Gov. Joe Manchin released the following statement about providing additional money for behavioral health care, his signing of SB 687 and his veto of SB 672:
“After many hours of deliberation and meetings with mental health advocates and concerned groups, including Sen. Roman Prezioso, Del. Don Perdue, Del. Barbara Hatfield, the West Virginia Behavioral Health Care Providers Association, West Virginia Mental Heath Consumers Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, West Virginia Psychological Association, West Virginia Hospital Association, West Virginia Pharmacists Association, West Virginia Medical Association and with members of West Virginia Comprehensive Behavioral Health Commission, in addition to hundreds of citizens who wrote letters or phoned our office, today we are taking a major step toward improving behavioral health care in our state.
“Any time you bring all parties together on a complicated issue, good things happen. Today I am pleased to announce that because of responsible management of our state’s finances, and by working together, we are able to commit an additional 12 million in new state and federal dollars for behavioral health care.
“This new money will be used to help alleviate overcrowding in our state hospitals and enhance community-based supports to improve the quality of life for those affected by mental illness.
“However, I must veto SB 672 because it does not fairly address the behavioral health care needs our state should be addressing and it sets a precarious legal precedent for medical reimbursement codes in state law.
“Today, I have also signed and wholeheartedly approved Senate Bill 687, which will maintain the West Virginia Comprehensive Behavioral Health Commission. The Commission is a broad advisory group of health care professionals, advocates and consumers that will help West Virginia provide a comprehensive and cost-effective system of care. With the Commission’s direction and working with DHHR, I strongly believe we can improve behavioral health care for our citizens.
“I want to thank everyone for their thoughtful and constructive input and thank all the people who have met with us in the last couple weeks.
“We all agree that West Virginia must continue our commitment to behavioral health care. Today, we have made that commitment and I am eager to see the progress we can make by continuing to work together.”
- Gov. Joe Manchin