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December 17,
2007
Governor's
Funding
Announcement -
Mental Health
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This is the last in a series of announcements from Governor Kaine regarding funding priorities in his proposed 2008-2009 biennial budget before he presents the entire budget to the House Appropriations and House and Senate Finance Committees this morning. On Friday, Governor Kaine announced his proposal for mental health funding priorities.
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Governor Kaine Announces Mental Health Budget Initiatives
Proposals Will Expand Emergency Services, Provide More Accountability
On Friday, Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced budget and legislative proposals to improve the Commonwealth's mental health system by offering care to more people who need it and enhancing the quality of those services. The Governor stood with elected officials from both parties and mental health care advocates as he unveiled a proposal that includes nearly $42 million to hire new case managers, therapists and clinicians, improve and expand emergency services, and provide for more accountability in the system.
"The tragedy at Virginia Tech in April of this year has drawn attention to our mental health care system in an unprecedented way," Governor Kaine said. "Now is the time for us to work together to make the changes and to provide the funding and the accountability our mental health system needs."
Many of the Governor's recommendations are based on the report of the Virginia Tech Review Panel, released earlier this year. The Panel's report highlighted the need to strengthen the community services board system, recommending expansions for its emergency services capacity, as well as its case management capacity.
Over 90 percent of community services board case managers in Virginia have caseloads that exceed the nationally recommended caseload of 25 patients. The Governor has proposed funding to increase the number of case managers by 106 statewide, over the biennium.
In addition, the proposed budget increases the number of clinicians and therapists who are available on an outpatient basis, with funding to support 40 new clinicians recommended over the biennium. The Governor's budget also funds an additional 40 clinicians specializing in children's mental health at local community services boards statewide, to support those children who are not eligible for services through the Comprehensive Services Act.
To ensure that individuals who are subject to temporary detention orders are receiving attention in a timely and focused manner, the Governor has recommended funding to support emergency mental health services, including around-the-clock emergency psychiatric consultation, emergency clinicians, and crisis stabilization. In addition to this funding, the Governor announced legislative proposals to address how emergency detention orders are implemented.
The Governor's proposed legislation will:
- Allow an emergency custody order to be extended to 8 hours and matching emergency custody order criteria to commitment criteria (VT Panel recommendation IV-13).
- Require the independent evaluator and the treating physician of a temporary detention order patient to be available during hearing (VT Panel recommendation IV-20).
- Require community services board staff to participate in hearings (VT Panel recommendation IV- 19).
- Change the criteria for emergency custody and temporary detention from the "imminent danger" terminology to: "substantial likelihood that in the near future he will (a) cause serious physical harm to himself or another person, as evidenced by recent behavior causing, attempting, or threatening such harm, or (b) suffer serious harm due to substantial deterioration of his capacity to protect himself from such harm or provide for his basic human needs" (VT Panel recommendation IV-15).
- Clarify the roles and responsibilities of the community services boards and the independent examiner throughout the detention process, the commitment hearing, and the subsequent disposition (VT Panel recommendation IV-17).
- Explicitly authorize the disclosure of information between providers in order to deliver, coordinate or monitor treatment, and between providers and the courts to monitor and report on service delivery and compliance with treatment (VT Panel recommendation V-22, 24).
"In addition to properly funding our mental health care system, we must also ensure an accountability structure that focuses on outcomes," Governor Kaine said. "Through the development of service standards across the community services boards, we will move toward a more uniform system of emergency response times, service admission criteria, staff credentialing and training requirements, and of mandatory activities, like attending temporary detention order hearings."
To further address accountability across the community services boards, the Governor's budget calls for additional staff to provide oversight for regional and local services, to enhance accountability and to improve quality management. These positions will monitor how service are delivered, measuring them against recommended standards.
The Governor has also recommended funding to expand a pilot program for jail diversion services and to expand training for law enforcement responding to crisis situations involving individuals with mental illness.
The Governor's budget includes:
- $14.6 million over the biennium to improve emergency mental health services, including around- the-clock emergency psychiatric consultation,emergency clinicians and crises stabilization. The increase will assist community services boards in providing legally mandated emergency services.
- $8.8 million to increase the number of case managers for mental health services provided through community services boards. A total of 106 additional case managers will be hired by the end of the biennium.
- $5.8 million to hire 40 clinicians specializing in children's mental health over the biennium. This funding will help serve children who are not eligible for services through the Comprehensive Services Act.
- $4.5 million to increase availability of outpatient clinicians and therapists at community services boards. These funds are necessary to address significant delays in accessing outpatient mental health services.
