New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Apr. 13 a settlement with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (NYP) following an investigation into the hospital’s handling of patients experiencing mental health emergencies. The Office of the Attorney General found repeated failures by NYP to properly evaluate and stabilize these patients, as well as issues with psychiatric bed availability and ambulance diversion practices.
The reforms are significant because they address ongoing concerns about access to mental health care in emergency situations. The settlement requires NYP to implement extensive changes in screening, stabilization, documentation, patient monitoring, and discharge planning for individuals facing behavioral health crises.
James said, “Too many New Yorkers experiencing mental health crises have been met with inadequate care when they need help most. Mental health care is necessary medical care, and hospitals have a legal and moral obligation to treat these crises with urgency and compassion. These sweeping reforms will protect patients, strengthen oversight, and help ensure that no one is left without care in their most vulnerable moments.”
The investigation reviewed thousands of emergency department visits involving behavioral health conditions. It uncovered breakdowns such as improper screening for suicide or violence risk, insufficient supervision leading to patient elopement before discharge or transfer, incomplete documentation in records, and delays restoring inpatient psychiatric beds after the COVID-19 pandemic despite state requirements. As of May 2023, over 100 psychiatric beds remained offline at NYP during a period of high demand for services.
Reforms mandated by the settlement include stronger emergency department protocols for risk assessment; improved observation policies; upgrades to electronic health records; enhanced coordination with families and outside providers; better discharge planning; prompt response procedures if high-risk patients leave unsupervised; restoration of all required psychiatric bed capacity; ongoing oversight measures; financial penalties for future violations; and transparency about inpatient services.
Glenn Liebman, CEO of Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS), said: “Today’s settlement announced by New York Attorney General James is an important reminder of the ongoing need for strong oversight and enforcement to ensure compliance and accountability with New York’s laws and regulations. This is essential to guarantee that New Yorkers with mental health conditions can access care—especially in emergencies… Let this agreement strengthen the collective commitment…to meet the needs of New Yorkers with the most complex mental health conditions.” Nathan McLaughlin from NAMI New York State also supported the reforms: “We commend Attorney General James…for taking decisive action…These findings reflect the unfortunate reality individuals and families have experienced for years…this settlement represents an important step toward ensuring people receive safe, appropriate care when they need it most.”
Letitia James heads the Office of the Attorney General according to its official website. The office operates as a public law enforcement agency throughout regional offices across New York State according to its official website, promoting social justice through civil rights enforcement according to its official website while providing consumer fraud investigations among other services according to its official website. Its mission includes protecting residents’ safety, defending civil rights protections according to its official website, upholding consumer protections, preserving environmental standards according to its official website, charities oversight duties according to its official website, tenant dispute mediation functions according to its official website.
