The VACBP provides industry leadership to advocate for public policies that reward efficient and effective community-based behavioral health services. As we seek to improve Virginia's behavioral health delivery system, our priorities include:
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Develop a continuum of care that enables access to the most appropriate level of service in a timely manner in a setting that best meets the patient’s needs.
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Implement strategies to address the critical shortage of qualified behavioral health workers in Virginia.
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Ensure reimbursement rates more appropriately reflect the true cost to deliver care.
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Support and encourage data- and outcome-informed treatment.
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Support greater certainty and stability in the behavioral health delivery system.
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Increase the integration of medical and behavioral health, leveraging both the public- and private-sector providers.
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Better leverage the experience, expertise and availability of private-sector behavioral health providers.
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Improve accountability throughout the behavioral health delivery system, to include providers, payors, regulators and administrators.
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Protect and enhance consumer choice in behavioral health treatment.
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Increase coordination within and among agencies related to behavioral health service delivery and social service programs.
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Advocacy Updates
Dated: 05.04.2022 | VACBP Member Agencies Offer Programs to Support Healthcare Workers Impacted by COVID
The VACBP has been very pleased to work with DBHDS to enable a number of our members to receive funds from the SAMHSA Emergency COVID-19 Grant to help fund behavioral health needs in our communities. Part of this funding has been dedicated to providing services to frontline and healthcare workers, which is primarily being provided by two VACPB members - Diamond Counseling and St. Joseph's Villa. For more information about these programs that are available to healthcare workers, visit https://frontlinewellnessva.org/).
Dated: 05.04.2022 | VACBP Forms Work Group to Address Background Check Challenges
In response to significant concerns from our members, the VACBP is convening a workgroup to discuss challenges related to background checks with a focus on identifying specific challenges and barriers that are impacting the behavioral health workforce and delivery of services, and development of potential solutions to address and/or mitigate those challenges and barriers. If you're interested in participating in this work group, email us by clicking here.
Dated: 05.04.2022 | Safe and Sound Task Force to Define Challenges and Potential Solutions
On April 1st, 2022, Governor Glenn Youngkin launched an initiative aimed at creating safe housing placements for children in foster care. The Governor’s Safe and Sound Task Force is comprised of representatives from state and local government agencies, legislators, judges, advocacy groups, associations, and private providers. The Honorable Janet Kelly, who serves as the Special Advisor for Children’s Issues, convened the task force on April 11, 2022, and April 13, 2022, to respond to the Governor’s charge to address the immediate crisis of children sleeping in local departments of social services, hotels, and emergency rooms. Ideas on how the stakeholders could collaboratively seek immediate solutions to this crisis were shared at these meetings. Overall objectives included finding safe placements for kids who are currently displaced, ensuring a reservoir of safe placements for kids who may need them in the future, and eventually making recommendations that go upstream to address policy and systemic changes. The group identified barriers at all levels and offered solutions that will guide next steps. Responses were organized into five categories: Advocacy, Communications, Reg/Legal, Systemic and Workforce. The task force is now focused on sorting and categorizing the potential solutions and reviewing each idea for further consideration and action. Special thanks for Natalie Handy (Intercept) for representing the VACBP on this important task force!
Dated: 04.08.2022 | Virginia Legislators Return to Richmond, Budget Impasse Continues
This week, Virginia legislators returned to Richmond after Governor Glenn Youngkin called a “special session,” which is within his authority as Governor. As a reminder, while the General Assembly adjourned on time last month, they did so without having reached agreement on a biennial budget that begins July 1, 2022. Unlike Congress, the Virginia legislature is Constitutionally mandated to pass a balanced budget every two years.
The Governor called the legislators back to push for movement on the budget by the conferees who have been assigned to negotiate agreement on the budget. The Governor’s authority over the legislators on this, however, ended at calling for the special session. The legislators in both bodies responded by voting on rules that will dictate how they will operate during the special session and promptly returned home with no set date to return.
On the floor of the House of Delegates, House Appropriations Committee Chair Barry Knight shared that the House and Senate conferees are getting closer to agreement but there is clearly more work to do. The major source of contention continues to be how the legislature will act on the tax cutting measures proposed by Governor Youngkin. The degree to which these proposals will be accepted by the legislators will significantly impact the total amount of revenue available to invest in programs and services. Without agreement on this, there’s little that can be done on the specific budget items in play.
From a behavioral health standpoint, continuation of the 12.5% rate increase for home and community-based services for FY23 was included in both the House and Senate budget proposals, which bodes well for its inclusion in the final budget. We continue to urge legislators to consider increasing this rate even further to help offset the decades of stagnant reimbursement rates and provide resources to providers to help them better compensate their staff, regardless of if they are public-sector or private-sector providers.
At this point, the legislators are slated to return to Richmond for the reconvened or “veto” session on April 27, 2022, when they will consider action taken by the Governor on legislation adopted during the regular session. Further updates to come as we have them.
Dated: 04.08.2022 | VACBP Continues to Urge Support for Rate Study
In order the move forward on efforts to reform the full continuum of Medicaid-funded community-based behavioral health services in Virginia, it’s critical that the cost of rates for the services in the continuum be determined. For this reason, the VACBP is strongly urging legislators to include funding for the rate study requested by DMAS in the final budget that is sent to the Governor for his consideration.
As proposed, the requested funding would be used to perform multiple rate studies in multiple complex care service areas. The goals of the studies are to develop rates that will be used to request medical costs in the next budget cycle for new services in neuro-rehabilitative and dementia services care, housing and employment supports related to the compass 1115 waiver, alignment and balancing of ARTS services reimbursement rates to ensure Peer Supports and all ASAM services have appropriate reimbursement amounts as related to their levels of care and to identify the next phase of BRAVO behavioral health enhanced services.
