The bill aims to amend and reenact section 18C-3-3 of the Code of West Virginia to establish the Behavioral Health Workforce Education Initiative under the Higher Education Policy Commission. This initiative will focus on addressing the supply and demand of behavioral health professionals in West Virginia by analyzing the availability of various practitioners, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. The bill includes provisions for incentivizing careers in behavioral health through funding for residency programs, clinical training placements, and internship stipends, all contingent upon agreements to practice in underserved areas of the state.

Additionally, the bill introduces a special revenue fund account for the Mental Health Provider Student Loan Repayment Program, which will assist mental health providers working in underserved areas. It also outlines the creation of a Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative that will support new graduates, enhance training in telehealth, and coordinate communication among stakeholders to leverage existing resources. The bill includes several insertions, such as the establishment of the Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative and definitions related to behavioral health, while deleting outdated references to the Vice Chancellor for health sciences. Overall, the legislation seeks to bolster the behavioral health workforce in West Virginia to improve access to care.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18C-3-3