Committee endorses exception to adult bed cap to allow juvenile substance‑use treatment beds
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Summary
Lawmakers reported a substitute to exempt juvenile substance‑use treatment beds from the 250‑adult bed cap, after testimony that West Virginia currently lacks licensed adolescent inpatient beds and that juveniles are being sent out of state or to juvenile detention.
The Senate Health Committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 1012 that creates an exception to the 250 licensed adult substance‑use bed cap to allow juvenile treatment beds statewide.
Counsel explained the substitute creates an exception for juvenile beds (the substitute raised the statewide allowance from 60 in one county to 100 statewide). Stacy Shy, CEO of OVP Health, testified the state has virtually no licensed adolescent inpatient beds for substance use disorder and described a proposed 60–75‑bed facility in Cabell County with integrated primary care, mental‑health and wraparound services. Shy said many adolescents currently must be placed out of state, often in Pennsylvania, and that earlier intervention could reduce later higher costs and poor outcomes.
Senators expressed concern about the existing adult bed cap limiting options for juveniles and about the practice of using juvenile detention as a default when treatment beds are unavailable. A senator said the substitute is a start and urged moving forward to address the urgent need for adolescent services.
The committee voted to report the substitute to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass; the transcript records voice votes only.