Behavioral health care providers in West Virginia serve some of the states most underprivileged and vulnerable citizens. These citizens are increasingly finding it difficult to find care in their communities as providers reduce or eliminate services due to severe state funding reductions. The problems created by these funding cuts have been compounded because the primary reimbursement rates for outpatient behavioral health services under the Medicaid program, which covers the vast majority of behavioral health patients in West Virginia, have not increased in more than 15 years.

The undersigned urge Governor Manchin and the West Virginia Legislature to support additional funding to increase Medicaid rates for community based behavioral healthcare services. The funding of community based services will help maintain access for all West Virginians to needed care while aiding families, reducing costly admissions to state psychiatric hospitals, reducing the amount of time by state and local law enforcement dealing with behavioral health issues, and minimizing the states cost in providing behavioral health care.