WEST virginia legislature

2018 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

House Bill 4509

By Delegates Pushkin, Sobonya, Robinson, Summers, Fleischauer, Kessinger, Longstreth and Frich

[Originating in the Committee on Health and Human Resources; Reported on February 22, 2018]

A BILL to amend and reenact §16-53-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the establishment of substance abuse treatment facilities; and permitting the fund to provide funding to facilities that provide peer-support services.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 53. Establishing Additional Substance AbUse TREATMENT Facilities.

§16-53-1. Establishment of substance abuse treatment facilities.

(a) The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources shall ensure that beds for purposes of providing substance abuse treatment and/or recovery services in existing or newly constructed facilities are made available in locations throughout the state which the Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities 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 to privately owned facilities to provide substance abuse treatment services.

(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.

(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. 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to include facilities that provide peer-based services when the Secretary of Health and Human Resources establishes additional beds for purposes of providing substance abuse treatment services.

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