Programs, services, and operation of facilities in the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services

§ 19.17 Programs, services, and operation of facilities in the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services.

(a) The commissioner shall establish policy and procedure for the organization, administration, and operation of facilities under his or her jurisdiction. He or she shall make provision for the efficient rendition of services to patients by such facilities.

(b) The commissioner shall establish the areas which each facility under his or her jurisdiction shall serve and the categories of patients which each such facility shall receive, retain, or treat. The commissioner shall provide for priority of admission for persons whose children have been placed in foster care or are in jeopardy of being so placed pursuant to article ten of the family court act or article six of the social services law.

(c) The commissioner may permit the other offices of the department and any public or private non-profit organization or political subdivision of the state to operate programs for the mentally disabled not inconsistent with the programs and objectives of the department, in any facility under his or her jurisdiction. The commissioner may permit any facility under his or her jurisdiction to operate programs for the mentally disabled, not inconsistent with the programs and objectives of the department, under contracts or agreements with other offices within the department.

(d) The commissioner shall direct and carry on basic clinical, epidemiological, social science, evaluative, and statistical research in chemical abuse and dependence either individually or in conjunction with other agencies, public or private, and, within the amounts made available by appropriation therefor, develop pilot programs. In pursuance of the foregoing and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the office may establish, direct, and carry on experimental pilot clinical programs providing for early intervention and for treatment of chemical abuse and dependence. Such treatment may include the administration, under medical supervision and control, of experimental substances.

(e) The office shall have the authority to gather information and maintain statistical and other records relating to chemical abuse and dependence services in the state. Any person licensed or otherwise permitted to dispense, administer, or conduct research with respect to a controlled substance in the course of a licensed professional practice or research license pursuant to article thirty-three of the public health law and all public officials having duties to perform with respect to controlled substances or users of such substances shall report and supply such information to the office in relation thereto as the office shall by rule, regulation, or order require consistent with appropriate state and federal law relative to the confidentiality of patient records.

(f) There shall be in the office the facilities named below for the care, treatment and rehabilitation of the mentally disabled and for clinical research and teaching in the science and skills required for the care, treatment and rehabilitation of such mentally disabled.

R.E. Blaisdell Addiction Treatment Center

Bronx Addiction Treatment Center

C.K. Post Addiction Treatment Center

Creedmoor Addiction Treatment Center

Dick Van Dyke Addiction Treatment Center

Kingsboro Addiction Treatment Center

McPike Addiction Treatment Center

Richard C. Ward Addiction Treatment Center

J.L. Norris Addiction Treatment Center

South Beach Addiction Treatment Center

St. Lawrence Addiction Treatment Center

Stutzman Addiction Treatment Center

(g) The office shall have the authority to establish an information policy and data reporting procedure for the collection, use, and disclosure of data from providers of chemical dependence services, including procedures to ensure the protection of patient-identifying information and data gathered pursuant to section 19.16 of this article, which shall be deemed confidential except as otherwise provided by law including, but not limited to, articles six and six-A of the public officers law.