CHAPTER 364
An Act to direct the Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Resources to establish a work group to study the current process for approval of residential psychiatric services. Report.
[H 728]
Approved March 18, 2020
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. That the Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Resources shall establish a work group to consist of the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Superintendent of Public Education, the Director of Medical Assistance Services, the Commissioner of Social Services, and the Director of the Office of Children's Services, or their designees, and representatives of hospitals providing services to children and adolescents, providers of residential psychiatric services for children and adolescents, community services boards, and behavioral health advocacy groups to (i) review the current process for approval of residential psychiatric placements and barriers to timely approval of residential psychiatric services for adolescents and children, (ii) develop recommendations for improving such process and ensuring timely approval of residential psychiatric placements and services for adolescents and children, and (iii) develop recommendations for a process to expedite approval of requests for residential psychiatric placements and services for adolescents and children who are receiving acute inpatient psychiatric services. The Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Director of Medical Assistance Services shall serve as co-chairs of the work group. The work group shall report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, and the Joint Subcommittee to Study Mental Health Services in the Commonwealth in the 21st Century by December 1, 2020.