The rate study, as proposed, would have eight main components:
Because Virginia’s behavioral health services have never had a rate study and have relied on decades-old rates, the service models will continue to be authorized using outdated clinical necessity requirements for individuals who would not otherwise be determined eligible. As a result, individuals who have experienced trauma or have mental health and/or substance use disorders can only access high cost, fragmented, crisis-focused services instead of services that are preventative, clinically integrated, evidence-based, and cost effective. Additionally, expenditures for community-mental health rehabilitative services such as intensive in-home, therapeutic day treatment, and mental health skill building services will continue to grow with minimal ability for DMAS or its contractors to control service utilization.
In addition, there are currently no DMAS participating nursing or behavioral health facilities that possess the knowledge, skills, abilities, or clinical admission protocols for individuals with challenging behaviors that can serve persons with TBI or Dementia. If these services are not funded, individuals who require these services will continue to be placed in state mental health facilities due to a TDO or a more costly, out-of-state facility. At this time, DBHDS uses $1.5 million general fund dollars annually in order to serve 10 persons with TBI in appropriate clinical settings because DMAS lacks a program designated for this complex population. In its agency request, DMAS notes that this lack of capacity and the exclusion of persons with TBI from services violates Mental health parity law. Lastly, without the appropriate level of care in these programs, the aforementioned individuals will continue to be served in costlier, inappropriate, and restrictive settings by cycling through the various health care systems.
Finally, in order for the program to be funded, High Needs Supports needs rates to be developed which will project the program’s costs to the medical budget in upcoming years. The lack of permanent supportive housing is a key issue in Virginia that contributes to the bed crisis in the state facilities. If this program is not funded, Medicaid members will continue to lack access to housing and/or employment supports, which will continue to drive costs in emergency rooms, state psychiatric hospitals and the criminal justice system.
The cost estimate for these studies included: $350,000 for rate setting six different services, as well as facilitating stakeholder engagement workgroups; $150,000 for ARTS residential rebasing and OBATS; $600,000 for High Needs Support Rates and $400,000 for NeuroRehabilitative rates. Total costs of $1,400,000 ($456,524 GF and $943,476 NGF).
Dated: 03.25.2022 | Policymakers Adjourn 2022 General Assembly Session, But Without a Budget
On March 12, 2022, the Virginia General Assembly adjourned with much of its work completed, but with one significant matter to address – the Commonwealth’s biennium budget. Lawmakers went home to their districts for what many are calling a “cooling off period” after budget negotiations stalled. The sticking point – how much of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s tax relief agenda would be implemented. Without consensus on how much state revenue will be available to invest in programs and services, budget conferees were left with little to discuss with respect to specific priorities, including investments in behavioral health-related items. Several highlights on what we do know at this time are provided below.
WORKFORCE
Continuation of the 12.5% rate increase for FY23 – Continuation of the 12.5% rate increase, which is set to expire June 30, 2022, is the VACBP’s top priority for the 2022 session. Per previous news alerts, we are extremely pleased that continuation of this increase in FY23 is included in both the proposed House and Senate budgets at this time. With private providers delivering between 80% and 90% of all Medicaid behavioral health services, this rate increase significantly benefits our members. While being included in both proposed budgets is a huge win, we continue to push to shift additional funds directed to the CSBs for salary increases and bonuses to further rate increases so state funds can be better aligned with the delivery of services. More to come on the budget front when we know more.
Background checks for employees at children’s residential facilities – SB 577 (Mason) allows a person who is required to undergo a background check as a condition of employment at a children's residential facility to be employed by the facility pending the results of the check of the central registry of child abuse and neglect records maintained by the Department of Social Services, provided that (i) the person has received qualifying results on the fingerprint-based criminal history background check, (ii) the person does not work in the children's residential facility or any other location where children placed in such facility are present, and (iii) such employment is permitted under federal law and regulations. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Out-of-state licenses deemed licensure during public health emergencies – HB 264 (Head)/SB 369 (Stuart) allow a practitioner of a profession regulated by the Board of Medicine who is licensed in another state or the District of Columbia and who is in good standing with the applicable regulatory agency in that state or the District of Columbia to engage in the practice of that profession in the Commonwealth with a patient located in the Commonwealth when (i) such practice is for the purpose of providing continuity of care through the use of telemedicine services, and (ii) the patient is a current patient of the practitioner with whom the practitioner has previously established a practitioner-patient relationship and the practitioner has performed an in-person examination of the patient within the previous 12 months. The bills also provide that when the Board of Health has issued an emergency order, the Boards of Medicine and Nursing may waive (i) the requirement for submission of a fee for renewal or reinstatement of a license to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine or as a physician assistant or nurse practitioner and (ii) the requirement for submission of evidence that a practitioner whose license was allowed to lapse for failure to meet professional activity requirements has satisfied such requirements and is prepared to resume practice in a competent manner for any person who held a valid, unrestricted, active license within the four-year period immediately prior to the application for renewal or reinstatement of such license. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Temporary authorization to practice for out-of-state health care practitioners; licensure by reciprocity for physicians – HB 1187 (Helmer)/SB 317 (Favola) allow a health care practitioner licensed in another state or the District of Columbia who has submitted an application for licensure to the appropriate health regulatory board to temporarily practice for a period of 90 days pending licensure, provided that certain conditions are met. The bills direct the Board of Medicine to pursue reciprocity agreements with jurisdictions that surround the Commonwealth to streamline the application process in order to facilitate the practice of medicine. The bills require the Department of Health Professions to annually report to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions the number of out-of-state health care practitioners who have utilized the temporary authorization to practice pending licensure and have not subsequently been issued full licensure. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. They also contain an emergency clause which means if and when the Governor signs the legislation, it goes into effect. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this bill.
