Authority: Title 37.1, Chapter 10, Code of Virginia.
A. It is the intent of the General Assembly that community mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services are to be improved throughout the state. Funds provided in this Item shall not be used to supplant the funding effort provided by localities for services existing as of June 30, 1996.
B. Further, it is the intent of the General Assembly that funds appropriated for this Item may be used by Community Services Boards to purchase, develop, lease, or otherwise obtain, in accordance with § 37.1-197, Code of Virginia, real property necessary to the provision of residential services funded by this Item.
C. Out of the appropriation for this Item, funds are provided to Community Services Boards in an amount sufficient to reimburse the Virginia Housing Development Authority for principal and interest payments on residential projects for the mentally disabled financed by the Housing Authority.
D. The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services shall make payments to the Community Services Boards from this Item in twenty-four equal semimonthly installments, except for necessary budget revisions or the operational phase-in of new programs.
E. Failure of a board to participate in Medicaid covered services and to meet all requirements for provider participation shall result in the termination of a like amount of state grant support.
F. Community Services Boards may establish a line of credit loan for up to three months' operating expenses to assure adequate cash flow.
G. Out of the appropriation for this Item, $216,500 the first year and $216,500 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to continue the Keeping Our Kids At Home program in the Roanoke Valley, to contract with community providers for short-term crisis hospitalization of children and adolescents.
H. Out of the appropriation for this Item, the department shall initiate statewide Programs of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) to provide services to adults with serious mental illnesses in the community, in order to reduce hospitalizations.
I. Out of the appropriation for this Item, $750,000 the first year and $750,000 the second year from the general fund shall be used to develop pilot projects in areas that have high concentrations of adult care residences. The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, in cooperation with the Department of Social Services, shall design the projects to identify and provide the appropriate treatment and support for persons with mental illness, mental retardation, or substance abuse problems who reside in adult care residences. The department shall ensure that the pilot projects are designed to provide a variety of service models, including the provision of services within the community and within the adult care residence. The department shall evaluate the implementation of the pilot projects and measure project outcomes.
J. Out of this appropriation $200,000 in the first year and $200,000 in the second year from the general fund shall be provided to Grafton School for the continued operation and expansion of the Virginia Autism Resource Center.
K.1. Out of this appropriation, $7,203,366 in the first year and $7,203,366 the second year from the general fund shall be provided for Virginia's Part C Early Intervention System for infants and toddlers with disabilities.
2. By October 1 of each year, the department shall report to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees on the (a) total revenues used to support Part C services, (b) total expenses for all Part C services, (c) total number of infants, toddlers and families served using all Part C revenues, and (d) services provided to those infants, toddlers, and families.
L. The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services and the Department of Rehabilitative Services shall assist the Cumberland Mountain Community Services Board in developing a management and funding plan for employment programs provided to disabled persons.
M. Out of this appropriation, $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year from nongeneral funds shall be provided to the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority to continue a substance abuse treatment program that allows substance-abusing women to remain with their children during treatment.
N. Out of this appropriation $6,625,000 the first year and $6,625,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided for mental health services for children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances and related disorders. The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services shall provide these funds to Community Services Boards through the annual Performance Contract. These funds shall be used exclusively for children and adolescents, not mandated for services under the Comprehensive Services Act for At-Risk Youth, who are identified and assessed through the Family and Assessment Planning Teams and approved by the Community Policy and Management Teams of the localities. The department shall provide these funds to the Community Services Boards based on an individualized plan of care methodology.
O. Out of this appropriation, the expenditure of $2,625,000 the first year and $2,625,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided for the placement of three additional programs of assertive community treatment (PACT).
P. Out of this Item, $5,260,000 the first year and $5,260,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided for 77 individualized mental health discharge assistance plans.
Q. Out of this Item, $2,800,000 the first year and $2,800,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided for increased mental health inpatient treatment purchased in community hospitals.
R. Out of this appropriation, $2,000,000 the first year and $2,000,000 the second year from the general fund shall be used to fund four demonstration projects using evidence-based “systems of care” models for children and adolescents with behavioral health needs. The Commissioner may allocate up to $100,000 of this appropriation in each year for an evaluation of the pilot projects.
S. Out of this appropriation, no less than $8,528,568 the first year and $8,528,568 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to maintain and expand access to crisis intervention and stabilization units. Funds shall be used to expand existing crisis stabilization sites as well as establish additional units.
T. Out of this appropriation, $2,880,000 the first year and $2,880,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to fund discharge assistance plans for civil patients and patients found not guilty by reason of insanity who have been identified as ready for discharge and who need specialized support not currently available through the Community Services Boards.
