WEST virginia legislature

2019 First extraordinary session

Introduced

Senate Bill 1045

By Senators Carmichael (Mr. President) and Prezioso
(By Request of the Executive)

[Introduced June 24, 2019; referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources]

A BILL to amend and reenact §16-53-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the establishment and funding of substance use disorder treatment and recovery facilities.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

Article 53. Establishing Additional Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities.

§16-53-1. Establishment of substance abuse use disorder treatment and recovery facilities services.

(a) The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources shall ensure that beds for purposes of providing substance abuse use disorder treatment and/or or recovery services, or both, in existing or newly constructed facilities are made available in locations throughout the state which the department determines to be the highest priority for serving the needs of the citizens of the state.

(b) The secretary shall identify and allocate the beds funds to privately owned appropriate facilities to provide substance abuse use disorder treatment services, which shall be provided via an inpatient or outpatient service model. (c) These facilities shall:

(1) Give preference to West Virginia residents;

(2) Accept payment from private pay patients, third person payors, or patients covered by Medicaid;

(3) Offer long-term treatment, based upon need; of up to one year; and

(4) Work closely with the Adult Drug Court Program, provided for in §62-15-1 et seq. of this code; and

(5) Be licensed by this state to provide substance use disorder treatment services.

(c) The secretary shall identify and allocate funds to appropriate facilities to provide recovery services. Peer-led facilities shall follow standards set forth by the National Alliance for Recovery Residences and offers access to peer support services.

(d) Any facility subject to the provisions of this article must:

(1) Be licensed ­by this state to provide addiction and substance abuse services; or

(2) Be a peer-led facility that follows standards set forth by the National Alliance for Recovery Residences and offers access to peer support services

(d) Other programs or projects designed to address substance use disorder, and a study or studies designed to evaluate substance use prevention education programs in schools, may be eligible for funding at the secretary’s discretion and as funds are available.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to infuse additional resources into the Ryan Brown Fund and create greater flexibility in that fund for purposes beyond for long-term beds such as recovery housing and other SUD related service models that may exist.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.