A09730 Summary:
BILL NO | A09730 |
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SAME AS | SAME AS S08219-A |
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SPONSOR | Gunther |
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COSPNSR | |
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MLTSPNSR | |
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Amd §33.27, Ment Hyg L | |
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Requires an annual report for the independent substance use disorder and mental health ombudsman program by October 31st each year. |
A09730 Text:
Go to top STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 9730 IN ASSEMBLY March 28, 2022 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Mental Health AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to requiring an annual report for the independent substance use disorder and mental health ombudsman program The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 33.27 of the mental hygiene law, as added by 2 section 1 of part FF of chapter 57 of the laws of 2018, is amended to 3 read as follows: 4 § 33.27 Independent substance use disorder and mental health ombudsman. 5 (a) There is hereby established the office of the independent 6 substance use disorder and mental health ombudsman program that will be 7 operated or selected by the office of [alcoholism and substance abuse] 8 addiction services and supports, in consultation with the office of 9 mental health for the purpose of assisting individuals with a substance 10 use disorder and/or mental illness to ensure that they receive appropri- 11 ate health insurance coverage. 12 (b) Such ombudsman will identify, investigate, refer and resolve 13 complaints that are made by, or on behalf of, consumers relative to 14 health insurance coverage and access to initial and continuing substance 15 use disorder care and mental health care; accept, investigate, refer and 16 help to resolve complaints that are made by treatment providers relative 17 to health insurance coverage of and reimbursement for initial or contin- 18 uing substance use disorder and mental health care; accept, investigate, 19 refer and help to resolve complaints that are made by or on behalf of 20 consumers or by providers relative to network adequacy for access to and 21 continuing substance use disorder and mental health care. By October 22 thirty-first annually, the ombudsman must submit an annual report summa- 23 rizing the work of the program and make recommendations to address 24 systemic issues identified during the previous year. Such annual report 25 shall be submitted to the governor, the temporary president of the 26 senate, the speaker of the assembly and the relevant legislative commit- 27 tee chairs. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD13377-03-2A. 9730 2 1 (c) Notwithstanding sections one hundred twelve and one hundred 2 sixty-three of the state finance law and section one hundred forty-two 3 of the economic development law, or any other inconsistent provision of 4 law, funds available for expenditure pursuant to this section for the 5 establishment of an ombudsman for substance use disorder and mental 6 health insurance coverage, may be allocated and distributed by the 7 commissioner of the office of [alcoholism and substance abuse] addiction 8 services and supports, subject to the approval of the director of the 9 budget, without a competitive bid or request for proposal process for 10 the establishment of an ombudsman for substance use disorder and mental 11 health insurance coverage. Provided, however, that such allocation or 12 distribution must be based on objective criteria and an allocation meth- 13 odology that is approved by the director of the budget. 14 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.