The 2024 General Assembly Session is Underway!

While the 2024 Session is a "long" one - it is just 8 weeks! Now that all of the proposed bills and budget amendments are available, it is clear that there is a LOT that will be considered related to increasing access to critical health and behavioral health services for Virginians! Among the bills and budget amendments (BAs) under consideration by legislators, 400+ are health- and behavioral health (BH)-related.  

Governor Youngkin’s proposed budget includes many health- and BH-related items, too! Learn more in the Governor’s full proposed budget bill and the Senate Finance Committee’s summary of the Governor’s budget.

VHCF is tracking items that would impact Virginians who are uninsured, Medicaid eligible/enrolled or underserved.

Here are some of our favorite Session tools to help you follow along. Some also include specifics to help you advocate for key issues, your organization and communities.

•  Click here for a list of upcoming 2024 General Assembly Session important dates!
• Use Legislative Information System (LIS) to search for bills and resolutions here.
• If you want to track a specific bill as it goes through the GA process and receive emails at key milestones, consider signing up for the free Lobbyist-in-a-Box.
• Find proposed budget amendments to Governor Youngkin’s budget, introduced by Delegates and Senators, on LIS.
• Curious about about the state budget process? The Commonwealth Institute has put together a helpful summary and graphic. This slide deck from the Senate Finance Committee provides more details.
• Headed to Richmond to advocate? Download Virginia Public Access Project’s (VPAP) new app to your phone (via the App Store or Google Play) to find legislator’s offices in the new GA building with ease and more. Scroll the bottom of that page for additional VPAP GA resources. 

Register Today for the Spring Mental Health Roundtable!

The Spring Mental Health Roundtable will take place via Zoom on April 16 (from 10 am – 12 pm). Join us for a post-Session overview of mental health-related legislation and budget news, an overview of the Medical Society of Virginia’s Safe Haven initiative, updates from the Boost 200+ program, and more. Register today!

Do you know a health professional who needs some relief from student loans?



Virginia’s Student Loan Repayment Program started accepting applications on January 12. The program, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Health-Office of Health Equity, provides awards to qualified medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmaceutical professionals in return for a minimum of two years of service at an eligible site in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area in Virginia. Visit the VDH website to learn more and apply online. The application cycle will close March 31^st, 2024.



Virginia also established a Virginia Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program three years ago to help retain and recruit behavioral health professionals to provide counseling and treatment in underserved areas of the Commonwealth or to underserved populations. Visit the VDH website to learn more or apply online. The application cycle started on January 12 and will close April 30^th, 2024.

Expand your organization’s capacity to support pediatric mental health with Project ECHO

Project ECHO cohorts on a variety of pediatric mental health topics for primary care providers are available this year from the Virginia Mental Health Access Project, in partnership with the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

REACH PPP is a continuing education program for practitioners and clinicians to learn more about pediatric mental health. This is a virtual three-day training (March 1^st – 3^rd, 2024) followed by an interactive, case-based learning distance learning for six months. Through state funding, this opportunity is fully funded and only requires a $100 registration fee (which is eligible to be covered by VHCF’s professional development funding for health safety net providers)! Sign up on VMAP’s website today!

Announcing New VHCF Health Access Grants



The Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) has awarded more than $884,000 in grants to 12 organizations throughout the state to increase access to behavioral health, medical and dental services for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians. See the full list of grantees and initiatives awarded here!

Twelve-Month Continuous Eligibility for Kids in Medicaid/FAMIS

As of January 1, 2024, most children enrolled in Medicaid/FAMIS will receive one full year of coverage from the time they are determined eligible, even if their family’s circumstances change. This means that even if a family reports a change in income that pushes them over the limit for Medicaid eligibility, the children in that family will stay eligible for (and enrolled in) Medicaid until their annual renewal.

See the Winter SUN News newsletter for more information!

•  Virginia is Making Progress Addressing the Mental Health Crisis. But It’s Not Enough- The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently designated every locality in the state as a designated mental health professional shortage area. Although the state is making steps towards progress to combat mental health, there is still more to be done.

• Virginia Health Catalyst has released an Oral Health Workforce Gap Assessment. Members of Virginia Health Catalyst’s Future of Public Oral Health Taskforce and corresponding workforce committee convened over a dozen oral health researchers, clinicians, educators, policymakers, and advocates to synthesize existing workforce data and develop recommendations and a path forward. 

•  Virginia students are in crisis, but report shows schools are at risk of losing mental health services. WTVR recently reported on Virginia students being at risk of losing mental health service support as pandemic funding comes to an end.

Don't forget about the professional development funds available to you! VHCF offers up to $650 per organization per year to pay for professional development. Recent applicant organizations took advantage of this opportunity by obtaining certifications, completing required continuing education units, or attending coursework related to their area of practice. Click here to learn more about professional development funding for your organization.

Is it time for you to update or create a new strategic plan? VHCF provides up to $3,500 to underwrite the development of a new strategic plan. 

Contact Andrea Lancaster or Alan Nicholas to learn more about VHCF’s Professional Development and Strategic Plan funding.

The Behavioral Health Hub listserv is a venue for the behavioral health community to share new resources, tips, and opportunities related to the delivery of behavioral health services. Emails are typically sent weekly, and listserv members are invited and encouraged to actively share information they think would be helpful and any challenges they are facing. With 1,000+ members from all regions of Virginia and a wide variety of organizations, the Hub is a great way to stay connected and updated on the latest news and trends in behavioral health. Subscribe here.

VHCF also has a variety of informational resources to help you and your staff meet your goals. Don't see what you are looking for? Let us know!

• The next virtual Mental Health Roundtable is scheduled for 10 am - 12 pm on April 16. Register today!

• VHCF currently offers two different live, online SignUpNow trainings. One covers the “ins and outs” of eligibility requirements, application procedures, and post-enrollment information for Virginia’s Medicaid/FAMIS programs for children, adults, and families. The other covers information for Virginia’s Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) Medicaid-covered groups. Learn more about both trainings and upcoming dates here. 

• Upcoming virtual trainings for both new and experienced users on how to use The Pharmacy Connection (TPC) for new and experienced users are scheduled through November. For more information or to register for a training, click here.

Does your organization have innovative programs or creative solutions to share?

We'd love to hear from you so we can help share it with others. Please contact Andrea Lancaster or Alan Nicholas with your stories!