NY A08888

Adds telepsychiatry as a covered mental health service under Mental Hygiene Law section 7.41, defined as programs using two-way real-time audio and video equipment to provide mental health services to homebound or socially isolated geriatric patients.

Requires the Commissioner of Mental Hygiene, in consultation with the State Office for the Aging and Department of Health, to conduct a study on geriatric social isolation, its mental health consequences, and treatment and prevention strategies across the state.

Mandates the study assess at-risk populations, mental health impacts of social isolation, life stages increasing isolation risk, and community supports; include recommendations for identifying social isolation and developing telehealth and telepsychiatry programs for homebound or socially isolated geriatric patients.

Requires the study to address public awareness materials about social isolation in older adults and associated health consequences.

Sets the study report delivery deadline to the governor, senate president, and assembly speaker as October 1, 2019, with immediate effective date upon enactment.