Guidance Documents
As defined in section 202-e of the State Administrative Procedure Act, a guidance document is any guideline, memorandum or similar document, prepared by an agency, that provides general information or guidance to assist regulated parties in complying with any statute, rule or other legal requirement. The term does not include documents that concern only the internal management of the agency, such as a policy that applies only to an OMH operated facility or program.
Current OMH Guidance Documents:
Guidance on COVID-19
Commissioner’s Regulatory Waivers
- Commissioner’s Regulatory Waiver - UPDATED (December 7, 2021)
- Commissioner’s Regulatory Waiver - UPDATED (October 23, 2021)
- Commissioner’s Regulatory Waiver - UPDATED (August 23, 2021)
- Commissioner’s Regulatory Waiver - Amendment (June 28, 2021)
- Commissioner’s Regulatory Waiver (June 25, 2021)
Waiver issued to help service providers meet local needs while maintaining program integrity.
COVID-19 Reporting
- Daily COVID-19 Data
Provides data on infections and confirmed deaths caused by COVID-19 virus among the patients, clients, and staffs of our psychiatric centers.
Governor's Mask Requirement
Emergency Regulation Part 566 – COVID-19 Mask RequirementFAQs
- NYS OMH COVID-19 Disaster Emergency FAQs (REVISED – 7/13/2020)
- NYS OMH COVID-19 AOT FAQs(REVISED – 9/28/2020)
- NYS OMH COVID-19 Supportive Housing FAQs (3/30/2020)
DOH Guidance
- DOH Novel Coronavirus Website
- Interim Updated Isolation & Quarantine Guidance
- Interim Advisory on Return-to-Work Protocols for Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in Healthcare Settings
- DOH COVID-19 Guidance for Health Homes
- 2020 DOH Medicaid Updates
OMH Billing and Documentation Guidance
- Supplemental Disaster Emergency Billing and Documentation Guidance for ACT, PROS, CDT, PHP, Adult BH HCBS, Clinic, Children’s Day Treatment, Adult and Children’s Residential Programs (10/2021)
- OMH COVID-19 Guidance - Clinic Treatment Programs Billing (REVISED – 1/22/2021)
- OMH-OASAS COVID-19 Guidance - Adult BH HCBS and RCA Program and Billing (REVISED - 5/8/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 Guidance - ACT Program and Billing (4/13/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 Guidance - CDT Program and Billing (4/13/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 Guidance - Children’s Day Treatment Program and Billing (REVISED – 4/15/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 Guidance - Partial Hospitalization Program and Billing (4/13/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 Guidance - PROS Program and Billing
OMH Program Guidance
- OMH Guidance Regarding Federal COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates (1/11/2022)
- OMH Multi Agency Vaccine Data Collection System Guidance (5/21/2021)
- OMH Return to Work Guidelines
- OMH Return to Work: Exposed Staff Attestation (4/26/2021)
- COVID-19 Related Integrated Clinic Services (12/2/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 Guidance- Consolidated RTF Treatment and Documentation Standards, Visitation, Telemental Health Utilization, and Restraint Response (10/30/2020)
- Information on COVID-19 Testing for OMH and OASAS Programs (7/13/2020)
- OMH-OASAS Ambulatory and Residential Program COVID-19 Testing, Record Keeping, and Notification Instructions (6/30/2020)
- Updated Treatment Planning and Documentation Standards for Article 28/31 Hospital Psychiatry Providers (6/5/2020)
- OMH Memo to Residential Providers on Assisting Clients with COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments (4/30/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 Guidance - Incident Reporting and NIMRS Updates (4/21/2020)
- Effective Date of OMH COVID-19 Disaster Emergency Telemental Health and Program Guidance (4/20/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 Guidance - Adult and Children’s Residential Documentation (4/13/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 Guidance - Clinic Treatment Programs Documentation (4/13/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 Guidance – Interim Background Check (REVISED – 4/17/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 Guidance – Interim Background Check Attestation (REVISED 4/21/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 Guidance RE: Clozapine and Blood Test Monitoring (REVISED – 4/16/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 – Essential Business Letter (3/20/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 Guidance – Admissions and Continuity of Care (3/20/2020)
