By Trevor Moncure
Commonwealth Strategy Group
Two Concerning Developments Will Require Attention This Summer
After being recommended by the influential Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission (JLARC), potentially problematic legislation made it through the 2024 General Assembly. Delegate Watts’ HB 888, identical to Senator Favola’s SB176, excludes neurocognitive and neurodevelopmental disabilities from the definition of mental illness. This means that patients with these conditions would no longer be qualified to be placed under a TDO or involuntarily committed into a psychiatric hospital. The bill passed both chambers of the General Assembly unanimously but has a reenactment clause, meaning it will have to be voted on again during the 2025 session before it becomes law. The bill also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to commence a work group to report on the implications of this law. PSV/WPS and other stakeholders, like emergency physicians and hospitals, will work with the Secretary’s workgroup to express opposition to this proposal.
Another concern is that language that Governor Glenn Youngkin had removed in his version of the budget unfortunately made it back into final version by administrative error and passed during a Special Session in May. As you may recall, Item 285B of the state budget will require all practitioners with the authority to prescribe behavioral health medications to children to provide families with a plan on medication management and to be available after hours and on holidays, or risk Board of Medicine discipline. Upon learning that this objectionable language was revived, PSV swiftly contacted the appropriate parties and confirmed that the inclusion of this language in the final draft was a mistake. We are working with the Medical Society of Virginia and key legislators to eliminate this language at the next opportunity.
Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) Advocacy Summit 2024
Each year, the Medical Society of Virginia hosts a meeting to solicit issues and concerns from specialty societies and members across the Commonwealth. On May 31, summit participants heard presentations from representatives of these groups and then decided which issues they will make a priority during the following year’s General Assembly session. Drs. Badr Ratnakaran and Varun Choudhary represented PSV/WPS.
PSV submitted a proposal asking that the Medical Society of Virginia assist our efforts in opposing the reenactment of HB888 and SB176 mentioned above.
Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association Behavioral Health Summit 2024
On Thursday, May 16, the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) held their annual behavioral health summit. The summit’s afternoon session on geriatric behavioral healthcare featured a presentation from PSV’s President, Dr. Badr Ratnakaran. Dr. Ratnakaran gave an in-depth presentation on his discoveries and experiences in treating geriatric patients at Carilion Clinic. He spoke on the devastating effects of loneliness on aging individuals and what we as providers can do to better care for their mental health in their late stage of life.
Behavioral Health Provider Coalition
The Behavioral Health Provider Coalition is a coordinated effort amongst behavioral health specialty groups to encourage legislative advocacy within a large variety of behavioral health concerns. This June, representatives from participating organizations, including PSV’s Dr. Adam Kaul, convened a working meeting to discuss approaches to improving mental health parity and network adequacy laws in Virginia. Later this summer, we will be releasing a survey to psychiatrists in Virginia inquiring about your experiences in this area. Your feedback will be greatly appreciated as we work to bring this issue before the Virginia General Assembly. More information on the Behavioral Health Provider Coalition can be found here.
New PAC Chair & PsychMD PAC
The Psychiatric Society of Virginia is proud to introduce our new political action committee (PAC) Chair, Dr. Jason Burton. After spending 13 years in various public safety roles including law enforcement, paramedics, and firefighting, Dr. Burton completed his bachelor’s degree at Ferrum College. He then went on to complete medical school at VCU where he will continue to work as an inpatient attending physician. He also works in the interventional psychiatry department with a particular interest in transcranial magnetic stimulation and other neuromodulation treatments. As PsychMD PAC Chair, Dr. Burton will promote political engagement among psychiatrists, residents, and students, which includes fundraising and direct political candidate interactions.
PsychMD PAC is a critical tool for PSV’s legislative efforts in Virginia. Given the current balance of our PAC, we lack the resources we need to effectively compete for attention in a crowded and contentious political environment. Without the necessary funding, our PAC cannot support legislators who share our goals and are willing to champion our cause in future legislative sessions.
In 2023, PsychMD PAC raised $9,325.00. We have since exhausted much of those funds as we worked to become acquainted with the General Assembly’s many new legislators, of which there was a record number sworn in this year. Through your support and another successful year of 100% board participation, we have set an attainable goal of raising $12,000. Help elevate your profession and build relationships that support the work you do. Please consider making a donation to help our profession and patients get the attention we deserve in the Commonwealth of Virginia. You can donate securely online using this link. Alternatively, you can mail a check payable to PSYCHMD PAC and mail it to 118 N. 8th St, Richmond, VA 23219. We appreciate any and all donations.
For additional information about any of these topics or activities, please contact the PSV/WPS government relations team: Trevor Moncure [email protected] or Cal Whitehead [email protected]
