Collaborative Plan for Loan Repayment for Behavioral Health Practitioners (language only)

Item 288 #2h

Language

Page 238, at the beginning of line 2, insert: "A."

Page 246, after line 42, insert:

"7.   The Virginia Department of Health shall collaborate with the Virginia Health Care Foundation and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the state teaching hospitals, and other relevant stakeholders on a plan to increase the number of Virginia behavioral health practitioners practicing in Virginia's community services boards, behavioral health authorities, state mental health facilities, free clinics, federally qualified health centers and other similar health safety net organizations through the use of a student loan repayment program. The program design shall address the need for behavioral health professionals in behavioral health shortage areas; the types of behavioral health practitioners needed across communities; the results of community health needs assessments that have been completed by hospitals, localities or other organizations; and shortages that may exist in high cost of living areas which may preclude individuals from choosing employment in public and non-profit community behavioral health and safety net organizations and state mental health facilities.  The program design shall include a preference for applicants who choose employment in underserved areas of the Commonwealth and contain conditions for recipients to practice in these areas for at least two years.  The program shall be implemented by the Virginia Department of Health.  The plan shall identify opportunities to leverage state funding for the program with funds from other sources in order to maximize the total funding for such a program. The plan shall determine how the program  can complement and coordinate with existing efforts to recruit and retain Virginia behavioral health practitioners.  The Virginia Department of Health shall report back on the plan, including projected utilization of such a program and estimated costs to implement such as program to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees and the Chairman of the Joint Subcommittee to Study Mental Health Services in the Twenty-First Century by November 1, 2016."