TELEHEALTH
Statewide telehealth plan – HB 81 (Kilgore)/SB 436 (Barker) require the Board of Health to consult with the Virginia Telehealth Network in amending and maintaining the Statewide Telehealth Plan to (i) provide direct consultation to any advisory groups and groups tasked by the Board with implementation and data collection, (ii) track implementation of the Statewide Telehealth Plan, and (iii) facilitate changes to the Statewide Telehealth Plan as accepted medical practices and technologies evolve. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Telemedicine for out of state providers – HB 537 (Batten) allows certain practitioners of professions regulated by the Boards of Medicine, Counseling, Psychology, and Social Work who provide behavioral health services and who are licensed in another state, the District of Columbia, or a United States territory or possession and in good standing with such regulatory agency to engage in the practice of that profession in the Commonwealth with a patient located in the Commonwealth when (i) such practice is for the purpose of providing continuity of care through the use of telemedicine services and (ii) the practitioner has previously established a practitioner-patient relationship with the patient. The bill provides that a practitioner who provides behavioral health services to a patient located in the Commonwealth through use of telemedicine services may provide such services for a period of no more than one year from the date on which the practitioner began providing such services to such patient. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
CRISIS/CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Mandatory outpatient treatment – HB 663 (Hope) reorganizes and clarifies provisions governing mandatory outpatient treatment. The bill also eliminates provisions allowing for a single order for a period of involuntary inpatient treatment followed by a period of mandatory outpatient treatment and instead requires entry of separate orders for involuntary inpatient and mandatory outpatient treatment in all cases. The provisions of the bill are slated to be effective on October 1, 2022. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Optional participation in Marcus Alert – SB 361 (Stuart) provides that participation in the Marcus alert system is optional for localities with a population of less than 40,000. The bill requires every locality, regardless of population, to establish local protocols to divert calls from the 9-1-1 dispatch and response system to a crisis call center for risk assessment and engagement, including assessment for mobile crisis or community care team dispatch if available. The bill also delays from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2028, the requirement that all community services board and behavioral health authority geographical areas have established a Marcus alert system that uses a community care or mobile crisis team. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
CHILDREN/YOUTH
Flexibility with school counselor staffing ratios – HB 829 (Wilt) permits school boards to fulfill the staffing ratio requirements for school counselors by (i) employing, under a provisional license issued by the Department of Education for three school years with an allowance for an additional two-year extension with the approval of the division superintendent, any professional counselor licensed by the Board of Counseling, clinical social worker licensed by the Board of Social Work, psychologist licensed by the Board of Psychology, or other licensed counseling professional with appropriate experience and training, provided that any such individual makes progress toward completing the requirements for full licensure as a school counselor during such period of employment or (ii) in the event that the school board does not receive any application from a licensed school counselor, professional counselor, clinical social worker, or psychologist or another licensed counseling professional with appropriate experience and training to fill a school counselor vacancy in the school division, entering into an annual contract with another entity for the provision of school counseling services by a licensed professional counselor, clinical social worker, or psychologist or another licensed counseling professional with appropriate experience and training. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Establishment of School Health Services Committee – HB 215 (Robinson)/SB 62 (Favola) establish the School Health Services Committee to review and provide advice to the General Assembly and other policy makers regarding proposals that require local school boards to offer certain health services in a school setting. The legislation requires the Committee to submit its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor by October 1 of each year. The bills have an expiration date of July 1, 2025. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
Conditions for licensure for providers of treatment for opioid addiction – HB 679 (Hope)/SB 300 (Deeds) eliminate the requirement that a provider of treatment for persons with opiate addiction through the use of (i) methadone or (ii) opioid replacements other than opioid replacements approved for the treatment of opioid addiction by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration be located more than one-half mile from a public or private licensed day care center or a public or private K-12 school. These bills have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2023. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Certified recovery residences – HB 277 (Coyner)/SB 622 (Favola) require that all recovery residences be certified by DBHDS and that recovery residences, as a condition of such certification, comply with any minimum square footage requirements related to beds and sleeping rooms established by the credentialing entity, which shall be no less than the square footage requirements set forth in the Uniform Statewide Building Code. The bills require every person who operates a recovery residence to disclose to potential residents its credentialing entity. If the credentialing entity is the National Alliance for Recovery Residences, the bills require the recovery residence to disclose the level of support provided by the recovery residence and, if the credentialing entity is Oxford House, Inc., the bills require the recovery residence to disclose that the recovery residence is self-governed and unstaffed. The bills also require DBHDS to include such information on the list of all recovery residences maintained by the agency on its website. The bills exempt recovery residences from the provisions of the Virginia Landlord and Tenant Act. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
HOUSING/SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
Eviction Diversion Pilot Program – SB 24 (Locke) extends from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024 the expiration date of the Eviction Diversion Pilot Program. The bill also requires the Virginia Housing Commission to submit an interim report no later than November 30, 2022, and a final report no later November 30, 2023. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Social Determinants of Health data – HB 229 (Coyner) directs the Department of Health to collect and analyze information, including demographic data, regarding social determinants of health, defined in the bill, and their impact on health risks and health outcomes of residents of the Commonwealth, and to make information regarding social determinants of health, their impact on health, and strategies for addressing social determinants of health to improve health outcomes available to the public on its website. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
PAYER/INSURANCE
