CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – In Tuesday’s Interim sessions for the WV Legislature, the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resource Accountability (LOCHHRA) heard from several departments on a number of issues affecting the state.
The designated state authority on mental health and substance abuse disorders, the Bureau of Behavioral Health (BBH), presented to the commission on Tuesday, reporting 72 positions and 8 vacancies.
The bureau is operating on a budget of $227 million, with federal funding reportedly having increased 1200% over the past four years.
The Bureau works in tandem with other DHHR agencies such as the Office of Drug Control, which seeks to address substance abuse through early intervention, treatment, and recovery. Successful treatment and recovery entails the addressing of underlying mental health conditions which contributed to the patterns of behavior, along with the substance abuse itself.
Other complementary departments include the Office of Inspector General, which works to ensure the integrity of programs and operations through the DHHR, and the Board of Review, which preserves the integrity of department programs through the providing of due process to appellants through impartial hearings and timely decision-making.
An independent, confidential, and impartial resource which advocates for the rights of foster children as well as foster and kinship parents, the Foster Care Ombudsman investigates and resolves complaints, and makes recommendations for system reform.
Investigation of internal matters is handled by the Investigations and Fraud Management Unit, which works under the direction of the Inspector General, and conducts investigations into instances of suspected abuse and fraud within programs administered by the department.
The Mental Health Ombudsmen assists residents throughout the state who experience difficulties in the utilization of available mental health services, while the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certifications work to create a healthy environment for clients, patients, and state residents alike.
The Olmstead Office works to assist residents in West Virginia who live with disabilities by providing opportunities for support and services, while Quality Control assures the integrity of programs within the department through the impartial evaluation of determinations of these programs.
Finally, the WV Clearance for Access: Registry & Employment Screening seeks to establish efficient, effective, and economically sound procedures for the conducting of background checks on all prospective direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities and providers.
The full 2022 June Interim Committee schedule can be found here, and more information on these sessions can be found at the West Virginia Legislature website here.
Additional coverage from LOOTPRESS on Tuesday’s legislative sessions can be found here.