Chief Patron: Hamilton
DMHMRSAS Restructuring & Reinvestment (language only)

Item 338 #1h

Language
Page 339, line 10, after "2.", insert "a."
Page 339, after line 22, insert:
"b. The regional reinvestment projects in this item do not shift financial responsibility to local governing bodies.  The Commonwealth retains its long-standing financial responsibility for acute inpatient public psychiatric services.  The Governor, in recommending future funding levels for the regional reinvestment projects, shall adjust for projected increases in patient volume and for medical inflation in order to avoid a cost shift to local governments.  The Commissioner shall also retain the current responsibilities set forth in the Code of Virginia for identifying and funding acute inpatient beds.
c. The Commissioner shall provide the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees annual information on the cost of purchasing private sector acute inpatient bed days.  This information shall include detailed justification for projected increases in private sector bed day costs.  Any balances remaining at the end of each fiscal year for these regional reinvestment projects shall be carried over to finance these projects in the next fiscal year and shall not revert to the general fund.  Any cost savings as a result of these regional reinvestment projects shall be retained in the same geographic region for improvement in community services for persons with mental disabilities.
d. The Commissioner, in cooperation with local Community Services Boards, shall establish an evaluation process for each regional reinvestment project.  The results of these evaluations shall be submitted annually to the Governor and Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees.  The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) shall specifically monitor the care provided to patients and residents participating in the regional reinvestment projects regardless of facility or program site.  The OIG findings and any recommendations for improving patient care shall be submitted annually to the Commissioner and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources."

Explanation
(This amendment clarifies language in the introduced budget regarding the reinvestment of facility funds into community mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services. Language is added to ensure adequate funding is available in the future from the Commonwealth to continue support for these community-based services. Language requires that the Commissioner of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services provide information to the Governor and the General Assembly on the cost of these services and evaluate the results. The Inspector General is required to monitor the care to patients served through these reinvestment projects. A companion amendment in Item 334, Grants to Localities, duplicates this language.)