Definition of autism spectrum disorder – HB 225 (Coyner)/SB 321 (Vogel) provide that for the purposes of required health insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder, "autism spectrum disorder" means any pervasive developmental disorder or autism spectrum disorder, as defined in the most recent edition or the most recent edition at the time of diagnosis of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association and "medically necessary" means in accordance with the generally accepted standards of mental disorder or condition care and clinically appropriate in terms of type, frequency, site, and duration, based upon evidence and reasonably expected to do any of the following: (i) prevent the onset of an illness, condition, injury, or disability; (ii) reduce or ameliorate the physical, mental, or developmental effects of an illness, condition, injury, or disability; or (iii) assist to achieve or maintain maximum functional capacity in performing daily activities, taking into account both the functional capacity of the individual and the functional capacities that are appropriate for individuals of the same age. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Receipt of application for provider credentialling with health insurance carrier – HB 778 (Hodges)/SB 427 (Dunnavant) require the protocols and procedures for the reimbursement of new provider applicants that are established by a carrier that credentials providers in its network to require that the carrier provide recognition or notification of receipt of such applicant's credentialing application (i) electronically if the carrier uses an online credentialing system for new provider applicants or (ii) by mail or electronic mail, as selected by the applicant, within 10 days of receiving the application if the carrier does not use an online credentialing system. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Coverage for mental health and substance use disorder – SB 434 (Barker) requires the State Corporation Commission's Bureau of Insurance, in its report regarding denied claims, complaints, appeals, and network adequacy involving mental health and substance abuse disorder coverage, to include a summary of certain comparative analyses from health carriers related to mental health parity and an explanation of whether the analyses were considered compliant and any corrective actions required of the health carrier by the Bureau. The bill also changes the annual deadline for such report from September 1 to November 1. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
ID/DD
Work group to study options for permanent use of virtual supports and services – HB 990 (Runion)/SB 232 (Suetterlein) direct DMAS to continue the work group established to study and develop recommendations for the permanent use of virtual supports and increasing access to virtual supports and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by promoting access to assistive technology and environmental modifications and to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1, 2022. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
OTHER ISSUE AREAS
LPCs added to those able to disclose withholding of patient records – HB 242 (Adams, D) adds licensed professional counselors to the list of eligible providers who can disclose or recommend the withholding of patient records, face a malpractice review panel, and provide recommendations on involuntary temporary detention orders. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
ABA practitioners added to list of mandatory reporters – HB 751 (Bell) adds practitioners of behavior analysis to the list of individuals required to report suspected adult or child abuse or neglect. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Medicaid program information accessibility – HB 987 (Tran) directs DMAS to require every person that provides program information to ensure that all program information, defined in the bill, be made available in a manner that is accessible to (i) individuals with limited English proficiency through the provision of language access services, including oral interpretation and written translations, and (ii) individuals with disabilities through the provision of auxiliary aids services, when doing so is a reasonable step to providing meaningful access to health care coverage. The bill provides that language access services and auxiliary aids services shall be provided free of charge to such individuals and that information regarding how to receive the language access services and auxiliary aids services shall be included with program information documents on a website maintained by DMAS and on the website of every agency of the Commonwealth that disseminates program information. The bill also requires every person that makes program information available to use an objective readability measure approved by the Department to test the readability of its program information documents and requires such persons to make program information documents available to the Department for review upon request. Under current law, use of a specific readability formula is required and a minimum total readability score is prescribed. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Critically missing adult alert program definition – HB 1060 (Cordoza) expands the definition of "critically missing adult" to include any missing adult 18 years of age or older who has a developmental disability, intellectual disability, or mental illness for the purpose of receipt of critically missing adult reports by a police or sheriff's department and the Virginia Critically Missing Adult Alert Program administered by the Department of State Police. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Mental health position created at Department of Veterans Services – HB 1203 (Tata) establishes the position of Suicide Prevention Coordinator (the Coordinator) in the Department of Veterans Services to support and closely coordinate effective mental health care services for military service members and veterans and their families. The bill directs the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services to report on the work of the Coordinator in its annual report to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, the Governor, and the General Assembly. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
To review the full tracker for the 2022 legislative session, click here.
The VACBP continues to actively work to advocate on behalf of our members as budget negotiations continue, with the special session planned for April 4 (see Governor’s statement on this below). For all the other bills awaiting action by the Governor, the legislature is scheduled to return to Richmond for the reconvened or “veto” session on April 27, 2022.
The VACBP has been very pleased to work with DBHDS to enable a number of our members to receive funds from the SAMHSA Emergency COVID-19 Grant to help fund behavioral health needs in our communities. Part of this funding has been dedicated to providing services to frontline and healthcare workers, which is primarily being provided by two VACPB members - Diamond Counseling and St. Joseph's Villa. For more information about these programs that are available to healthcare workers, visit https://frontlinewellnessva.org/).
Dated: 05.04.2022 | VACBP Forms Work Group to Address Background Check Challenges
In response to significant concerns from our members, the VACBP is convening a workgroup to discuss challenges related to background checks with a focus on identifying specific challenges and barriers that are impacting the behavioral health workforce and delivery of services, and development of potential solutions to address and/or mitigate those challenges and barriers. If you're interested in participating in this work group, email us by clicking here.
Dated: 05.04.2022 | Safe and Sound Task Force to Define Challenges and Potential Solutions
On April 1st, 2022, Governor Glenn Youngkin launched an initiative aimed at creating safe housing placements for children in foster care. The Governor’s Safe and Sound Task Force is comprised of representatives from state and local government agencies, legislators, judges, advocacy groups, associations, and private providers. The Honorable Janet Kelly, who serves as the Special Advisor for Children’s Issues, convened the task force on April 11, 2022, and April 13, 2022, to respond to the Governor’s charge to address the immediate crisis of children sleeping in local departments of social services, hotels, and emergency rooms. Ideas on how the stakeholders could collaboratively seek immediate solutions to this crisis were shared at these meetings. Overall objectives included finding safe placements for kids who are currently displaced, ensuring a reservoir of safe placements for kids who may need them in the future, and eventually making recommendations that go upstream to address policy and systemic changes. The group identified barriers at all levels and offered solutions that will guide next steps. Responses were organized into five categories: Advocacy, Communications, Reg/Legal, Systemic and Workforce. The task force is now focused on sorting and categorizing the potential solutions and reviewing each idea for further consideration and action. Special thanks for Natalie Handy (Intercept) for representing the VACBP on this important task force!
Dated: 04.08.2022 | Virginia Legislators Return to Richmond, Budget Impasse Continues
This week, Virginia legislators returned to Richmond after Governor Glenn Youngkin called a “special session,” which is within his authority as Governor. As a reminder, while the General Assembly adjourned on time last month, they did so without having reached agreement on a biennial budget that begins July 1, 2022. Unlike Congress, the Virginia legislature is Constitutionally mandated to pass a balanced budget every two years.
