News

Governor Kaine's Proposed 2009-2010 Budget

Please see the message below and the attached memo from Commissioner James Reinhard MD.  Governor Kaine's proposed 2009-2010 budget had good news for the mental health system and provides a foundation for additional reforms in the future.  PSV, the Medical Society of VA, and affected specialty societies will continue to work with the Administration and General Assembly to move both funding and policy reforms forward.  You are encouraged to attend the regional public hearings and contact me if I can assist you with information and talking points.  A few of the proposed 2-year budget highlights for psychiatry...

• $830,964 both years for physician incentives (loan repayment, salary bonuses, travel expenses) for practicing in underserved areas.  Specific focus on psychiatry recruitment.
• $493,000 both years for 8 child psychiatry and child psychology internships in underserved areas.
• $2,000,000 both years for 4 "systems of care" demonstration projects for C/A behavioral health services.
• $1,000,000 (2009) and $2,000,000 (2010) for 24/7 on-call psychiatric consultation at CSBs
• $1,400,000 (2009) and $2,800,000 (2010) to hire emergency clinicians (directed at psychiatry) at CSBs.
• $7.4 million over biennium for 36 new Crisis Stabilization beds
• $4.5 million over biennium for outpatient clinicians