Recent amendments to the New York State Office of Mental Health’s (OMH) Telemental Health Services regulations, enacted this month, aim to improve access to mental healthcare. The amended regulations added more categories of mental health professionals approved by OMH to provide care to mental health patients through “telehealth.”

Recently, the New York legislature passed the SHIELD Act and is currently awaiting the Governor’s signature. There is strong speculation that the Governor will sign the SHIELD Act into law. Given the likelihood of the Governor’s signature, we wish to remind you of some of the important changes the SHIELD Act will have on New York law.