- $875,000 over the biennium to create four positions to expand monitoring and accountability of community services boards and to develop core standards and service improvement plans. The addition of these positions will allow for better oversight and monitoring of recent community-based service expansion.
- $6 million over the biennium to expand a pilot program for jail diversion services funded in the 2006- 08 biennial budget. It is anticipated that these funds will provide diversion and wrap-around services and support for an estimated 300-500 people.
- $600,000 over the biennium to establish a training program for crisis intervention. The training will enable law enforcement to respond to crisis situations involving individuals with mental illness.
To listen to the Governor's remarks, click here.
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If you would like to express your opinion on Governor Kaine's budget initiatives or any other matters before the General Assembly, please contact me at (804) 698-1171 or deljmcclellan@house.state.va.us.
Sincerely,
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December 14,
2007
Governor's
Funding
Announcement -
Higher Education
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This is the third in a series of announcements from Governor Kaine regarding funding priorities in his proposed 2008-2009 biennial budget. Yesterday, Governor Kaine announced his proposal for higher education funding, including a new bond package. Governor Kaine will unveil his entire proposed budget to the House Appropriations and House and Senate Finance Committees on December 17th.
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Governor Kaine Announces Investments in Higher Education
Proposal Includes Funding for Research Facilities, Cutting Edge Technologies
Governor Timothy M. Kaine yesterday proposed a $1.65 billion bond package for higher education needs as a part of his planned investments in higher education. Standing with college presidents and business leaders from across the Commonwealth at Virginia Commonwealth University , the Governor emphasized the importance of ensuring that Virginia 's future economy remains strong through strategic investments in higher education.
"The proposed bond package supports innovative research, providing facilities across Virginia for researchers to develop new, cutting-edge technologies and turn them into commercial assets," Governor Kaine said. "Our colleges and universities also help us build a workforce prepared to compete in a global economy. These investments will help Virginia 's higher education network keep delivering for our future."
The new construction and renovation projects in the package primarily focus on workforce development, enhancing capacity, retaining students, research and providing modern facilities for areas with demonstrated needs, such as education, engineering, nursing, business, and the sciences. The proposed package is composed of funding through a General Obligation Bond and through the Virginia College Building Authority. The General Obligation Bond must be passed by the General Assembly and requires approval by voters in a general referendum on Election Day in November of 2008.
The Governor's budget also includes an additional $22.1 million in general funds and $22.9 million in nongeneral funds in each year of the next biennium for college and university operations, as well as a $9.1 million increase in student financial aid.
To further Virginia 's efforts to diversify the economy through research and development, the proposed budget includes a comprehensive general fund research package. In fiscal year 2009, the Governor has proposed $29 million to cover the third year of a three-year commitment to enhance research efforts at the Commonwealth's higher education institutions. To date, this state funding has resulted in an estimated return of $150 million from federal and private research funding.
The Governor has also proposed $40.5 million over the biennium for a competitive research program specifically focused on the link between higher education institutions and economic development. The competitive grant program will reward university collaboration, private sector participation, and support for economically-distressed regions across the Commonwealth. The research package was based on recommendations by Virginia 's Research and Technology Advisory Commission, including leaders across the public universities, federal labs and the technology industry. The funding includes $10.5 million in general funds for the Commonwealth Technology Research Fund and $30 million in Higher Education Equipment Trust bonds.
The proposed budget also includes funding for four specific research facilities:
♦ $7.5 million of general fund support over the biennium is provided to Jefferson Labs to leverage a $300 million investment by the federal government for an enhanced accelerator facility
♦ $1 million in fiscal year 2010 to Hampton University to support a new proton beam cancer therapy facility
♦ Over $2 million for the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium in efforts to explore alternative forms of energy
♦ $7 million dollars for the creation of the SRI east coast research facility near Harrisonburg
The complete bond package project list can be viewed here
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If you would like to express your opinion on Governor Kaine's budget initiatives or any other matters before the General Assembly, please contact me at (804) 698-1171 or deljmcclellan@house.state.va.us.
Sincerely,
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December 13,
2007
Governor Kaine
Announces
Expansion of
Health Care
Access
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Greetings!I am forwarding the second in a series of announcements from Governor Kaine regarding funding priorities in his proposed 2008-2009 biennial budget. Yesterday, Governor Kaine announced his proposal for expanding access to health care. Governor Kaine will unveil his entire proposed budget to the House Appropriations and House and Senate Finance Committees on December 17th.
