mental health services for both adults and children, including medications for substance use disorder. In addition, Governor Hochul will introduce legislation requiring commercial insurance providers to pay for school-based services at a level equal to the higher paying Medicaid rate, to ensure timely access for all children.

Additionally, Governor Hochul is proposing to adopt appointment availability and geographic accessibility standards for behavioral health services. This will require payment parity for behavioral health telehealth services and mandate the use of OMH-designated medical necessity criteria and tools and authorize lawsuits by insureds for state law parity violations. 

Governor Hochul is also proposing a $20 million expansion of mental health services in schools by increasing Medicaid payment rates for school-based satellite clinics and a $10 million investment to expand school-based wraparound services, including an annual investment to provide the start-up funding necessary to get new and expanded school services in operation quickly. The plan also includes an additional $12 million to expand the HealthySteps program and home-based crisis intervention teams, and $10 million in grants to suicide prevention programs targeting high-risk youth.