{"id":2599,"date":"2024-08-27T17:53:38","date_gmt":"2024-08-27T17:53:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.psva.org\/?p=2599"},"modified":"2024-08-28T19:45:34","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T19:45:34","slug":"psv-wps-legislative-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.psva.org\/?p=2599","title":{"rendered":"PSV\/WPS Legislative Update"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Trevor Moncure<\/strong>
Commonwealth Strategies Group<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Update on HB 888\/SB 176 \u2013 Changes to TDOs for Patients with Neurocognitive and Neurodevelopmental conditions<\/strong>
To review, HB 888<\/strong><\/a>\/SB 176<\/strong> would make it so that patients with neurocognitive and neurodevelopmental disabilities would no longer qualify for TDO placements, as those symptoms would be excluded from the statutory definition of mental illness. The legislation was amended with a \u201cre-enactment clause\u201d which means it will need to be approved a second time during the 2025 General Assembly. It also created a workgroup, and the first of four sessions took place on Thursday, July 18th<\/sup>. PSV and WPS were represented by PSV President Dr. Badr Ratnakaran, Dr. Adam Kaul, and Dr. Sherin Moideen. This first session was largely informational. Representatives from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) provided background information on the Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission (JLARC) study that led to this legislation, the current process for involuntary commitments, and a review of programs currently operated by DBHDS that support individuals with neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive disabilities. We are working in close coordination with the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians (VACEP) to address this issue and express opposition. The workgroup will continue to meet to gather insight from the medical specialties affected by this bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behavioral Health Provider Coalition<\/strong>
The Behavioral Health Provider Coalition, a group of numerous mental health provider organizations, is still working to address mental health coverage parity and network adequacy laws in Virginia. As a part of this effort, associations within this coalition are designing a survey aimed at identifying obstacles to achieving parity. We plan to release this survey to participating organizations in early September. With robust participation and feedback, we plan to bring this issue, potentially with legislation, to the Virginia General Assembly. More information on the Behavioral Health Provider Coalition can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical Society of Virginia<\/strong>
In May, PSV President Dr. Badr Ratnakaran and Trevor Moncure represented PSV\/WPS at the Medical Society of Virginia\u2019s annual advocacy summit where they expressed opposition to HB 888 and SB 176 with the intent of gaining MSV\u2019s support of our position during the next legislative session. In early July, physician presidents and leaders from Virginia\u2019s medical specialty organizations met again to discuss the proposals that were submitted and voted on which will be considered a priority. Unfortunately, PSV\/WPS\u2019s proposal was not chosen as a priority for their legislative efforts during the 2025 session, but we can still count on critical support from their government relations team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The top priorities they recommended included the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n