Kaine, Warner announce $3.5M in federal funds to expand behavioral health services in VA

Va. (WSET) — On September 20, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced more than $3.5 million in federal funding to support behavioral health throughout Virginia.

The funding - $3,517,754 to be exact - will go toward expanding mental health and substance use disorder services at community health centers. These centers are often the main source of care and treatment for people who are uninsured, underinsured or enrolled in Medicaid.

The funding was awarded through the Health Resources and Services Administration's Behavioral Health Service Expansion program.

Funds will be allocated as follows:

• $600,000 for New Horizons Healthcare in Roanoke
• $600,000 for Neighborhood Health in Alexandria
• $600,000 for Rockbridge Area Health Center in Lexington
• $600,000 for Southwest Community Health in Saltville
• $599,996 for Tri-Area Community Health in Laurel Fork
• $517,758 for Daily Planet Inc. in Richmond

The senators have been staunch supporters of expanding behavioral health services across the Commonwealth. In 2023, Warner and Kaine announced nearly $1.4 million in mental health care funding for Virginia, obtained through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. They also introduced the CONNECT for Health Act, which would help to expand telehealth coverage.

The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act introduced by Senator Kaine is meant to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, mental and behavioral conditions among healthcare professionals and has already provided $100 million in funding, with $5.6 million of that going to Virginia providers.

“Behavioral health care is a critical part of caring for our communities, and we need to do more to expand access to this support,” said the senators. “We’re glad this funding will help community health centers across Virginia reach more Virginians and provide them with the behavioral health services they need.”