MICHAEL MARTZ
Richmond Times-Dispatch
In an escalating battle over responsibility for mentally ill people in crisis, Virginiaâs private hospitals are pitching a new plan for using $33 million in federal aid to expand options for diverting people in psychiatric emergencies away from the stateâs overcrowded and understaffed mental hospitals.
The private hospitals, agitated by what they call âmisinformed criticismâ about their role in a crisis that prompted Virginia to halt emergency admissions to five state hospitals, said in a letter to General Assembly budget leaders that the federal American Rescue Plan Act offers a âonce-in-a-generation opportunity for the commonwealth to invest in strengthening the behavioral health system.â
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Northam: Both ARPA and budget dollars will cover short-staffing at five mental hospitals
An announcement on how much the state s mental-health hospitals should get from rescue funds could come as early as mid-week. The governor says it will also be covered in his December budget proposal.
The Progress-Index
Gov. Ralph Northam said Monday that the federal funding announcement he will make later this week will include money to cover the short-staff issues that forced the state to pause admissions at five Virginia-run mental institutions, including Central State Hospital.
When asked if he would request American Rescue Plan Act dollars to address the staffing issues or wait until he presents his final budget proposal in December, the governor replied, Both.
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Admissions remain on hold at Catawba Hospital as leaders urgently look to fill positions
Other hospitals have been helping fill coverage gaps in the meantime
Updated:
Catawba Hospital forced to stop accepting new patients amid staffing shortage
CATAWBA, Va. – It’s been two weeks since staff at Catawba Hospital were able to take in a new patient.
“Yesterday, with five of our hospitals closed, we only had six people in the Commonwealth on a waiting list,” said Catawba Hospital Director Charles Law.
“We just can’t get people to come to the door,” Law said.
Right now, the hospital is down about 30 positions and is having a hard time getting people interested in applying.