Support Clinics That Serve People with Developmental Disabilibities

Universally, people with disabilities are underserved. When people with disabilities access health care, they often experience stigma and discrimination and receive poor quality service. One result of this inequity is increasing numbers of people with multiple, complex and often preventable, chronic conditions, and a health care system that is insufficiently funded and is unprepared to recognize and address those needs. 

For almost fifty years, New York State has counted on clinics supporting patients with significant disabilities to fill an essential gap in the service delivery system, one which otherwise would lead to expensive and unnecessary services delivered in emergency rooms and acute care settings. These clinics have evolved to become true specialty service providers, serving patients with the highest needs but often with conflicting regulations.

The following recommendations will assist in reaching the promoting access and  health equity for people with disabilities:

ARTICLE 28 AND ARTICLE 16 CLINICS JOINT LICENSURE/ INTERGRATED CLINICAL SERVICES PROGRAMS

Article 16 (OPWDD) clinics and Article 28 (DOH) clinics both serve people with IDD but operate under two different state agencies with conflicting regulations. We urge the Governor and the Legislature to create Integrated Clinical Services Programs for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities or a joint license for Article 16 and Article 28 clinics, as was authorized for the OMH Article 31 clinics and the OASAS Article 32 clinics in the SFY2024 state budget and reiterated in the SFY2027 state budget details. Just as it was recognized that jointly licensing Article 31 and Article 32 clinics would improve access, coordination, and clinical outcomes for behavioral health services, providing joint licensure for Article 28 and Article 16 clinics will promote health equity by eliminating redundant and conflicting regulations and improve quality of healthcare for New Yorkers with IDD. Therefore, we urge the Governor and the Legislature to create Integrated Clinical Services Programs for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities/ a joint license for Article 16 and Article 28 clinics. 

IMPLEMENT THE ARTICLE 28 INCREASE FROM THE SFY2025 ENACTED BUDGET

We were extremely appreciative of the SFY2025 enacted budget’s inclusion of a 30% increase above the base rate for Article 28 clinics “who treat people with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities” effective 10/1/2024. However, due to multiple delays, providers have yet to see this increase in their rates. Therefore, we recommend that the SFY2027 enacted budget fund the State share of the 30% increase to Article 28 clinics supporting patients with IDD retroactive to 1/1/25.