Empire State Today

15 Providers to Receive Funding to Establish Programs Designed to Facilitate Same-Day Access to Buprenorphine and Addiction Care Management

Governor Kathy Hochul on May 8, 2023 announced more than $7 million for 15 providers across New York State to support medication for addiction treatment by establishing comprehensive, low-threshold buprenorphine services. These programs are designed to meet the ongoing need for medication and other addiction services by providing same-day, immediate enrollment in buprenorphine treatment and care management. This funding is being distributed through New York State's Opioid Settlement Fund.

"Improving access to life-saving resources and support like medication is a critical part of helping New Yorkers affected by addiction and addressing this crisis," Governor Hochul said. "Through this funding for addiction treatment programs and providers across New York, my administration remains committed to meeting the ongoing need for treatment services to help save lives and support communities as they combat the opioid epidemic."

A comprehensive approach to combat addiction and support those affected by the opioid epidemic is necessary. Research shows that buprenorphine is a safe and effective way to treat opioid use disorder, however many providers have rigid requirements for entering and continuing treatment. This can limit the number of individuals who receive this medication. Comprehensive low threshold programs are designed to help address this issue by allowing for same-day, immediate buprenorphine treatment and care management services.

Awardees are listed below and include providers certified by either OASAS, the Office of Mental Health, or the Department of Health. Each provider is receiving an award of up to $500,000.

Capital Region

• Hope House

 Central NY

• Family Counseling Services of Cortland County

 Finger Lakes

• FLACRA
• Helio Health

Long Island

• Family and Children's Association

Mid-Hudson

• Westchester Medical Center

New York City

• Harlem United Community AIDS Center
• Housing Works Health Services III
• Center for Comprehensive Health Practice
• St. Ann's Corner of Harm Reduction, Inc.

 North Country

• Credo Community Center
• Canton Potsdam Hospital

 Southern Tier

• United Health Services Hospital

 Western NY

• EHS Evergreen Health, Inc.
• BestSelf Behavioral Health Incorporated

Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, "It is critical that we explore every avenue possible for people to receive services for addiction, including medication such as buprenorphine. These new programs will allow people in need to be immediately connected to services and will support their overall health."

Acting State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, "Opioid use disorder is a complex, yet treatable disease and buprenorphine is a very effective treatment. This important investment helps reduce barriers and helps more patients enter treatment and find their recovery. Buprenorphine saves lives, and the Department continues to support measures to increase access and eliminate cost barriers to important services and medications that treat opioid use disorder. I thank Governor Hochul for her continued compassion and commitment to those who struggle with this disease."

Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, "Buprenorphine is safe and effective and helps people recover from the tragedy of opioid addiction. Expanding access to buprenorphine and other addiction services will save lives and help many individuals and families who are fighting addiction. This is an important component in our efforts to combat addiction and overdose deaths."

New York State is receiving more than $2 billion through various settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies that were secured by Attorney General Letitia James. A portion of the funding from these settlements will go directly to municipalities, with the remainder deposited into a dedicated fund to support prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery efforts to address the ongoing opioid epidemic.

The same legislation that established the dedicated fund also created the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board, which is tasked with making recommendations on how settlement dollars should be allocated to best serve those in need. Board members issued their first recommendations on November 1, 2022, identifying the expansion of harm reduction services and treatment as top priorities.

New York State has instituted an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to addressing the overdose epidemic, and created a nation-leading continuum of addiction care with full prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services. The state has worked to expand access to traditional services, including crisis services, inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment programs, as well as medication to treat addiction, and mobile treatment and transportation services.

Governor Hochul was a member of the NYS Heroin and Opioid Task Force, which in 2016, recommended new, non-traditional services, including recovery centers, youth clubhouses, expanded peer services, and open access centers, which provide immediate assessments and referrals to care. These services have since been established in numerous communities around the state and have helped people in need access care closer to where they live.

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation's largest substance use disorder systems of care with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs serving over 731,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state's toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website.

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.

Original source can be found here.