Healthcare (Substance Abuse)

passed · New York · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 489: Refers individuals to appropriate service providers for substance use disorders

Refers individuals to appropriate service providers that are able to provide services to such individual within seventy-two hours for substance use disorders.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates timely referrals for substance use disorder treatment, improving patient access to healthcare services within 72 hours.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3600: Decriminalizes possession of controlled substances, establishes the drug decriminalization task force; repealer

Eliminates criminal and civil penalties for possession of controlled substances; establishes the drug decriminalization task force to develop recommendations for reforming state laws, regulations and practices so that they align with the stated goal of treating substance use disorder as a disease, rather than a criminal behavior.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDecriminalizes drug possession, treats substance use as health issue not crime, aligns with reform goals to reduce criminalization and prioritize treatment over punishment.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly treats substance use disorder as a disease (not criminal), removing barriers to healthcare access and aligning with public health approaches to treatment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7293: Relates to training of day care center employees in the administration of opioid antagonists

Requires all employees of a family day care center, group family day care center, school-aged child care program, and child day care center be trained in administering an opioid antagonist; requires a child day care to stock at least one opioid antagonist.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires opioid antagonist training and stocking in childcare settings to address overdose emergencies, advancing public health protection in vulnerable populations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1797: Establishes the office of addiction and mental health services

This bill creates a new "Office of Addiction and Mental Health Services" in New York by merging the existing Office of Mental Health and Office of Addiction Services and Supports. It integrates care for individuals with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or both under one office, replacing outdated references to previous agencies. The office will be led by a single commissioner with dual authority, supported by two deputy commissioners focused on addiction and mental health services, respectively. This structural change aims to streamline service delivery and coordination for people seeking treatment for co-occurring conditions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates integrated office for mental health/addiction services, advancing care coordination and strengthening public health infrastructure within healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1484: Enacts the model overdose mapping and response act

This bill creates a centralized system to track and map drug overdose incidents across New York State in near real-time. It requires local agencies (including coroners, emergency medical services, law enforcement, and health departments) to report confirmed or suspected overdoses to a shared data platform called ODMAP. The system generates location maps to help agencies quickly identify overdose "spikes" and target resources like treatment access, public education, and law enforcement interventions. This aims to improve coordinated responses to the overdose crisis without changing existing laws or funding.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePromotes public health response via overdose mapping, targeting treatment access - aligns with reform by shifting focus from punishment to rehabilitation programs.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates real-time overdose mapping to target treatment access and public health resources, strengthening response to overdose crisis95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5125: Requires health care professionals to inquire about the opioid history of certain patients

Requires that where a health care professional or professionals require the completion of an allergy checklist or form by the patient, prior to receiving care by such professional or professionals, the checklist or form shall also inquire about the opioid history of such patient.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates opioid history inquiry during patient checklists to enhance safety and prevent misuse, aligning with healthcare protection goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 1763: Relates to cost sharing fees for outpatient treatment at a substance use treatment program

Provides that for a substance use disorder outpatient treatment episode of care by a provider licensed, certified or otherwise authorized by the office of addiction services and supports, an insured shall only be responsible for a cost sharing fee not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCaps patient cost-sharing for substance use treatment, improving access to mental health services by limiting out-of-pocket expenses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Senate Apr 29, 2026

S 7508: Requires health care professionals to prescribe opioid antagonists when prescribing an opioid

Requires health care professionals to prescribe opioid antagonists when prescribing an opioid and discuss the dangers of opioid addiction with such patient in a manner consistent with regulations promulgated by the commissioner of health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates opioid antagonists and addiction education to prevent overdose, directly protecting patients and advancing public health safety within healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8584: Relates to a cost of living adjustment for human services programs

Bill A 8584 establishes an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) for a wide range of human services programs, effective April 1, 2025. This adjustment is designed to help programs account for inflation by indexing payment rates, contracts, or other reimbursements to the previous July's Consumer Price Index - Urban (CPI-U). It directly affects services funded by agencies such as the Office of Mental Health, Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, and Office of Addiction Services and Supports. The bill specifies that this COLA will be the primary inflation-related increase applied, replacing other similar adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes annual COLA for human services funding to maintain real value amid inflation, preventing budget erosion for essential programs like mental health and addiction services.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates inflation-adjusted funding for mental health, addiction, and developmental disability services via COLA, preventing real-term budget cuts to critical healthcare programs.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 377: Relates to a cost of living adjustment for human services programs

S 377 requires New York's six human services agencies (mental health, developmental disabilities, addiction services, disability assistance, children's services, and aging) to adjust funding rates annually starting April 1, 2025, based on inflation. The adjustment uses the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) to ensure reimbursement rates for covered programs keep pace with rising costs. It applies to specific services like mental health clinics, developmental disability supports, addiction treatment, and disability assistance programs, replacing all other cost-of-living increases for these services. The bill aims to maintain stable funding for service providers without requiring new legislative action each year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates annual inflation-based funding increases for essential human services programs, ensuring budget stability and preventing underfunding of critical public services.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires annual inflation-adjusted funding for mental health and human services programs, preventing reimbursement rate erosion and ensuring service continuity for covered healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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