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2024 Special Session I

Budget Bill - HB6001 (Chapter 2)

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

Item 296

Item 296

First Year - FY2025Second Year - FY2026
Central Office Managed Community and Individual Health Services (44400)$178,884,498$146,488,012
Individual and Developmental Disability Services (44401)FY2025 $7,169,347FY2026 $7,169,347
Mental Health Services (44402)FY2025 $169,415,151FY2026 $137,018,665
Substance Abuse Services (44403)FY2025 $2,300,000FY2026 $2,300,000
Fund Sources:  
GeneralFY2025 $177,900,843FY2026 $145,504,357
SpecialFY2025 $983,655FY2026 $983,655

Authority: Title 16.1, Article 18, and Title 37.2, Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, and Title 2.2, Chapters 26 and 53 Code of Virginia; P.L. 102-119, Federal Code.


A. Out of this appropriation, $5,050,000 the first year and $5,050,000 the second year from the general fund shall be used for Developmental Disability Health Support Networks in regions served, or previously served, by Southside Virginia Training Center, Central Virginia Training Center, Northern Virginia Training Center, and Southwestern Virginia Training Center.


B. Out of this appropriation, $705,000 the first year and $705,000 the second year from the general fund shall be used to provide community-based services to individuals transitioning from state training centers to community settings who are not eligible for Medicaid.


C.1. Out of this appropriation, $27,722,785 the first year and $27,722,785 the second year from the general fund shall be used to address census issues at state facilities by providing community-based services for those individuals determined clinically ready for discharge or for the diversion of admissions to state facilities by purchasing acute inpatient or community-based psychiatric services.


2. Out of this appropriation, $2,500,000 the first year and $2,500,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the development or acquisition of clinically appropriate housing options to provide comprehensive community-based care for individuals in state hospitals who have complex and resource-intensive needs who have been clinically determined able to move from a hospital to a more integrated setting. In addition to the funds in this Item, $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year from the general fund is provided in Item 295 of this Act for a community support team to assist housing providers in addressing the complex needs of residents who have been discharged from state facilities or individuals who are at risk of institutionalization.


D. Out of this appropriation, $770,000 the first year and $770,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to improve clinical and financial tracking of Discharge Assistance Planning funds and Local Inpatient Purchase of Services funds through the purchase of an information technology solution.


E. Out of this appropriation, $14,522,552 the first year and $14,522,552 the second year from the general fund shall be provided for alternative transportation for adults and children under a temporary detention order or involuntary commitment order and for a program of alternative custody for individuals under a temporary detention order or involuntary commitment order who are awaiting transport to an inpatient bed. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, in consultation with local law enforcement, community services boards, and other stakeholders as appropriate, shall implement a plan to provide alternative custody options for individuals under temporary detention orders or involuntary commitment orders to reduce the length of time law enforcement resources are involved and improve patient outcomes. The department may contract with private contractors, enter into agreements with local law enforcement organizations, contract with Community Services Boards, or use other methods as necessary to implement the program. The department shall report to the Governor and Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees on the effectiveness and outcomes of the program funding by October 1 of each year.


F. Out of this appropriation, $1,150,000 the first year and $1,150,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided for costs of transporting individuals from state behavioral health facilities to their homes after being discharged from such facility as a result from an admission under a temporary detention order.


G. Out of this appropriation, $14,785,488 the first year and $14,785,488 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to contract with the Virginia Mental Health Access Program to develop integrated mental health services for children.


H. Out of this appropriation, $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year from the general fund shall be used to purchase and distribute additional REVIVE! kits.


I. Out of this appropriation, $7,600,000 in the first year and $7,600,000 the second year from the general fund shall be used to address census issues at state facilities by providing community-based services for children and adolescents determined clinically ready for discharge or for the diversion of admissions of children and adolescents to state facilities by purchasing acute inpatient services, step-down services, or community-based services as an alternative to inpatient care.


J. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall post its annual federal State Targeted Response Report and State Opioid Response (SOR) Report on its website no later than December 31 of each year. The report will describe the amount of any grants received from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as part of any State Opioid Response grant funding, and shall provide information on how the funds are distributed among programs, the number of individuals served if available, and any available outcome-based data specific to treatment engagement and impact on access.


K. Out of this appropriation, $89,396 the first year and $89,396 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to contract with the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes to expand the Transitioning Youth program for individuals with developmental disability who are aging out and exiting the school system in Loudoun County.


L.1. Out of this appropriation, $1,950,000 the first year and $1,950,000 the second year is provided to make grants to members of the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences (VARR) for recovery support services. The association must ensure that members accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Peer Recovery Support Services (CAPRSS) receive a share of these funds. VARR will comply in a timely manner with all requirements of the agreement entered into between VARR and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services as a result of this appropriation. Any violations of the agreement shall be reported to the Chairs of House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees within thirty days of their occurrence. VARR shall report monthly to the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services providing financial and operational documentation for services provided, including documentation and services provided by Oxford Homes. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall report annually to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees by August 1 on the distribution and use of the funds authorized in this paragraph.


2. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall monitor credentialed recovery homes for regulatory compliance and consult with the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences to keep the agency's public website's list of credentialed recovery homes up to date.


3. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services may expand the buildout of recovery residences by initiating a bidding process by entity to ensure coverage across the Commonwealth for this support service.


M.1. Out of this appropriation, $3,547,000 the first year and $3,547,000 the second year from the general fund shall be used to support the diversion and discharge of individuals with a diagnosis of dementia. Priority shall be given to those individuals who would otherwise be served by state facilities.


