New York State Office of Mental Health

The committee discussed and voted on several regulatory items. Key topics included the presentation of a new Part 821 regulation for withdrawal management and rehabilitation services, designed to integrate services into a single continuum of care. Amendments were made to Part 800 to expand the definition of Qualified Health Professionals to include credentialed prevention professionals, and to Part 836 regarding incident reporting to ensure consistency with terminology and service population representation, while also alleviating administrative burdens for providers.

The committee discussed proposed regulatory amendments regarding outpatient programs and opioid treatment programs, with a focus on treating substance use disorder as a chronic medical condition. Key topics included the shift toward incorporating telepractice, clarifying expectations for treatment planning and progress notes, and updating language for medication-assisted treatment and take-home medications. The committee also debated the current requirement for face-to-face delivery of peer support services, the inclusion of family members in treatment, and potential requirements for systematic trauma-informed screening during intake.

The council discussed the request by the Jewish Board of Family and Children Services to reduce the residential treatment facility capacity at the Anthony Man Center and the Goldsmith Center from 40 beds to 30 beds each due to a decline in admissions. Key topics included the financial stability of the facilities, the impact on bed availability in Westchester County, the demographic makeup of youth served, and operational protocols for managing COVID-19 safety, including isolation capabilities. The committee ultimately voted to recommend approval of the project.

The council meeting addressed applications for new service providers. The committee acted on behalf of the council to review a request from Rego Park Counseling LLC to become an Oasis provider for outpatient services. Discussion included treatment philosophy, target demographics, financial viability, potential conflicts of interest regarding dual facility ownership, and staffing. Additionally, the committee reviewed a capital project for St. Joseph's to acquire a facility in Saranac Lake for a new medically supervised withdrawal and stabilization service, an open access center, and the relocation of outpatient treatment services, noting a need for oversight and contingencies regarding staffing and facility compliance.

The meeting agenda included discussions on several applications and projects. Key discussions involved the merger of Brooks Memorial Hospital with TLC Health Network, where Brooks Memorial Hospital proposed becoming the sponsor following the bankruptcy and restructuring of the current sponsor. This merger required two votes, one for the OMH project and one for the Oasis project, with recommendations for approval pending final approvals from the Department of State and Department of Health. Another significant item concerned a capital project application from Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Council of Schenectady County (DBA New Choices Recovery Center) for a $6.27 million acquisition of a new facility at 724 State Street to house outpatient chemical dependence services and administrative offices, necessitated by the current 120-year-old facility being inadequate. Additionally, Ocean Recovery East requested approval to become a new provider of outpatient chemical dependence treatment services and medically supervised withdrawal services at 113 East 60th Street in New York, focusing on treating older professionals addicted to prescription medications, with approval contingent on facility inspection and receipt of relevant documentation.