Hochul announces award of nearly $3.5 million to develop integrated outpatient treatment programs

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the award of $3,446,865 to 14 addiction treatment providers throughout New York State, which will allow them to develop Comprehensive Integrated Outpatient Treatment Programs (OTPs).

These programs will make it easier for New Yorkers seeking treatment for a substance use disorder to access multiple services in one location.

“Ensuring access to necessary treatment for addiction is an important, ongoing goal of my administration,” Hochul said. “Addiction is a disease that can affect anyone, no matter their background. It is vital that we continue our work to support comprehensive programs that expand access to care and resources for New Yorkers and their families who need it most.”

Comprehensive Integrated Outpatient Treatment Programs are a new initiative designed to address the ongoing need for comprehensive treatment in New York State. Funding was made available to providers to either combine existing OTPs and outpatient programs or develop new programs to provide integrated services.

Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, “The comprehensive approach offered by these new facilities will help address some of the barriers that people may face when seeking treatment. These programs will expand access to important, life-saving addiction treatment and bring multiple services together under one roof to help people better connect to the support and resources they need.”

Hochul said providers can use this funding for a variety of purposes, including building renovations, new equipment, training to support integrated services, and staff salaries.

Funding was provided through the Federal Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment Block Grant Supplemental Award and is being administered by OASAS.

The following providers will receive funding to integrate their existing OTPs and outpatient programs: Capital District, PROMESA Albany – $250,000; Central NY, Farnham, Inc. – $250,000; New York City, Center for Comprehensive Health Practice, Inc. – $250,000; Southern Tier, Ithaca Alpha House, Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services – $240,880; and

Western NY PROMESA Buffalo – $250,000.

The following providers will receive funding to establish new OTPs and integrate them with existing outpatient programs: Capital District, New Choices for Recovery – $250,000; Finger Lakes, Finger Lakes Area Counseling & Recovery Center, Inc (FLACRA) – $250,000, Genesee Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse (GCASA) – $250,000; Long Island, Outreach Development Corp – $206,000, Samaritan Daytop Village – $249,985; New York City, Center for Community Alternatives – $250,000; North Country, St. Lawrence County Addiction Services – $250,000; Southern Tier, CASA-Trinity, Inc.- $250,000; and Western NY, CASA-Trinity, Inc.- $250,000.

Sen. Chuck Schumer said, “I have stood with opioid-addiction treatment specialists from Albany to Long Island, and the message I hear over and over is that New York is on the front lines and needs more help.

“This funding is directly from the 2021 supplemental COVID relief funds for SAMHSA I led to passage in the Senate and will boost professional addiction-treatment so they can make sure people do not fight the battle against substance abuse alone and have the health care they need to get back on their feet,” he said. “We just had back-to-back record years of fentanyl-fueled opioid overdoses and must act now to save lives.

“That is why I am pushing for a historic $3.2 billion increase to these federal programs to supercharge New York’s prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts, and I will keep fighting to give our local partners all the resources they need fight the opioid epidemic,” he added.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said, “In the face of mounting overdose deaths across New York and the nation, we have to do more to provide comprehensive support to individuals and families of people struggling with substance use disorder.

“I am proud to lead efforts to support families impacted by addiction and am encouraged to see this funding to develop new treatment programs statewide,” she said. “I’ll keep working to provide individuals fighting addiction with the resources they need to get back on their feet.”

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.