U. Out of this appropriation, $6,575,000 the first year and $6,575,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to increase available community-based services for individuals served by Health Planning Regions I and II. These funds shall be used for discharge assistance planning, inpatient mental health treatment, in-home residential support, crisis stabilization and other related mental health services intended to delay or deter placement in a state mental health facility. When allocating funds in Health Planning Region II, consideration shall be given, to the extent feasible, to projects that are designed to provide specialized geriatric mental health services that allow individuals to be served in their home communities.
V. Out of this appropriation, $4,796,640 the first year and $6,928,540 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to increase available community-based services for individuals otherwise served by Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg. These funds shall be used for discharge assistance planning, inpatient mental health treatment, in-home residential support, crisis stabilization and other related mental health services intended to delay or deter placement in a state mental health facility.
W. Out of this appropriation, $3,750,000 the first year and $3,750,000 the second year from the general fund shall be used to increase the availability of targeted community-based services statewide. Such services may include, but are not limited to, discharge assistance planning, inpatient mental health treatment, in-home residential support, jail-based hospital diversion projects, psychiatric evaluation and crisis counseling and expanded case management services.
X. Out of this appropriation, $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year from the general fund shall be used to provide expanded mental health services to juveniles detained in local community detention centers. Funds shall be allocated to Community Services Boards for local and regional detention centers based upon Memoranda of Understanding between the detention superintendent and the executive director of the local community services board or behavioral health authority that will provide the services. Memoranda shall specify the expected types of services, as well as estimated workloads. The Department shall review and approve each memorandum to ensure consistency and shall allocate funding based upon the projected levels of services to be provided.
Y. Out of this appropriation, $720,000 the first year and $1,341,000 the second year from the general fund shall be used to provide guardianship services to individuals currently residing in, or at risk of placement in, a state mental retardation training center.
Z. Out of the amounts appropriated in Item 302, Paragraph C.2., $3,667,040 the first year and $6,829,862 the second year from the general fund and $3,667,040 the first year and $6,829,862 the second year from nongeneral funds shall be provided to increase the number of slots available for the Mental Retardation Home and Community-Based Waiver Program. The funds shall be used to provide 80 slots in the first year and a total of 149 slots the second year for individuals currently residing at Southeastern Virginia Training Center or Central Virginia Training Center who have been determined to be ready for discharge and have chosen to be served in the community.
AA. Out of the amounts appropriated in Item 302, Paragraph C.2., $3,826,125 the first year and $6,630,408 the second year from the general fund and $3,826,125 the first year and $6,630,408 the second year from nongeneral funds to increase the number of slots available for the Mental Retardation Home and Community-based Waiver Program. The funds shall be used to provide 115 new slots in the first year and a total of 214 slots the second year for individuals living in the community and at risk of placement in a mental retardation training center.
BB. Out of the amounts appropriated in Item 302, Paragraph XX., $17,355,007 the first year and $17,355,007 the second year from the general fund and $17,355,007 the first year and $17,355,007 the second year from nongeneral funds shall be used to increase reimbursement rates paid to providers delivering unique services provided through the Mental Retardation Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities Support or Day Support Home and Community-Based Waiver Programs (but not provided in other waiver programs) by five percent effective July 1, 2006. Reimbursement rates paid to providers of congregate residential group home services for individuals in the Mental Retardation Home and Community-Based Waiver Program shall be increased by 10 percent, effective July 1, 2006. The increase does not apply to personal care and related services, nursing services or services that are either fixed price or determined through individual consideration.
CC. Out of this appropriation, $900,000 the first year and $552,000 the second year from the general fund shall be used for start-up funding for the establishment of community residential or day support services to support the Mental Retardation Home and Community-Based Waiver Program. The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services shall manage the distribution of these funds to Community Services Boards to support public and private sector implementation of service plans for individuals enrolled for those services under the expanded community or facility waivers.
DD. The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services shall report on a quarterly basis to the Office of the Governor, the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, and the Department of Planning and Budget on expanded community-based services made available in paragraphs R through CC of this item. The report shall include the types and settings of services provided, the number of individuals served, the number of individuals placed in the community through the Mental Retardation Home and Community-Based Waiver Program, reduction in census at state facilities related to proposed facility replacements, changes in staffing at facilities that are proposed for replacement, and progress made in the construction of replacement facilities.
EE. Out of this appropriation, $534,000 each year from the general fund shall be provided to implement two model projects with community services boards for opioid treatment expansion in one rural and one urban region. The projects shall be designed to improve the availability of treatment and integrate buprenorphine therapy into the region's continuum of care for opioid addiction. The department shall evaluate the results of these projects for improving treatment outcomes and improving key performance indicators, such as recruitment, retention and maintenance of treatment effects for individuals served by the projects. The department shall report the results of the projects to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees no later than November 1, 2007.