New York says Medicaid managed care plans improved compliance with behavioral health access rules after OMH reviews, citations and fines statewide.
Medicaid plan compliance
The Office of Governor Kathy Hochul announced that all Medicaid managed care plans operating in New York State improved their compliance with rules intended to support fair access to mental health and substance use disorder services.
According to the Governor’s Office, the New York State Office of Mental Health reviewed the plans’ compliance with applicable regulations. Two of the plans reviewed were found to be 100 percent compliant with all regulations, the announcement said.
The Governor’s Office described the compliance improvements as part of New York State’s effort to hold Medicaid managed care plans accountable for coverage of behavioral health services.
Citations and fines
According to the Office of Governor Kathy Hochul, the reported improvements followed 95 citations issued to Medicaid managed care plans statewide.
The Governor’s Office also said the state imposed more than $1 million in fines on Medicaid managed care plans. The announcement did not provide further details in the supplied extract about the individual citations, fines, or the specific compliance measures involved.
The source said New York’s rules are aimed at ensuring fair standards for access to mental health and substance use disorder services through Medicaid managed care coverage.
Federal enforcement context
The Office of Governor Kathy Hochul said the federal administration indicated in a court filing the previous month that it did not intend to enforce certain mental health parity regulations.
According to the Governor’s Office, those regulations include rules requiring insurance companies to apply fair standards to behavioral health services. The source said the protections can prevent insurers from placing additional barriers in front of care, including prior authorization requirements or restrictive provider networks.
The Governor’s announcement contrasted New York’s reported enforcement activity with the federal administration’s stated approach to those parity regulations.
What this means for New York patients
The Governor’s Office reports that Medicaid managed care plans have improved compliance with behavioral health access rules, which may be relevant for New Yorkers seeking local mental health services. This directory lists 223 published clinics in New York, which can help people identify treatment options near them.
This is general information, not medical advice.
More New York reporting on access & coverage.
This report is educational and is not medical advice. Coverage, availability and eligibility can change; verify details with the named source or your care team.