Physical and Mental Health Policy

We work in coalitions, provide testimony and feedback on legislation, conduct listening sessions, and speak to the press about issues people with disabilities face in health care.

CDINY attend the End Medical Debt bill signing with Governor Hochul.

CIDNY supports “The Ounce of Prevention Act.” (A6027 Paulin/S1366 Rivera)

This would prevent medical debt by making hospital financial assistance more accessible and ensuring money allocated for charity care is used for that purpose.

CIDNY supports Stop SUNY Suing bill S7778/A8170

This bill prohibits state-operated hospitals from suing patients for medical debt.

CIDNY supports establishing a statewide emergency and crisis response council “Daniel’s Law” (A2210 Bronson/S2398 Brouk)

An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing the statewide emergency and crisis response council to plan and provide support regarding the operation and financing of high-quality emergency and crisis response services for persons experiencing a mental health, alcohol use, or substance use crisis.

CIDNY supports S7800/A8470

This relates to long term care options for Medicaid recipients: This bill repeals managed long term care provisions for Medicaid recipients. It establishes provisions for fully integrated plans for long term care including PACE and MAP plans.

CIDNY supports S504/A414: Lowers the cost sharing cap for insulin

This bill reduces the cap on cost sharing for insulin from the current $100 per insulin prescription per month to $30 per month, in aggregate, for all insulin drugs.

CIDNY supports S2503/A4926 which creates New York Funded Statewide Deafblind CoNavigator Program

This bill establishes a co-navigation services program for persons who are deafblind to provide services that assist the person to physically access the person’s environment and to make informed decisions, including providing visual and environmental information or sighted guide services and assisting with communication accessibility by communicating in the preferred language and communication mode of the person who is deaf-blind.

CIDNY also supports the programs of the Mental Health Association in NYS

  • Human services workforce funding in 20324
  • History of the human services cost of living adjustment (COLA) in NY
  • MHANYS behavioral health career pipeline proposal
  • Behavioral health parity
  • Non-profit pension study bill drafted by MHANYS
  • Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) information MHANYS mental health and higher education proposal
  • MHANYS mental health and higher education draft legislation
  • Leave of absence policy guidance for higher education