Authority: §§ 3.2-5206 through 3.2-5216, 32.1-11.3 through 32.1-23, 35.1-1 through 35.1-7, and 35.1-9 through 35.1-28, Code of Virginia.
A. Out of this appropriation, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided for agency costs related to onboarding to ConnectVirginia, transition costs to convert the agency's node on ConnectVirginia to the state agency node, and provide support to other state agencies in their onboarding efforts.
B.1. The Emergency Department Care Coordination Advisory Council (ED Council), under the department's governance and direction shall: advise the State Health Commissioner regarding the operation of, changes to, and outcome measures for the Emergency Department Care Coordination Program (EDCC) for the purpose of improving the quality of patient care services. The ED Council shall include representatives from the following, as required in the ED Council Bylaws; the Commonwealth, hospitals & health systems, health plans, and providers.
2. Neither the department nor its contractor shall be obligated to enhance or expand the program without HITECH Act funds or alternative funds.
3. The department, in coordination with the ED Council, shall report annually to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees on progress, including, but not limited to: (i) the participation rate of hospitals and health systems, providers and subscribing health plans; (ii) strategies for sustaining the program and methods to continue to improve care coordination; and (iii) the impact on health care utilization and quality goals such as reducing the frequency of visits by high-volume Emergency Department utilizers and avoiding duplication of health care services.
C. Inpatient hospitals shall report the admission source of any individuals meeting the criteria for voluntary or involuntary psychiatric commitment as outlined in § 16.1-338, 16.1-339, 16.1-340.1, 16.1-345, 37.2-805, 37.2-809, or 37.2-904, Code of Virginia, to the Board of Health. The Board shall collect and share any and all data regarding the admission source of individuals admitted to inpatient hospitals as a psychiatric patient, pursuant to § 32.1-276.6, Code of Virginia, with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
D. The Virginia Department of Health shall report a detailed accounting, annually, of the agency's organization and operations. This report shall include an organizational chart that shows all full- and part-time positions (by job title) employed by the agency as well as the current management structure and unit responsibilities. The report shall also provide a summary of organization changes implemented over the previous year. The report shall be made available on the department's website by August 15 of each year.
E. The State Health Commissioner shall establish a task force to assist with the promulgation of regulations and the certification process of doulas, as well as to serve as an informational resource for policy related matters for the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). The task force will include private provider organizations such as Birth in Color RVA, Urban Baby Beginnings, Motherhood Collective and any other organization or agency representatives deemed appropriate by VDH.
F. Out of this appropriation, $557,010 the first year and $557,010 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to establish the Office of Grants Administration. The office shall collaborate with Virginia Department of Health programs for the coordination of grant proposals, tracking the status of current grant awards and grant funded positions, providing training on grant administration, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. The Department shall provide a report on the status of current grants, which shall include the grantor and grant name, award amount, duration, expenditure data, number of grant funded positions, and commitment of state funds to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, and the Director, Department of Planning and Budget by October 15 each year.
G.1. On or before November 1, 2024, the Virginia Department of Health shall review the financial and operational status of the agency, including a review of each program area. This review shall include, at a minimum, an assessment of budget, fiscal, procurement, human resources, and grant management functions. In addition, the review shall identify all measures that have been put in place to ensure adequate central oversight and internal controls. The department shall develop and implement a corrective action plan for any organizational deficiencies uncovered during this review. The State Health Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Health shall provide the results of the review to the Director, Department of Planning and Budget and the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees by November 15, 2024.
2. The Virginia Department of Health shall conduct a quarterly review of each program area to ensure that projected spending is on track to not exceed its total appropriation. The Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Health shall provide a quarterly update including, no later than 30 days after the end of each quarter, a status report on program spending that indicates whether spending is consistent with the available appropriation to the Director, Department of Planning and Budget and the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees.
H. The Virginia Department of Health shall inventory all fees collected by the agency for its operations. The Department shall provide a report: (i) that lists every fee collected by the agency; (ii) provides the legal authority for each fee and whether or not the agency has discretion to change it; (iii) that contains the amount of the fee and the revenue generated by the fee over the prior three fiscal years; (iv) that lists the last time the fee was increased or decreased; and (v) on whether the fee is sufficient to cover the costs of the activity for which it is collected and to include a recommendation on the fee amount that is appropriate. The Department shall submit the report to the Director, Department of Planning and Budget and the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees by October 1, 2024.