New York City Needs Comprehensive Approach 
to Address Mental Health Crisis

New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently announced a new plan to provide care for untreated individuals suffering from serious and persistent mental illness who are unable to care for themselves, including assessment, emergency transport and involuntary commitment. While the New York State Psychiatric Association (NYSPA) appreciates and values the Mayor’s commitment to assist individuals with mental illness, we caution against the use of involuntary commitment as a blanket solution without examination of other root causes and solutions.  It is well-established that individuals with mental illness are much more likely to be the victim of a crime rather than the perpetrator of a crime and involuntary commitment may not be appropriate in all cases.  Other factors at play include rising rates of homelessness, lack of access to care, long-term healthcare disparities caused by under-investment in community-based resources, and the ripple and long-term of effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022 Medicare Fee Schedules