Showing posts with label Creigh Deeds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Creigh Deeds. Show all posts

Friday, September 12, 2014

Virginia Leaders Applaud Governor McAuliffe’s Bold Efforts to Expand Health Care Services to 200,000 Virginians

Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds (Democrati...
Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Governor McAuliffe launched A Healthy Virginiaa 10-step plan to expand health care services to over 200,000 Virginians. This plan is an unprecedented action by any governor in Virginia history and includes authorizations of four emergency regulations, one executive order, and innovative and creative solutions to expand healthcare to Virginia veterans, children, and families.

This plan has received praise from leaders across the Commonwealth:
  
Senator Don McEachin, Henrico:

“I commend Gov. McAuliffe for his plan to ensure that many more Virginians have access to quality, affordable health care. His plan makes crucial improvement to our broken status quo — changes that will help veterans, children, and families. The governor has given House Republicans a strong foundation on which to build when we reconvene. For months now, they have promised a plan. It is time for them to deliver.”

Senator Louise Lucas, Portsmouth:
                                                    
“Today is a tremendous step forward in health care for Virginia communities. I want to thank and praise Governor McAuliffe for his continuous efforts to make this plan happen. Now hundreds of thousands of Virginians will become healthier and live more prosperous lives.”

Senator Creigh Deeds, Bath:

“Governor McAuliffe has taken bold steps forward in assuring that Virginians with mental illnesses are not forgotten. I commend the Governor in helping craft a solution that will address the needs of the mental health community and ensure that many Virginians have the help they need.


“I want to applaud Governor McAuliffe for his strong leadership and commitment to expanding access to healthcare to all Virginians. The steps he outlined today are bold moves that will help the lives of hundreds of thousands of our citizens. It is my sincere hope that now House Republicans will understand it is their responsibility to come to the table during the September 18th Special Session and actually find a pathway forward to close the coverage gap.”

Delegate Ken Plum, Fairfax:

“Governor McAuliffe has shown to Virginians that health care is a fundamental right through the A Healthy Virginia report presented today. His unwavering support to increase access for 200,000 of our Commonwealth’s residents is a testament to delivering on the promise he made when he took the oath of office back in January. The responsibility now falls in the hands of the General Assembly to put politics aside, and do what is right for those Virginians that are struggling every single day.”

Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn, Fairfax:

Governor McAuliffe has established himself as a leader when it comes to healthcare in the Commonwealth. I want to thank him for his efforts to put Virginia families first, and allowing thousands of individuals to have access to quality health care. This is a vital component to building a new Virginia economy and creating new jobs across the region.”
Delegate Sam Rasoul, Roanoke City:
"I am delighted to hear that the Governor has launched A Healthy Virginia. Here in Roanoke and throughout the Commonwealth, there are people who need better access to medical services. These innovative measures will be a tremendous help to our children, veterans, and families. By keeping all of our citizens healthy, we can stay on the pathway to a better Virginia."
Dana Schrad, Executive Director, Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police
“I would like to commend Governor McAuliffe for his commitment to making Virginia communities healthier and safer. The Governor's strong leadership on issues related to mental health and reducing deaths from prescription drug and heroin abuse are bold steps forward. We look forward to working with the Governor on making all Virginia communities better places to live and work.”

Doris Crouse-Mays, President, Virginia AFL-CIO

“Hundreds of thousands of Virginians will benefit from the Governor’s bold actions today. Now the General Assembly has an obligation to continue this important work so that every Virginian can reap the benefits of bringing our tax dollars home to keep people healthy, create jobs and build a new Virginia economy.”

Cianti Stewart-Reid, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia:
“Today the Governor continued to make good on his promise to do everything he can to get Virginians access to quality health care. This plan is an unprecedented step toward keeping our friends and neighbors healthy. I hope House Republicans will take this opportunity to come back to the table and build upon the Governor’s strong effort.”
Tram Nguyen, Co-Executive Director, Virginia New Majority:

“I commend Governor McAuliffe on putting a plan forward that will get hundreds of thousands of Virginians access to health care that they need. This is a tremendous step in the right direction, and I hope Republicans in the General Assembly will finally work in good faith to close the coverage gap.”

