(a) Sections 7.09 and 31.04 of the Mental Hygiene Law give the Commissioner of Mental Health the power and responsibility to plan, establish and evaluate programs and services for the benefit of individuals with mental illness, and to adopt regulations that are necessary and proper to implement matters under his or her jurisdiction.

(b) Sections 364 and 364-a of the Social Services Law give the Office of Mental Health responsibility for establishing and maintaining standards for medical care and services in facilities under its jurisdiction, in accordance with cooperative arrangements with the Department of Health.

(c) Subdivision (a) of section 43.02 of the Mental Hygiene Law provides that payments under the medical assistance program for services approved by the Office of Mental Health shall be at rates certified by the commissioner and approved by the Director of the Budget.

(d) Subdivision (b) of section 43.02 of the Mental Hygiene Law gives the commissioner authority to request from operators of facilities licensed by the Office of Mental Health such financial, statistical and program information as the commissioner may determine to be necessary.

(e) Subdivision (c) of section 43.02 of the Mental Hygiene Law gives the commissioner authority to adopt rules and regulations relating to methodologies used in establishing schedules of rates of payment for services.

(f) Section 365-m of the Social Services Law authorizes the Commissioner of the Office of Mental Health and the Commissioner of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, in consultation with the Department of Health, to contract with regional behavioral health organizations to provide administrative and management services for the provision of behavioral health services.