Bill > HB1937

This bill establishes a comprehensive acute psychiatric bed registry in Virginia designed to help healthcare providers quickly locate available psychiatric treatment beds. The registry will provide real-time information about available beds in public and private inpatient psychiatric facilities and crisis stabilization units, including details such as bed type, security level, and patient admission criteria. The bill creates a Bed Registry Advisory Council composed of representatives from various healthcare organizations who will oversee the registry's operations, review data access requests, and ensure patient privacy. The Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services is authorized to contract with a private entity to develop and administer the registry, with mandatory provisions to protect patient privacy and data security in compliance with federal laws like HIPAA. Importantly, the bill includes a Virginia Freedom of Information Act exemption, meaning that individual patient information submitted to the registry will remain confidential. All state facilities, community services boards, behavioral health authorities, and private inpatient providers are required to participate in the registry and update their bed availability information at least daily, with the ultimate goal of facilitating appropriate and timely psychiatric care placement for individuals in need.

Health and Social Services

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB1937