The Governor called the legislators back to push for movement on the budget by the conferees who have been assigned to negotiate agreement on the budget. The Governor’s authority over the legislators on this, however, ended at calling for the special session. The legislators in both bodies responded by voting on rules that will dictate how they will operate during the special session and promptly returned home with no set date to return.
On the floor of the House of Delegates, House Appropriations Committee Chair Barry Knight shared that the House and Senate conferees are getting closer to agreement but there is clearly more work to do. The major source of contention continues to be how the legislature will act on the tax cutting measures proposed by Governor Youngkin. The degree to which these proposals will be accepted by the legislators will significantly impact the total amount of revenue available to invest in programs and services. Without agreement on this, there’s little that can be done on the specific budget items in play.
From a behavioral health standpoint, continuation of the 12.5% rate increase for home and community-based services for FY23 was included in both the House and Senate budget proposals, which bodes well for its inclusion in the final budget. We continue to urge legislators to consider increasing this rate even further to help offset the decades of stagnant reimbursement rates and provide resources to providers to help them better compensate their staff, regardless of if they are public-sector or private-sector providers.
At this point, the legislators are slated to return to Richmond for the reconvened or “veto” session on April 27, 2022, when they will consider action taken by the Governor on legislation adopted during the regular session. Further updates to come as we have them.
Dated: 04.08.2022 | VACBP Continues to Urge Support for Rate Study
In order the move forward on efforts to reform the full continuum of Medicaid-funded community-based behavioral health services in Virginia, it’s critical that the cost of rates for the services in the continuum be determined. For this reason, the VACBP is strongly urging legislators to include funding for the rate study requested by DMAS in the final budget that is sent to the Governor for his consideration.
As proposed, the requested funding would be used to perform multiple rate studies in multiple complex care service areas. The goals of the studies are to develop rates that will be used to request medical costs in the next budget cycle for new services in neuro-rehabilitative and dementia services care, housing and employment supports related to the compass 1115 waiver, alignment and balancing of ARTS services reimbursement rates to ensure Peer Supports and all ASAM services have appropriate reimbursement amounts as related to their levels of care and to identify the next phase of BRAVO behavioral health enhanced services.
The rate study, as proposed, would have eight main components:
- Prioritized services for Behavioral Health Enhancement /Project BRAVO which will include any updates to services implemented in 2021 as well as tiered school-based services, evidence-based models of outpatient and in-home services for youth, High Fidelity Wraparound Service for youth, Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) including Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI), Therapeutic Foster Care case management model, and Peer Recovery Support Services for ARTS and Mental Health including a tiered approach that would allow for short-term intervention such as emergency department settings and to incorporate new service delivery models identified by the Peer Supports Workgroup.
- A customized cost report template, a full rate study, and recommended rates for ARTS residential providers of Levels 3.3, 3.5 and 3.7.
- Rebasing of rates periodically along with annual inflation adjustments for both ARTS residential providers of 3.3, 3.5 and 3.7 as well as children’s PRTFs (not included in Item 313 CC of 2021 Appropriations Act).
- Study of the current Office-Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT) model to align it with the Hub and Spoke model which allows for a tiered system for targeting providers that serve members initiating treatment (Hub) and members who have stabilized/less intensity of services/primary care settings (Spoke). Hubs can also serve as consultation to Spokes, however, two distinct rates should be developed.
- A consolidated Comprehensive Needs Assessment Rate that would include use of evidence-based assessment for level of care recommendations across programs and services for behavioral health and ARTS services. Neither behavioral health nor ARTS services have
- An improved IACCT assessment rate that reflects the intensive level of care coordination required for process improvement as well as additional activities necessary for compliance with the enhanced activities required by the Family First Prevention Services Act legislation.
- Development of a rate for High Needs Support Services which will include Housing Support Coordination and Employment Services for the Compass 1115 Waiver in addition to MCO rates for delivering and administering these services.
- Development of a rate for Neuro-rehabilitative services. Administrative funding is requested to develop a rate methodology for the services, also the study would determine the amount of necessary funding to supply existing or new facilities with the startup funds for the development of appropriate operational structures to deliver neuro-rehabilitative services. These funds would ensure that there are facilities in the Commonwealth equipped to provide neuro-rehabilitative services.
Because Virginia’s behavioral health services have never had a rate study and have relied on decades-old rates, the service models will continue to be authorized using outdated clinical necessity requirements for individuals who would not otherwise be determined eligible. As a result, individuals who have experienced trauma or have mental health and/or substance use disorders can only access high cost, fragmented, crisis-focused services instead of services that are preventative, clinically integrated, evidence-based, and cost effective. Additionally, expenditures for community-mental health rehabilitative services such as intensive in-home, therapeutic day treatment, and mental health skill building services will continue to grow with minimal ability for DMAS or its contractors to control service utilization.
In addition, there are currently no DMAS participating nursing or behavioral health facilities that possess the knowledge, skills, abilities, or clinical admission protocols for individuals with challenging behaviors that can serve persons with TBI or Dementia. If these services are not funded, individuals who require these services will continue to be placed in state mental health facilities due to a TDO or a more costly, out-of-state facility. At this time, DBHDS uses $1.5 million general fund dollars annually in order to serve 10 persons with TBI in appropriate clinical settings because DMAS lacks a program designated for this complex population. In its agency request, DMAS notes that this lack of capacity and the exclusion of persons with TBI from services violates Mental health parity law. Lastly, without the appropriate level of care in these programs, the aforementioned individuals will continue to be served in costlier, inappropriate, and restrictive settings by cycling through the various health care systems.