2. Of the amounts in M.1., $2,820,000 the first year and $2,820,000 the second year shall be used to establish contracts to support the diversion and discharge into private settings of individuals with a diagnosis of dementia.


3. Of the amounts in M.1., $727,000 the first year and $727,000 the second year shall be used for mobile crisis program targeted for individuals with a diagnosis of dementia.


N. Out of this appropriation, $1,650,000 the first year and $1,650,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for pilot programs for individuals with dementia or geriatric individuals who may otherwise be admitted to a state facility.


O. Out of this appropriation, $7,535,122 the first year and $7,535,122 the second year from the general fund is provided to divert admissions from state hospitals by purchasing acute inpatient or community-based psychiatric services at private facilities. This funding shall be allocated to Community Services Boards and a Behavioral Health Authority for such purpose in an efficient and effective manner so as not to disrupt local service contracts and to allow for expeditious reallocation of unspent funding between Community Services Boards and a Behavioral Health Authority.


P.1. Out of this appropriation, $13,500,000 the first year and $13,500,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to pursue alternative inpatient options to state behavioral health hospital care or to increase capacity in the community for patients on the Extraordinary Barriers List through projects that will reduce census pressures on state hospitals. Proposals shall be evaluated on: (i) the expected impact on state hospital bed use, including the impact on the extraordinary barrier list; (ii) the speed by which the project can become operational; (iii) the start-up and ongoing costs of the project; (iv) the sustainability of the project without the use of ongoing general funds; (v) the alignment between the project target population and the population currently being admitted to state hospitals; and (vi) the applicant's history of success in meeting the needs of the target population. No project shall be allocated more than $2,500,000 each year. Projects may include public-private partnerships, to include contracts with private entities. The department shall give preference to projects that serve individuals who would otherwise be admitted to a state hospital operated by DBHDS, that can be rapidly implemented, and provide the best long-term outcomes for patients. Consideration may be given to regional projects addressing comprehensive psychiatric emergency services, complex medical and neuro-developmental needs of children and adolescents receiving inpatient behavioral health services, and addressing complex medical needs of adults receiving inpatient behavioral health services.


2. Of the amounts in P.1., $1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000 the second year may be utilized to pursue a pilot program to support the discharge of private hospital patients at risk of transfer to state mental health hospitals. The department shall prioritize assistance to patients who can be diverted from state hospital admission through discharge training, planning consultation, and/or one-time financial assistance. Financial assistance from this program shall only be provided as a method of last resort to assist in re-entry to the community.


3. Of the amounts in P.1., $5,000,000 the first year and $5,000,000 the second year may be used to pursue alternative options to state behavioral health hospital care for patients designated as forensic who are admitted to, or at risk of admission to, state hospitals to reduce census pressures on state hospitals.


4. Of the amounts in P.1., $6,000,000 the first year and $6,000,000 the second year shall be used for discharge assistance planning for individuals on the Extraordinary Barriers List to increase capacity in the community for such individuals. The department may, but is not limited to, pursue options such as placements in specialized group homes, assisted living facilities, and other models that provide support to an individual and stabilization in the community to help prevent rehospitalization.


Q. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services is authorized to enter into a contract for use of up to eight beds of a 20-bed acute, inpatient psychiatric unit at Chesapeake Regional Healthcare for state purposes to increase diversion from state mental health hospitals. The department shall begin developing the contract after Chesapeake Regional Healthcare starts construction of the 20-bed acute, inpatient psychiatric unit. As part of the contracting process, the department shall develop an estimate of the potential cost savings of diversion from state hospital beds that could occur with use of the eight beds and provide an estimated annual state contribution to support Chesapeake Regional Healthcare. The department shall execute the contract contingent on an appropriation by the General Assembly. The department shall report to the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees by December 1 of each year on the status of the contract and any state contribution that has been estimated.


R. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services is authorized to accept unsolicited proposals from private providers to establish a pilot project for the purpose of acquiring clinically appropriate housing options for individuals on the Extraordinary Barriers List or to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations for appropriate individuals to address census issues at state facilities.


S. Out of this appropriation, $64,845,204 the first year and $42,448,718 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to expand and modernize the comprehensive crisis services system, including, but not limited to, investment in additional crisis receiving centers, crisis stabilization units, enhancements to existing sites, and pharmacy improvements. Out of this appropriation, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall award and provide $2,250,000 the first year and $2,250,000 the second year from the general fund to support the Prince William County Youth Crisis Receiving Center. Any amounts remaining unexpended at year end shall be reappropriated in the subsequent fiscal year for this purpose.


T. Out of this appropriation, $8,000,000 the first year and $8,000,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for supervised residential care for 100 individuals. The department shall give priority to projects that prioritize individuals on the state's extraordinary barriers list. Projects may include public-private partnerships, to include contracts with private entities. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, contracts entered into pursuant to this paragraph shall be exempt from competition as otherwise required by the Virginia Public Procurement Act, §§ 2.2-4300 through 2.2-4377, Code of Virginia. The Department shall report quarterly on projects awarded with details on each project and its projected impact on the state's extraordinary barriers list. The report shall be submitted to the Chairs of House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee no later than 30 days after each quarter ends.


U. Out of this appropriation, $10,000,000 the first year from the general fund is provided for the one-time costs of establishing additional mobile crisis services in underserved areas.


V. Out of this appropriation, $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to contract with Specially Adapted Resources Clubs (SPARC) to support essential day programs for adults with profound disabilities.


W. Out of this appropriation, $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to contract with On Our Own, a peer recovery center and supportive community that serves the community at no charge.


X. Out of this appropriation, $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to fund clients assigned to participate in the Bridge Behavioral Health program.