Phoenix House: "More New Yorkers Will Go Without Lifesaving Care, Thanks to Minimal Cost of Living Increases"

NEW YORK, NY (05/13/2025) (readMedia)-- Last week, the New York Legislature passed the final state budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, approving a 2.6% cost of living adjustment for behavioral health providers - a small increase compared to the State's rising inflation rates. Currently, mental health and addiction treatment agencies face 20% - 30% job vacancy rates and a 35% turnover rate, preventing them from adequately serving the 207,000 New Yorkers struggling with substance use and mental health challenges.

Phoenix House CEO and President Ann-Marie Foster, who also sits on the NYSBA Task Force on Opioid Addiction, issued the following statement in response:

"At a time when federal budget cuts directly threaten the safety and wellbeing of countless residents, New York's final state budget fails to adequately invest in the behavioral health providers who serve our most vulnerable residents. Community members are already facing major disruptions to healthcare and for those who arrive at our doors seeking support, our agencies are completely overwhelmed by a lack of resources. Governor Hochul and the legislature have supported stronger mental health programs historically so we are hopeful they will be able to right this wrong. This decision will harm providers' ability to continue offering high-quality services and more New Yorkers will be forced to go without lifesaving care."

About Phoenix House:

For nearly 60 years, Phoenix House New York and Long Island has helped thousands of people overcome substance and alcohol use in order to lead healthy, productive, and rewarding lives. Born as a model for integrated substance use treatment, Phoenix House has grown into a treatment network that offers short-term and long-term residential, intensive outpatient, and general outpatient treatment. Phoenix House also offers treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders, clinical services, medication for addiction treatment, health and wellness goals, and vocational and educational support.

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