Finally, in order for the program to be funded, High Needs Supports needs rates to be developed which will project the program’s costs to the medical budget in upcoming years. The lack of permanent supportive housing is a key issue in Virginia that contributes to the bed crisis in the state facilities. If this program is not funded, Medicaid members will continue to lack access to housing and/or employment supports, which will continue to drive costs in emergency rooms, state psychiatric hospitals and the criminal justice system.
The cost estimate for these studies included: $350,000 for rate setting six different services, as well as facilitating stakeholder engagement workgroups; $150,000 for ARTS residential rebasing and OBATS; $600,000 for High Needs Support Rates and $400,000 for NeuroRehabilitative rates. Total costs of $1,400,000 ($456,524 GF and $943,476 NGF).
Dated: 03.25.2022 | Policymakers Adjourn 2022 General Assembly Session, But Without a Budget
On March 12, 2022, the Virginia General Assembly adjourned with much of its work completed, but with one significant matter to address – the Commonwealth’s biennium budget. Lawmakers went home to their districts for what many are calling a “cooling off period” after budget negotiations stalled. The sticking point – how much of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s tax relief agenda would be implemented. Without consensus on how much state revenue will be available to invest in programs and services, budget conferees were left with little to discuss with respect to specific priorities, including investments in behavioral health-related items. Several highlights on what we do know at this time are provided below.
WORKFORCE
Continuation of the 12.5% rate increase for FY23 – Continuation of the 12.5% rate increase, which is set to expire June 30, 2022, is the VACBP’s top priority for the 2022 session. Per previous news alerts, we are extremely pleased that continuation of this increase in FY23 is included in both the proposed House and Senate budgets at this time. With private providers delivering between 80% and 90% of all Medicaid behavioral health services, this rate increase significantly benefits our members. While being included in both proposed budgets is a huge win, we continue to push to shift additional funds directed to the CSBs for salary increases and bonuses to further rate increases so state funds can be better aligned with the delivery of services. More to come on the budget front when we know more.
Background checks for employees at children’s residential facilities – SB 577 (Mason) allows a person who is required to undergo a background check as a condition of employment at a children's residential facility to be employed by the facility pending the results of the check of the central registry of child abuse and neglect records maintained by the Department of Social Services, provided that (i) the person has received qualifying results on the fingerprint-based criminal history background check, (ii) the person does not work in the children's residential facility or any other location where children placed in such facility are present, and (iii) such employment is permitted under federal law and regulations. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Out-of-state licenses deemed licensure during public health emergencies – HB 264 (Head)/SB 369 (Stuart) allow a practitioner of a profession regulated by the Board of Medicine who is licensed in another state or the District of Columbia and who is in good standing with the applicable regulatory agency in that state or the District of Columbia to engage in the practice of that profession in the Commonwealth with a patient located in the Commonwealth when (i) such practice is for the purpose of providing continuity of care through the use of telemedicine services, and (ii) the patient is a current patient of the practitioner with whom the practitioner has previously established a practitioner-patient relationship and the practitioner has performed an in-person examination of the patient within the previous 12 months. The bills also provide that when the Board of Health has issued an emergency order, the Boards of Medicine and Nursing may waive (i) the requirement for submission of a fee for renewal or reinstatement of a license to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine or as a physician assistant or nurse practitioner and (ii) the requirement for submission of evidence that a practitioner whose license was allowed to lapse for failure to meet professional activity requirements has satisfied such requirements and is prepared to resume practice in a competent manner for any person who held a valid, unrestricted, active license within the four-year period immediately prior to the application for renewal or reinstatement of such license. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Temporary authorization to practice for out-of-state health care practitioners; licensure by reciprocity for physicians – HB 1187 (Helmer)/SB 317 (Favola) allow a health care practitioner licensed in another state or the District of Columbia who has submitted an application for licensure to the appropriate health regulatory board to temporarily practice for a period of 90 days pending licensure, provided that certain conditions are met. The bills direct the Board of Medicine to pursue reciprocity agreements with jurisdictions that surround the Commonwealth to streamline the application process in order to facilitate the practice of medicine. The bills require the Department of Health Professions to annually report to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions the number of out-of-state health care practitioners who have utilized the temporary authorization to practice pending licensure and have not subsequently been issued full licensure. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. They also contain an emergency clause which means if and when the Governor signs the legislation, it goes into effect. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this bill.