- Provider Memo – Maintaining Continuity of Operations Plans and Reporting Disruptions in Services (3/13/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 State Disaster Emergency, Executive Order No. 202, Health Home Plus (8/4/2022)
Infection Control Guidance
- COVID-19 Infection Control Manual for Public Mental Health System Programs (REVISED – 12/22/2021)
OMH Fiscal/Contract Guidance
OMH State-Operated Facility Guidance
- Updated OMH Psychiatric Center Visitation Policy (REVISED – 12/20/2021)
- OMH PC COVID-19 Screening State PC Admissions Form (REVISED – 12/16/2020)
Other NYS Agency Guidance
- DOH Novel Coronavirus Website
- DOH COVID-19 Guidance for Health Homes
- NYS Justice Center Executive Order 202.13 Criminal Background Check Request Form (4/15/2020)
- OASAS Coronavirus Guidance
OMH Telemental Health Guidance
- Streamlined Process to Permanently Add Telemental Health as an Optional or Additional Service (7/24/2020)
- OMH COVID-19 Consolidated Telemental Health Guidance (2/12/2021)
- Telehealth Modifier Use for OMH-licensed/Designated Programs during COVID-19 Emergency (3/26/2020)
- Self-Attestation of Compliance to Offer Telemental Health Services (REVISED - 3/30/2020)
Other NYS Agency Telehealth Guidance
COVID-19 Webinars
- COVID-19 Community Provider Vaccine Tracking
- OMH-DHSES Webinar: FEMA Public Assistance Q&A Forum for COVID-19 Disaster Recovery
- NYS OMH Employee Wellness During COVID-19
- MCTAC: Essential Tips for Tele-Behavioral Health Engagement
- State Aid Contracting with OMH during COVID-19 State of Emergency: State Aid Letter Contract Providers
- State Aid Contracting with OMH during COVID-19 State of Emergency: Directors of Community Services
- State Aid Contracting with OMH during COVID-19 State of Emergency: Direct Contract Providers
- Telehealth for OMH and OASAS providers during the COVID 19 State of Emergency (3-17-2020)
Non COVID-19 Guidance
Adult Services
- ACT Guidance Documents and Standards of Care
- AOT Guidance for Reporting Significant Events
- Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program - Guidance for AOT Program Operation
- Guidelines for Initial Reporting by Local Governmental Unit on Assisted Outpatient Treatment
- Health Home Plus for High-Need Individuals with Serious Mental Illness Program Guidance (Re-issued February 2021
- NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) Policy Statement Regarding Electronic Signatures, September 2007
- OMH Approval of Disposition of Real Property Acquired through State Aid
- Prohibited Related-Party Transactions, Self-Dealing, and Waste of State Funds
- Serious & Persistent Mental Illness
- Service Dollar Guidance
- Specialty Mental Health Care Management in Health Home (Adults)
- Supported Housing Program Implementation Guidelines
- Targeted Case Management (TCM) to Health Homes Information
- Waiver of Competitive Bidding Requirements for General Contractors
Behavioral Health Managed Care
Bureau of Cultural Competence
Children and Family Services
- Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Guidance Documents (Waiver Manual)
- Service Dollar Guidance
- Youth Assertive Community Team (ACT) Program Guidance
Clinic and Ambulatory Restructuring
- Clinic-Based Intensive Outpatient Treatment Module Guidance
- Part 599 Guidance
- Telemental Health Guidance for Local Providers
Community Budget and Fiscal Management
- Aid to Localities Spending Plan Guidelines
- New York State Consolidated Budget Reporting and Claiming Manual
- Office of Mental Health Finance Consolidated Fiscal Reporting
- OMH Procurement Lobbying Act Guidelines and Forms
Health Services
Medicaid
- Administrative Practices and Medicaid Requirements
- Important Information Regarding the Medicaid Pharmacy Benefit
- Medicaid Self-Disclosure Guidance
- Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Notification
- Restricted, Terminated or Excluded Individuals or Entities
Inspection and Certification
- Assertive Community Treatment Standards of Care
- Comfort Room Guide
- Discharge Planning
- Electroconvulsive Therapy Review Guidelines
- Implementation Guidelines - 14 NYCRR Section 526.4 - Restraint and Seclusion
- Inpatient Safety Standards
- Use of PRN Medications
Office of Performance Management and Evaluation
Planning Office
Public Information Office
- Communication Needs of Persons Who Are Non–English Speaking, Deaf or Hard of Hearing (中文 | PyCCКИЙ | Kreyòl Ayisyen)
- Discharge Planning (বাংলা | 中文 | PyCCКИЙ | Español | Kreyòl Ayisyen | 한국어)
- HIPAA Privacy Rules for the Protection of Health and Mental Health Information (中文 | PyCCКИЙ | Kreyòl Ayisyen)
- Inpatient Rights (中文 | PyCCКИЙ | Español | Kreyòl Ayisyen)
- Outpatient Rights (中文 | PyCCКИЙ | Español | Kreyòl Ayisyen)