The Campaign for Healthy Minds, Healthy Kids (HMHK) applauds the recent settlement of a class action lawsuit with New York State that will require the State to ensure timely intensive home and community-based services for children in Medicaid. We call on the State to take urgent steps to implement necessary reforms, including by engaging youth, parents, advocates, and providers in the development of these solutions. 

For years, the HMHK Campaign has been elevating the behavioral health crisis facing children, adolescents, and families across the state. Our studies have found that 3 out of 4 children who need outpatient mental health/substance use disorder (SUD) services in Medicaid are not receiving them. Moreover, providers throughout the state overwhelmingly report having waitlists for care, having to pause intake for new clients, and families waiting for months to get an initial appointment. As a result of this waitlist crisis, families across the state are experiencing hospitalizations, police involvement, lost education, job loss, family anxiety, and numerous other harms caused by access barriers. 

The HMHK Campaign has also uplifted solutions to help alleviate the crisis facing children and families, including $200 million for a comprehensive rate reform of children’s outpatient services. This investment would help increase provider capacity, reduce waitlists, and ensure access for tens of thousands of additional children and adolescents throughout the state. We believe these are the types of solutions that can help the State meet its commitment to children and families in New York. 

The HMHK Campaign is encouraged by the comprehensive reforms promised by the settlement, and is eager to support the State’s development and implementation of its plan to enhance access to care. 

ABOUT: The Campaign for Healthy Minds, Healthy Kids is a statewide coalition of advocates, behavioral health providers, and New York families joining together to create the public and political will necessary to ensure all children and adolescents in New York receive the high-quality behavioral health (mental health and substance use disorder) services they need.