Brian Devine, Director of Online Programs, ProgressVA:

“I want to thank Governor McAuliffe for taking these vital steps forward to ensure that Virginians across the Commonwealth can get health coverage they need and deserve. It is time for House Republicans to step up to the plate for Virginia families, and bring our tax dollars home to benefit our neighbors and communities.”





Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Governor McDonnell to Propose New Mental Health Funding and Issues Executive Order 68

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167 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Targeted Funding of More Than $38 Million to Improve Mental Health Crises Response and Build Critical Services to Help Prevent Crises from Developing
Executive Order 68 Establishes the Task Force on Improving Mental Health Services and Crisis Response


RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell announced budget proposals today to expand crisis response and crisis prevention services for Virginia’s behavioral health system. The governor’s proposals would infuse $38.3 million over the biennium into critical mental health and substance-use disorder programs.  Separately, funding at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for the Department of Justice ID/DD settlement plus related DMAS resources, a total of $95.8 million, will be provided during the next biennium.  Governor McDonnell also announced through Executive Order 68 the convening of a Task Force on Improving Mental Health Services and Crisis Response.  The Task Force calls for leaders in the mental health field, law enforcement communities, the judicial system and private hospitals along with individuals receiving mental health services and their families to seek and recommend solutions that will improve Virginia’s mental health crisis services and help prevent crises from developing.

            Speaking about the proposals, Governor McDonnell said, “Over the years, including the events of April 16, 2007, Virginians have experienced tremendous heartache as a result of mental health tragedies.  These experiences serve to underline the need to ensure that all individuals and families experiencing mental health crises have access to the needed services without delay. Working together with the General Assembly we have made progress, but there is much more to do. It has become clear that Virginia’s mental health system can sometimes be difficult to navigate for families seeking assistance, or even for workers inside the system.  While there are quality services in place to address most types of mental health needs, we must increase the capacity and availability of those services in all Virginia communities so that every person in crisis is able to receive much-needed help. Simultaneously, we must look for ways to expand the availability of ongoing treatment and support services that will prevent mental health crises. This significant and strategic investment of funds and Executive Order 68 are substantial steps forward to making critical mental health improvements.  I’m pleased to report that Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe is fully supportive of these changes and investments, and will continue the Executive Order Task Force during his term.”

The governor and the General Assembly have been working during strained economic times to make targeted and impactful investments to improve critical mental health services across Virginia. Expanded programs include funding for child psychiatry and children’s crisis response services, crisis intervention team (CIT) programs, crisis stabilization services and discharge assistance programs. In addition, funds were added to restore and stabilize state hospital bed capacity at Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute and Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute. Finally, as part of the Governor’s School and Campus Safety Task Force, expansions were made to mental health first aid programs, secure assessment centers and suicide prevention efforts.

            The Governor’s budget provides the following funding for mental health efforts:

Mental Health Crisis Response Improvements

·         Provide for Emergency Custody Order (ECO) extension – Negligible funding is needed to add an optional two hour extension that can be ordered by a magistrate only after clinical determination of need for TDO and only if a bed has not been found within the maximum ECO period to permit additional time to complete the bed search phase.  Virginia’s current maximum ECO period is six hours.  
·         Provide for Temporary Detention Order (TDO) extension to 72 hours – $1,300,000 in FY 2015 and $1,600,000 in FY 2016 to provide for TDO extension that extends the TDO period from the current 48 hours to 72 hours (with a 24-hour minimum).                
·         Expand availability of secure crisis intervention team (CIT) assessment centers – $1,800,000 in FY 2015 and $3,600,000 in FY 2016 to allow a person to be held safely for evaluation and finding a bed without tying up law enforcement personnel.   This funding would support six centers in FY2015 and 12 in FY2016. 
·         Maintain current adult capability at Eastern State Hospital (ESH) – $5,000,000 each year to maintain current adult capability at ESH.  This will enable ESH to avoid a loss of bed capacity due to the reduction of Medicaid revenues related to the need to serve fewer geriatric patients.
·         Expand adult bed capacity at ESH in FY 2015 – $2,200,000 each year to prevent loss of adult capacity by opening a vacant geriatric 20 bed unit to accommodate adult civil and forensic patients in the catchment area.    
·         Ensure operational supports for new Western State Hospital (WSH) facility – $670,000 in FY 2015 and $690,000 in FY 2016 to provide operational supports for the new WSH facility.

