• LAC Applauds Medicaid Panel’s Thoughtful Approach to Addiction Treatment

    March 11, 2011
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact: Nicole Collins Bronzan
    Director of Communications
    (212) 243-1313 / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    NEW YORK, March 11, 2011 -- The Legal Action Center applauds Governor Cuomo's Medicaid Redesign Team for a plan that will not only save the state large sums of money but also improve the health of many thousands of New Yorkers by strengthening the delivery and coordination of services for people with or at risk for alcohol and drug problems.

    “The Medicaid Redesign Team's recommendations reflect just how important addiction prevention, treatment and recovery support is for the health of our state,” said Paul N. Samuels, LAC's director and president. “The process was thorough and thoughtful in seeking out stakeholder suggestions and then including many of them. We appreciate the leadership and hard work of Deputy Secretary James Introne, State Medicaid Director Jason Helgerson, OASAS Commissioner Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez and other members of the redesign team for putting together such a strong set of life- and money-saving reforms on this critically important health issue.”

    The Legal Action Center worked closely with the New York State Association of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers (ASAP) and other advocacy partners to develop and submit recommendations to better coordinate and deliver alcohol and drug prevention, treatment and recovery services. The Medicaid Redesign Team's plan incorporated many of these recommendations, including measures that:

    • Establish Behavioral Health Organizations (BHOs) to manage behavioral health services not covered under the state's various Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) plans. In order to make this reform successful, OASAS must develop and monitor the standards on BHOs regarding patient admission criteria, the establishment of medical necessity, and utilization review.
    • Expand the New York City Managed Care Managed Addiction Treatment Program, which helps patients receive better care and saves the state millions of dollars a year.
    • Increase screening, intervention and referral to treatment for alcohol/drug use beyond emergency room settings.
    • Make addiction treatment providers eligible to become health homes to coordinate care for individuals whose primary medical condition is addiction.
    LAC sincerely thanks the redesign team for its work in addressing this widespread and devastating illness and urges the Legislature to enact these critically important reforms.

    The Legal Action Center is the only public interest law and policy organization in the United States whose sole
    mission is to fight discrimination against and protect the privacy of people in recovery from alcohol or drug addiction,
    individuals living with HIV/AIDS, and people with criminal records.

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