SB 734

            
2020 SESSION

20104744D

SENATE BILL NO. 734 

Senate Amendments in [ ] � February 4, 2020

A BILL to direct the Secretaries of Education and Health and
Human Resources to establish a work group to study the current process for approval
of residential psychiatric services. Report.

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Patron Prior to Engrossment--Senator Deeds 

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Referred to Committee on Rules 

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. � 1. That the Secretaries of Education and Health and
Human Resources shall establish a work group [ , co-chaired by the
Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Director
of Medical Assistance Services, ] to consist of the
Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the
Superintendent of Public Education, the Director of Medical Assistance
Services, the Commissioner of Social Services, and the Director of the Office
of Childrens Services, or their designees, and representatives of hospitals
providing services to children and adolescents, providers of residential
psychiatric services for children and adolescents, community services boards, and
behavioral health advocacy groups to (i) review the current process for
approval of residential psychiatric placements and barriers to timely approval
of residential psychiatric services for [ adults,
] adolescents [ , ] and children, (ii) develop
recommendations for improving such process and ensuring timely approval of
residential psychiatric placements and services for [ adults,
] adolescents [ , ] and children, and (iii)
develop recommendations for a process to expedite approval of requests for
residential psychiatric placements and services for [ adults,
] adolescents [ , ] and children who are
receiving acute inpatient psychiatric services [ �and for whom
residential psychiatric placement and services are appropriate within seven
days of receipt of such request ] . The work group shall
report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee
on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the Joint Subcommittee
to Study Mental Health Services in the Commonwealth in the 21st Century by
December 1, 2020.