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Governor Kaine Announces Expansion of Health Care Access
Plan Will Improve Accessibility and Quality of Care for At-Risk Virginians
Yesterday, Governor Timothy M. Kaine stood with health care advocates and members of the Health Reform Commission to announce his proposal to expand access to health care for the uninsured. The Governor's proposed budget will include funding to increase women's access to critical preventive care, expand the health care safety net for the uninsured, and launch a pilot initiative to provide insurance to more working families.
"One in seven Virginians still lack health insurance because their employers don't provide it or because they cannot afford it," Governor Kaine said. "As more citizens rely on our health care safety net for their most basic health needs, we must strengthen that system. We must also look for new, innovative ways to provide access to health insurance, sharing responsibility with our private sector partners and our citizens."
The proposed budget includes additional funding to support Virginia's health and dental care safety net providers to stabilize their operations, expand access to health and dental care services, and coordinate services for uninsured Virginians. The community- based providers who will receive funding consist of free clinics, health centers, local health departments, and other local or regional organizations providing care to the uninsured. Many of the proposals support recommendations of the Health Reform Commission and those contained in this year's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission's report, "Options to Extend Health Insurance Coverage to Virginia's Uninsured Population."
"Over one million Virginians are uninsured, and for many, Virginia's health safety net is the only place to turn," said Debbie Oswalt, Executive Director of the Virginia Health Care Foundation. "We are grateful that the Governor recognizes the importance of the safety net and the strain it is under, and are thrilled with this investment of state funds."
The Governor is also seeking to expand preventive care for uninsured women. The proposed budget includes funding to provide free screenings and diagnostic tests for breast and cervical cancer for over 1,000 uninsured women ages 18 through 44. In addition, he proposes to expand state-supported prenatal care for low-income women, from 185 to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. This expansion will offer coverage to an additional 400 women per year.
"Despite its status as one of the wealthiest states, Virginia has a high infant mortality rate," Governor Kaine said. "By providing more women with access to prenatal care services earlier on in their pregnancy, I am hopeful that we can begin to decrease the number of infant deaths in the Commonwealth."
The Governor's budget also addresses an innovative recommendation from the Health Reform Commission to provide an affordable health insurance option to low-income workers. Approximately 75% of the Commonwealth's one million uninsured work or live in households where someone works full time, many of them for small businesses that can't afford to provide health insurance.
The Governor's "VirginiaShare" Health Insurance Program will expand access to health insurance coverage for low-income families earning 200% of the federal poverty level or less, who work for small businesses. The program will model private insurance coverage, with the state covering 1/3 of the premium costs for participating individuals, up to $75 per month. The employer and the employee will each cover 1/3 of the remaining cost. Initially, over 5,000 Virginians are expected to gain health insurance through the program.
"This is health care innovation at its best," said Tom Snead, member of the Health Reform Commission. "The Commission was charged with being bold and developing innovative solutions for access to quality health care, and we could not be more pleased to see the Governor acting on our recommendations. We hope this is the beginning of covering the uninsured in the Commonwealth."
The Governor's Budget includes:
· Additional funding for community-based health safety net providers to stabilize their operations, expand access to health care services, and coordinate services for uninsured Virginians. The increase of $5 million each year will go to Virginia Community Healthcare Association, Virginia Association of Free Clinics, and the Virginia Health Care Foundation.
· Support for the Virginia Dental Health Foundation's Mission of Mercy Dental Project. The Virginia Dental Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization within the Virginia Dental Association. Funding of $50,000 each year will be used to purchase dental equipment and supplies to provide dental services for Virginia's uninsured.
· Funding to expand eligibility for prenatal coverage of women from 185 to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. This expansion will cover about 400 additional women per year. $2.6 million in general funds and $4.8 million in nongeneral funds over the biennium.
· Support for Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (VABCCEDP), also known as Every Woman's Life, which provides free screenings and diagnostic tests for breast and cervical cancer for uninsured women. Program funding will increase by $300,000 in FY 2010 and will provide screenings and tests to over 1,000 uninsured women ages 18 through 44.
· Funding for the VirginiaShare Health Insurance program, which will offer health insurance coverage for the uninsured who work in small businesses. The state will provide a premium subsidy of up to one- third, not to exceed $75, of the monthly costs, with the employer and the employee each covering 1/3 of the remaining cost. Individuals with incomes less than or equal to 200 percent of the federal poverty level would be eligible. Initially, over 5,000 Virginians are expected to gain health insurance through the program. $7.7 million over the biennium, including two positions.
Click here to listen to the Governor's announcement
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If you would like to express your opinion on Governor Kaine's budget initiatives or any other matters before the General Assembly, please contact me at (804) 698-1171 or deljmcclellan@house.state.va.us.
Sincerely,
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