Mental Health Update

The 1115 waiver has Career Pathway Training (CPT) funding available to help provide support, education and training for various health and behavioral health related positions.  Currently that list does not include peers or paraprofessionals (Community Mental Health Support Specialists).  We urge the NYS Department of Health to include these categories in future funding for CPT.

Listed below is our letter to Commissioner McDonald.

August 13, 2024

James V. McDonald

M.D.  M.P.H.

Commissioner New York State Department of Health

Empire State Plaza

Albany, N.Y. 12229

Dear Commissioner McDonald:

We are writing to you in regard to a specific concern in the New York State 1115 Waiver Demonstration Project.

In regard to reference 12.5, CPT Professional Education Programs,

The language specifically states,

“The CPT education and training offerings shall be limited to the course curriculums necessary to achieve the professional titles (12.5 A-C). The State may identify additional health care occupations that may emerge as part of the state’s initiative to address health related social needs for inclusion in the categories below”

The three occupations listed are:

1)     Nursing Titles

2)     Professional Technical Titles

3)     Frontline Public Health Workers

We believe that Category 3 is not inclusive of the comprehensive behavioral health workforce.  We strongly believe that those in the peer and paraprofessional positions in the behavioral workforce should have the same education, training offerings and funding as others in the frontline public health worker’s category.

The mental health crisis impacts the entire community. The number of individuals on Medicaid with a mental health crisis in NYS is enormous. Recent numbers suggest that over 30% of individuals on Medicaid have a mental health diagnosis. Frontline public health workers are essential to meet the community demands but you also need individuals who have a background in mental health engagement.

Two of those categories that should be included are:

1. A)Peers:  There has been a number of studies that indicate how individuals with lived experience are better able to provide recovery services for individuals that have been traditionally difficult to engage. Governor Hochul and the New York State Office of Mental Health have been strong proponents of the peer movement.  According the NYS Office of Mental Health Webpage, “The work of Certified Peer Specialist, Credentialed Family Peer Advocates and Credentialed Youth Peer Advocates is a necessary complement to work done by therapists, case managers and other members of the treatment team”

We urge support for their inclusion in the Frontline Public Health Workers category.

1. B)The New York State Office of Mental Health has recently created the position of Community Mental Health Support Specialist. (CMHSS). This is an outgrowth of the movement to ensure paraprofessionals have a role in working with clinicians to help individuals achieve success through recovery. The CMHSS would provide support through connecting them with licensed professionals, support client’s engagement in treatment, problem solving and self-management skills as well as addressing client’s social needs.

The CMHSS program is being developed by the NYS Office of Mental Health and holds great promise for supporting clients as well as creating career ladders for individuals that are interested in professions in the field of behavioral health but do not necessarily have the education to support those goals.  Their role should be reflected among the list of occupations.

We urge support for inclusion of both categories.

Please reach out with any questions for concerns.

Sincerely,

Glenn Liebman, CEO

Mental Health Association in New York State