TELEHEALTH
Statewide telehealth plan – HB 81 (Kilgore)/SB 436 (Barker) require the Board of Health to consult with the Virginia Telehealth Network in amending and maintaining the Statewide Telehealth Plan to (i) provide direct consultation to any advisory groups and groups tasked by the Board with implementation and data collection, (ii) track implementation of the Statewide Telehealth Plan, and (iii) facilitate changes to the Statewide Telehealth Plan as accepted medical practices and technologies evolve. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Telemedicine for out of state providers – HB 537 (Batten) allows certain practitioners of professions regulated by the Boards of Medicine, Counseling, Psychology, and Social Work who provide behavioral health services and who are licensed in another state, the District of Columbia, or a United States territory or possession and in good standing with such regulatory agency to engage in the practice of that profession in the Commonwealth with a patient located in the Commonwealth when (i) such practice is for the purpose of providing continuity of care through the use of telemedicine services and (ii) the practitioner has previously established a practitioner-patient relationship with the patient. The bill provides that a practitioner who provides behavioral health services to a patient located in the Commonwealth through use of telemedicine services may provide such services for a period of no more than one year from the date on which the practitioner began providing such services to such patient. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
CRISIS/CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Mandatory outpatient treatment – HB 663 (Hope) reorganizes and clarifies provisions governing mandatory outpatient treatment. The bill also eliminates provisions allowing for a single order for a period of involuntary inpatient treatment followed by a period of mandatory outpatient treatment and instead requires entry of separate orders for involuntary inpatient and mandatory outpatient treatment in all cases. The provisions of the bill are slated to be effective on October 1, 2022. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Optional participation in Marcus Alert – SB 361 (Stuart) provides that participation in the Marcus alert system is optional for localities with a population of less than 40,000. The bill requires every locality, regardless of population, to establish local protocols to divert calls from the 9-1-1 dispatch and response system to a crisis call center for risk assessment and engagement, including assessment for mobile crisis or community care team dispatch if available. The bill also delays from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2028, the requirement that all community services board and behavioral health authority geographical areas have established a Marcus alert system that uses a community care or mobile crisis team. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
CHILDREN/YOUTH
Flexibility with school counselor staffing ratios – HB 829 (Wilt) permits school boards to fulfill the staffing ratio requirements for school counselors by (i) employing, under a provisional license issued by the Department of Education for three school years with an allowance for an additional two-year extension with the approval of the division superintendent, any professional counselor licensed by the Board of Counseling, clinical social worker licensed by the Board of Social Work, psychologist licensed by the Board of Psychology, or other licensed counseling professional with appropriate experience and training, provided that any such individual makes progress toward completing the requirements for full licensure as a school counselor during such period of employment or (ii) in the event that the school board does not receive any application from a licensed school counselor, professional counselor, clinical social worker, or psychologist or another licensed counseling professional with appropriate experience and training to fill a school counselor vacancy in the school division, entering into an annual contract with another entity for the provision of school counseling services by a licensed professional counselor, clinical social worker, or psychologist or another licensed counseling professional with appropriate experience and training. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Establishment of School Health Services Committee – HB 215 (Robinson)/SB 62 (Favola) establish the School Health Services Committee to review and provide advice to the General Assembly and other policy makers regarding proposals that require local school boards to offer certain health services in a school setting. The legislation requires the Committee to submit its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor by October 1 of each year. The bills have an expiration date of July 1, 2025. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
Conditions for licensure for providers of treatment for opioid addiction – HB 679 (Hope)/SB 300 (Deeds) eliminate the requirement that a provider of treatment for persons with opiate addiction through the use of (i) methadone or (ii) opioid replacements other than opioid replacements approved for the treatment of opioid addiction by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration be located more than one-half mile from a public or private licensed day care center or a public or private K-12 school. These bills have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2023. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Certified recovery residences – HB 277 (Coyner)/SB 622 (Favola) require that all recovery residences be certified by DBHDS and that recovery residences, as a condition of such certification, comply with any minimum square footage requirements related to beds and sleeping rooms established by the credentialing entity, which shall be no less than the square footage requirements set forth in the Uniform Statewide Building Code. The bills require every person who operates a recovery residence to disclose to potential residents its credentialing entity. If the credentialing entity is the National Alliance for Recovery Residences, the bills require the recovery residence to disclose the level of support provided by the recovery residence and, if the credentialing entity is Oxford House, Inc., the bills require the recovery residence to disclose that the recovery residence is self-governed and unstaffed. The bills also require DBHDS to include such information on the list of all recovery residences maintained by the agency on its website. The bills exempt recovery residences from the provisions of the Virginia Landlord and Tenant Act. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
HOUSING/SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
Eviction Diversion Pilot Program – SB 24 (Locke) extends from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024 the expiration date of the Eviction Diversion Pilot Program. The bill also requires the Virginia Housing Commission to submit an interim report no later than November 30, 2022, and a final report no later November 30, 2023. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Social Determinants of Health data – HB 229 (Coyner) directs the Department of Health to collect and analyze information, including demographic data, regarding social determinants of health, defined in the bill, and their impact on health risks and health outcomes of residents of the Commonwealth, and to make information regarding social determinants of health, their impact on health, and strategies for addressing social determinants of health to improve health outcomes available to the public on its website. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
PAYER/INSURANCE
Definition of autism spectrum disorder – HB 225 (Coyner)/SB 321 (Vogel) provide that for the purposes of required health insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder, "autism spectrum disorder" means any pervasive developmental disorder or autism spectrum disorder, as defined in the most recent edition or the most recent edition at the time of diagnosis of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association and "medically necessary" means in accordance with the generally accepted standards of mental disorder or condition care and clinically appropriate in terms of type, frequency, site, and duration, based upon evidence and reasonably expected to do any of the following: (i) prevent the onset of an illness, condition, injury, or disability; (ii) reduce or ameliorate the physical, mental, or developmental effects of an illness, condition, injury, or disability; or (iii) assist to achieve or maintain maximum functional capacity in performing daily activities, taking into account both the functional capacity of the individual and the functional capacities that are appropriate for individuals of the same age. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Receipt of application for provider credentialling with health insurance carrier – HB 778 (Hodges)/SB 427 (Dunnavant) require the protocols and procedures for the reimbursement of new provider applicants that are established by a carrier that credentials providers in its network to require that the carrier provide recognition or notification of receipt of such applicant's credentialing application (i) electronically if the carrier uses an online credentialing system for new provider applicants or (ii) by mail or electronic mail, as selected by the applicant, within 10 days of receiving the application if the carrier does not use an online credentialing system. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Coverage for mental health and substance use disorder – SB 434 (Barker) requires the State Corporation Commission's Bureau of Insurance, in its report regarding denied claims, complaints, appeals, and network adequacy involving mental health and substance abuse disorder coverage, to include a summary of certain comparative analyses from health carriers related to mental health parity and an explanation of whether the analyses were considered compliant and any corrective actions required of the health carrier by the Bureau. The bill also changes the annual deadline for such report from September 1 to November 1. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
