Two public health crises are simultaneously impacting the Commonwealth: the spread of the delta variant, and the increase in demand on Virginia’s behavioral health care system. As we collectively try to move forward, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to afflict individuals, communities, and health care workers.
It is more essential than ever that we have open, solution-focused dialogue about the present and future of behavioral health care in Virginia. As such, it was important to us that VHHA’s 2021 Virginia Behavioral Health Summit be free and open to anyone wishing to participate. Registration for “Coming out of Isolation: Our Next Normal” on September 23 is now open.
Earlier this year, we were excited to announce a new partnership between VHHA and the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia to identify and support healthcare leaders interested in improving civic and political discourse in their communities and the Commonwealth. We are pleased to congratulate the following VHHA members who have been accepted into the 2021 Political Leaders Program: Donna Littlepage (Carilion Clinic), Michael Elliott (Centra), Dr. Marc Shields (EyeOne), Nicole Tucker (LewisGale Hospital – Alleghany), and Andrew Slater (Northern Virginia Emergency Response System). The class of 2021 was selected from a large and competitive pool of applicants, and VHHA is proud to support these health care leaders through the partnership with the Sorensen Institute.
To our health care workers caring for communities across the Commonwealth: thank you.
--The VHHA Advocacy Team
Admissions Closures at State Psychiatric Hospitals
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated deficiencies in Virginia’s behavioral health care system, through shrinking community based-services, growing workforce shortages, and COVID-related capacity restrictions. On July 9, after years of warning that the agency was chronically underfunded, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) suspended admissions at five state hospitals, heightening the crisis.
Private community hospitals provide care to the vast majority of voluntary and involuntary behavioral health patients in inpatient settings and accept most temporary detention orders (TDOs), but acute care hospitals are primarily intended to provide short term care. Placing patients in need of long-term care in acute care hospitals is generally not feasible, nor clinically appropriate.
Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds provide a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Commonwealth to invest in the behavioral health care system. For years, investment in community-based behavioral health services for pre- and post-hospitalization care has been identified as a top priority for the Commonwealth, yet still significantly underfunded. It is imperative that any efforts to address state hospital capacity concurrently address needs across the continuum of care.
VHHA members have submitted proposals to address the current crisis, but their ability to provide these services is dependent on adequate and targeted funding and the hiring of qualified and skilled staff. Cumulative funding needs for the nine proposals amount to approximately $33 million. Virginia cannot afford to fall short on this immediate investment in the midst of this public health emergency.
What's Happening in Richmond?
Special Session on ARPA Funds in Progress
The Virginia General Assembly convened on August 2 for a special session to allocate funds the state received via the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The funds amount to $4.3 billion total, though citing concerns about the spread of the delta variant, Governor Ralph Northam and Democratic leadership have suggested they would like to save between $800 million and $1 billion for future use. Virginia has until 2024 to spend the funds.
The ARPA legislation defined broad parameters for use of the funds, and Governor Northam has prioritized several areas for significant, one-time investments, including broadband access, school improvement, and unemployment funding.
VHHA submitted, and continues to advocate for, several health care requests, the most significant being funding for hospitals’ pandemic-related expenses and VHHA members’ proposals to expand behavioral health care capacity. However, Democratic leadership in the General Assembly have indicated that they are not inclined to add funding not already included in the Governor’s introduced budget.
In response to the admissions closures at five of Virginia’s state psychiatric hospitals, Governor Northam has proposed funding to help alleviate the immediate crisis, including higher wages and bonuses for employees of those facilities and money to hire contract staff. While VHHA supports those initiatives, the Governor’s proposed budget fails to recognize the significant role of private hospitals, and the challenges they share with the state facilities. VHHA is in communication with the administration and DBHDS to try to secure funding for members’ proposals.
What's Happening in Washington, D.C.?
VOCA Fix Act Signed Into Law, Maternal Health Bills Moving through Congress
President Joe Biden has signed the VOCA Fix Act to rebuild the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Crime Victim Fund that supports costs associated with caring for survivors and their families, including medical expenses and wraparound services. Several Virginia hospitals in high-need areas receive these VOCA grants through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to maintain HVIPs that not only treat victims’ trauma, but help provide short-term safety and long-term solutions to prevent recurring violence. VHHA sent letters to Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine strongly urging support of this legislation.
Bipartisan maternal health legislation, supported by dozens of national health care and provider organizations including the American Hospital Association, has been passed by committees in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act would authorize grants to develop and disseminate best practices to improve maternal health quality and outcomes; accredited health professional schools to train health care professionals about perceptions and biases that may affect maternal health care; perinatal quality collaboratives to improve perinatal care and outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women and their infants; and states and trial organizations to provide integrated health care services to pregnant and postpartum women. The bill also includes provisions to improve rural maternal and obstetric care data collection and care networks, telehealth resources and training.