Behavioral Health Treatment and Support Services

·         Expand mental health outpatient services – $3,500,000 in FY 2015 and $4,000,000 in FY 2016 for mental health services for older teens and young adults transitioning from school, college, or early in their adulthood when most serious mental illnesses first make their    onset, and engagement in treatment is imperative.  This item was recommended by the Governor’s Task Force on School and Campus Safety.
·         Expand Program Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) programs – $950,000 in FY 2015 and $1,900,000 in FY 2016 to provide intensive clinical outreach and support to persons with serious and persistent mental illness to reduce crises and hospitalization. Virginia currently has 19 PACT programs. 
·         Expand telepsychiarty capacity – $1,100,000 in FY 2015 and $620,000 in FY 2016 for new telecommunication equipment to allow community services boards to conduct clinical evaluations offsite and more rapidly. 
·         Peer Support Recovery – $550,000 in FY 2015 and $1,000,000 in FY 2016 to provide support to people with behavioral health needs by people who are themselves in recovery from such problems and are trained as peer providers.
·         Substance Abuse Community Recovery Program – $300,000 each year for the community recovery program which combats substance use disorders through employment and long-term recovery.

The Task Force’s responsibilities shall include the following:

·         Recommend refinements and clarifications of protocols and procedures for community services boards, state hospital, law enforcements and receiving hospitals.
·         Review for possible expansion of the programs and services that assure prompt response to individuals in mental health crises and their families such as emergency services teams, law enforcement crisis intervention teams (CIT),  secure assessment centers, mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization centers and mental health first aid.
·         Examine possible extensions or adjustments to the emergency custody order and the temporary detention order period.
·         Explore technological resources and capabilities, equipment, training and procedures to maximize the use of telepsychiatry.
·         Examine the cooperation that exists between the courts, law enforcement and mental health systems in communities that have incorporated crisis intervention teams and cross systems mapping.
·         Assess the availability of psychiatric beds in Virginia, the assessment process hospitals use to select which patients are appropriate for those beds, and to explore whether psychiatric bed registries and/or census management teams improve the process for locating beds.
·         Review for possible expansion those services that will provide ongoing support for individuals with mental illness and reduce the frequency and intensity of mental health crises. These services may include rapid, consistent access to outpatient treatment and psychiatric services, as well as critical supportive services such as wrap-around stabilizing services, peer support services, programs of assertive community treatment, housing, employment and case management.
·         Recommend legislative and budget proposals that will enable implementation of the above.
·         Recommend how families and friends of a loved one facing a mental health crisis can be taught to improve the environment and safety of an individual in crisis.
·         Examine workforce development activities and recommend any improvements to ensure an adequate mental health workforce.

The Task Force shall be co-chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Secretary of Public Safety.

Membership shall include the following individuals or representatives:

·         The Attorney General of Virginia or his representative
·         Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia or her representative
·         Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
·         Commissioner of the Department of Social Services
·         Superintendent of the Virginia State Police
·         At least three community services board emergency services directors
·         At least three law enforcement officers, including at least one sheriff   
·         At least two executive directors of community services boards
·         At least two magistrates
·         At least two private hospital emergency department physicians
·         At least two psychiatrists
·         At least one representative of a state mental health facility
·         At least two representatives from Virginia’s private hospital system
·         At least two individuals receiving mental health services
·         At least two family members of individuals receiving services
·         Two members of the House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia

The Governor may appoint other members as he deems necessary.

           More information on the Governor McDonnell’s Executive Order 68 to create the 
Task Force on Improving Mental Health Services and Crisis Response will be available online at http://www.governor.virginia.gov/PolicyOffice/ExecutiveOrders/ later today.
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