The Coalition has a robust policy agenda, focused on improving behavioral health for all New Yorkers. Our advocacy focuses on supporting providers, increasing the behavioral health workforce, and removing barriers to accessing care.

Policy Platform: our policy platform guides our decisions on specific bills and policies, and shows our vision for behavioral health for New Yorkers.

Bill Memos & Testimony

Testimony: Assembly Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Hearing on the Availability of services for individuals with a SUD in light of COVID-19 (11/17/21)
Testimony: NYS Assembly Committee on Mental Health Hearing on The Impact of COVID-19 on the Delivery of Health Care and the Health Care Workforce (11/17/21)
Testimony: NYC City Council Oversight Hearing on Mental Health Services for Veterans in Response to COVID-19 (11/17/21)
Testimony: Joint Senate & Assembly Hearing on Mental Health Crisis Response (11/8/21)
Testimony: New York State Joint Senate Task Force on Opioids, Addiction and Overdose Prevention (10/18/21)
Memo: Memo in Support of S.5506/A.6256 to Provide for Telehealth Payment Parity
Testimony: City Council Oversight Hearing on Access to Mental Health Care in Communities of Color (4/6/21)
Testimony: City Council Preliminary Budget Hearing on Health & Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction (3/15/21)
Testimony: City Council Oversight Hearing: NYC’s Mental Health Emergency Response (2/22/21)
Testimony: Mental Hygiene Joint Legislative Hearing on the Executive Budget Proposal (2/5/21)
Testimony: NYS OMH and OASAS Listening Session: Integrating Addiction and Mental Health Services (10/30/20)
Testimony: NYC Council Oversight Hearing on Increased Drug Overdose, Depression and Anxiety During COVID-19 and on Intro 2005
Testimony: Assembly Oversight Hearing on the impacts of COVID-19 on individuals struggling with a substance use disorder and the availability of supportive services (9/15/20)
Testimony: Assembly Oversight Hearing on Impact of COVID on Individuals with a Mental Illness (9/8/20)
Memo in Support of A.10723/S.8785 to Reimburse for Telehealth at the Same Rate as In-Person Services
Memo in Support of A.10655A/S.8609A to Authorize Peers for Telehealth Reimbursement
Memo in Support of A.10404/S.8416 to add Audio-Only to Definition of Telehealth
Memo in Support of A.10509/S.8363 to add OASAS Commissioner to Disaster Preparedness Commission

Letters

Letter to the Governor on the Prioritizing the Behavioral Health Workforce for Vaccines
Letter to Governor Cuomo on the Importance of Telehealth
Letter to Governor Cuomo on Necessity of Prompt Contract Payment

Statements

3/16/20: Letter to the NYC Administration Regarding Essential Needs of the Human Services Sector in Response to COVID-19
1/2/19: Statement on the Governor’s Veto of Medication Assisted Treatment Legislation

Regulatory Comments

8/14/20: 1915(c) Children’s Waiver Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Coverage to NYS DOH
7/15/20: HARP BH HCBS Transition to Behavioral Health Adult Rehabilitation Services to NYS DOH