For Immediate Release
Contact: Glenn Liebman, CEO, MHANYS
518-360-7916 gliebman@mhanys.org
January 30, 2026
MEDIA ADVISORY
Advocates seek a 2.7% Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII)
Ask is based on July 2025 CPI-U, to help mental health and substance use agencies tackle workforce shortages and rising costs while maintaining essential services
(Albany, N.Y.) – Eleven statewide advocacy groups will host a press event in Albany to ask Governor Hochul and the Legislature to include a 2.7% Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII) based on the July 2025 CPI-U for rates and contracts for mental health and substance use disorder services the enacted SFY 2026-2027 budget.
The press event will be held in Albany on Tuesday, February 3 at 10:00am at the NYS Capitol Building, Senate Staircase, 3rd Floor, (down the hall from LCA).
Advocates for New Yorkers with mental health and addiction related challenges, and the community-based organizations that support them are concerned with Governor Hochul’s SFY 2026-27 Executive Budget which falls short of what is needed for mental health and substance use disorder agencies’ operations and workforce. While some innovative projects are included in the proposed budget, the fundamentals of the mental health and substance use disorder system remain broken. Once again, the Governor’s proposal fails to adequately address workforce and agency needs with sufficient urgency.
The Governor’s proposed 1.7% inflationary increase is helpful but falls short of the minimum 2.7% required by July 2025 CPI-U to cover agencies’ cost-of-living expenses and support wages and benefits.
Access to mental health and substance use disorder services remain challenging for adults, children, and families in New York’s community-based care system. Agencies are facing rising costs and report a statewide job vacancy rate of 20%–30% by provider type, with turnover at 35% (August 2024 survey covering 43% of the OMH and OASAS community workforce).
The effectiveness of the Governor’s proposed new initiatives relies on adequate investment in the current workforce, operations, and services within mental health and addiction care, all of which are essential elements of our broader health care system.
Advocates are asking the Governor and Legislature to raise the Targeted Inflationary Increase to at least 2.7% for mental health and substance use disorder agencies in the SFY 27 budget, so services can meet the increased needs of New Yorkers.
WHO:
Glenn Liebman, CEO, Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS)
William T. Gettman, Jr, CEO, Northern Rivers
James Norton, Government and Community Affairs Manager, NAMI-NYS
Lauri Cole, Executive Director, NYS Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
Luke Sikinyi, Public Policy Director, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
Khadijah Abdul Aziz, Public Policy Director, Families Together in NYS
Kevin Doherty, Executive Director, St. Catherine’s Center for Children
Emily Szary, Children’s Health Home Care Manager, St. Catherine’s Center for Children
Emil Slane, Executive Director, Association for Community Living
Sybil Newell, CEO, RISE Services
Stephen Piasecki, State Policy Manager, Supportive Housing Network of NY
Sarah Duvall, Chief Research and Policy Officer, InUnity Alliance
Young Do, LMSW, Executive Director, Hospitality House, T.C., Inc.
WHAT: Press event to call for 2.7% Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII) for mental health and substance use disorder rates and contracts.
WHERE: NYS Capitol, Senate Staircase, 3rd Floor, (down the hall from LCA)
WHEN: Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 10:00am
The eleven agencies represented at the press conference are:
Association for Community Living, Coalition of Medication-Assisted Treatment Providers and Advocates of New York State, Families Together in New York State, InUnity Alliance, Mental Health Association in New York State, National Alliance on Mental Illness New York State, New York State Care Management Coalition, New York State Coalition for Children’s Behavioral Health, NYS Council for Community Behavioral Health Care, Alliance for Rights and Recovery, Supportive Housing Network of New York