ID/DD
Work group to study options for permanent use of virtual supports and services – HB 990 (Runion)/SB 232 (Suetterlein) direct DMAS to continue the work group established to study and develop recommendations for the permanent use of virtual supports and increasing access to virtual supports and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by promoting access to assistive technology and environmental modifications and to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1, 2022. These bills were passed by the House and Senate and await action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
OTHER ISSUE AREAS
LPCs added to those able to disclose withholding of patient records – HB 242 (Adams, D) adds licensed professional counselors to the list of eligible providers who can disclose or recommend the withholding of patient records, face a malpractice review panel, and provide recommendations on involuntary temporary detention orders. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
ABA practitioners added to list of mandatory reporters – HB 751 (Bell) adds practitioners of behavior analysis to the list of individuals required to report suspected adult or child abuse or neglect. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Medicaid program information accessibility – HB 987 (Tran) directs DMAS to require every person that provides program information to ensure that all program information, defined in the bill, be made available in a manner that is accessible to (i) individuals with limited English proficiency through the provision of language access services, including oral interpretation and written translations, and (ii) individuals with disabilities through the provision of auxiliary aids services, when doing so is a reasonable step to providing meaningful access to health care coverage. The bill provides that language access services and auxiliary aids services shall be provided free of charge to such individuals and that information regarding how to receive the language access services and auxiliary aids services shall be included with program information documents on a website maintained by DMAS and on the website of every agency of the Commonwealth that disseminates program information. The bill also requires every person that makes program information available to use an objective readability measure approved by the Department to test the readability of its program information documents and requires such persons to make program information documents available to the Department for review upon request. Under current law, use of a specific readability formula is required and a minimum total readability score is prescribed. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Critically missing adult alert program definition – HB 1060 (Cordoza) expands the definition of "critically missing adult" to include any missing adult 18 years of age or older who has a developmental disability, intellectual disability, or mental illness for the purpose of receipt of critically missing adult reports by a police or sheriff's department and the Virginia Critically Missing Adult Alert Program administered by the Department of State Police. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
Mental health position created at Department of Veterans Services – HB 1203 (Tata) establishes the position of Suicide Prevention Coordinator (the Coordinator) in the Department of Veterans Services to support and closely coordinate effective mental health care services for military service members and veterans and their families. The bill directs the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services to report on the work of the Coordinator in its annual report to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, the Governor, and the General Assembly. This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. The Governor has until April 11, 2022, to sign, amend or veto this legislation.
To review the full tracker for the 2022 legislative session, click here.
The VACBP continues to actively work to advocate on behalf of our members as budget negotiations continue, with the special session planned for April 4 (see Governor’s statement on this below). For all the other bills awaiting action by the Governor, the legislature is scheduled to return to Richmond for the reconvened or “veto” session on April 27, 2022.
Dated: 11.03.2021 | VACBP Fall Conference Features Panel Discussion of 2022 Legislative Session Priorities
During the VACBP's Fall Conference, leaders of the Virginia Network of Private Providers (VNPP), Virginia Coalition of Provide Provider Associations (VCOPPA), Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA), Virginia Association of Health Plans (VAHP) and Voices for Virginia's Children joined with the VACBP to outlines priorities for the coming 2022 legislative session. Among the top priorities shared and discussed were:
To access the slides shared by the VACBP outlining its 2022 priorities, click here.
During the VACBP's Fall Conference, leaders of the Virginia Network of Private Providers (VNPP), Virginia Coalition of Provide Provider Associations (VCOPPA), Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA), Virginia Association of Health Plans (VAHP) and Voices for Virginia's Children joined with the VACBP to outlines priorities for the coming 2022 legislative session. Among the top priorities shared and discussed were:
- Continuation of the 12.5% rate increase in the budget for the coming fiscal years
- Investment in Virginia's community-based behavioral health services and rates, including to help providers manage the upcoming minimum wage increases
- Short-term solutions to bridge the gap between the current services and when Project BRAVO can be fully developed and implemented
- More fully leveraging the expertise of private- and public-sector providers
- Improving how providers and the Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) work together
- Requesting a JLARC study of DBHDS licensing
- Policy changes related to barrier crimes
- Virginia's reinsurance program
- Increasing the rates for dental care for Medicaid members
- Workforce development
To access the slides shared by the VACBP outlining its 2022 priorities, click here.
Advocacy Member Benefits
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VACBP Behavioral Health Improvement PACIn order to advance the VACBP's policy priorities, we need members of the General Assembly who understand and care about the issues that impact our industry. The VACBP Behavioral Health Improvement PAC provides an opportunity for providers to collectively provide financial support to those elected officials and candidates who are aligned with the VACBP’s policy priorities. Click below to learn more about our PAC and how you can get involved.
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Advocacy ACTION Alerts
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Overhaul of licensing regulations coming
DBHDS is currently working to overhaul the regulations that dictate how a provider operates, from governance, organizational structure, finances, employee records, orientation and training requirements, office hours, emergency preparedness, ownership succession, complaints and grievances, and much more. The VACBP is working hard to ensure the interests of providers are considered as the regulations are changed. Join our Advocacy Initiative to receive regular updates and to share your thoughts and concerns about the proposed changes. Overhaul of licensing regulations coming
DBHDS is currently working to overhaul the regulations that dictate how a provider operates, from governance, organizational structure, finances, employee records, orientation and training requirements, office hours, emergency preparedness, ownership succession, complaints and grievances, and much more. The VACBP is working hard to ensure the interests of providers are considered as the regulations are changed. Join our Advocacy Initiative to receive regular updates and to share your thoughts and concerns about the proposed changes. |
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Concerns with proposed guidance on requirements for 90 days of operating expenses shared (September 2019)
The VACBP’s primary concerns on the proposed interpretation of this requirement included how “projected revenue” is interpreted and the unreasonable requirement that cash/line-of-credit reserve be sequestered. To read the VACBP’s comments on this issue, click here. |
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Recommendations for DMAS rate study highlight need for investment in early intervention, higher rates and maintenance services (August 2019)
VACBP recommendations included a focus on increasing investment in early intervention and prevention services, development of rates that reflect the true cost to provide services, elimination of “rural” rates, development of a uniform assess rate across all community-based services and development of lower cost/lower intensity services that may be beneficial on a “maintenance” basis, leading to better health outcomes for certain patients and decreased overall costs that may otherwise come without some minimal level of support. To read the VACBP’s comments on this issue, click here. |