New State Initiative Begins Offering Free Telemental Health Services to Patients of Fauquier Free Clinic
Five additional clinics across Virginia prepare for pilot launch in January
The Virginia Telemental Health Initiative (VTMHI), a new pro bono program that provides free and convenient telemental health services to eligible Virginians who are uninsured or underinsured, started this week at the Fauquier Free Clinic and will launch at five additional free and charitable clinics across the state next month.
The free services, which are supported by volunteer mental health providers, offer a range of therapies, including those for patients experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety and other behavioral and mental health concerns. All services are provided virtually through telehealth, a secure and increasingly popular patient-provider arrangement that grew exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic, to enrolled patients at participating free and charitable clinics.
“This innovative program addresses a critical need across the Commonwealth, particularly for Virginians whose income levels put vital mental health services out of reach,” said Nelson Smith, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (DBHDS), a key supporter of the initiative. “VTMHI reflects our underlying commitment toward ensuring the most vulnerable and overlooked populations in Virginia have access to the highest quality care, including in the critical realm of mental health services.”
Other free and charitable clinics piloting the service include Bradley Free Clinic (Roanoke), Brock Hughes Medical Center (Wytheville), Charlottesville Free Clinic, Free Clinic of Franklin County, and Health Brigade (Richmond). The clinics will begin offering the VTMHI program in January. Additional clinics will join the initiative on a rolling basis throughout 2023.
Patients can contact the clinics directly to determine their eligibility and make appointments.
A Mental Health America report ranked Virginia 39th nationwide when it comes to the availability of mental health services for adults. Virginia leaders plan to leverage the VTMHI program to increase access to high-quality mental health supports.
“The launch of this pilot program is the culmination of an aspirational vision and many months of conscientious work among an alliance of exceptionally committed partners,” said Karen S. Rheuban, M.D., the chair of the board of the Virginia Telehealth Network (VTN), a statewide nonprofit organization who has led the creation of VTMHI. “We are incredibly grateful to the alliance of organizations who worked tirelessly with us to make this important initiative a reality.”
In addition to DBHDS and VTN, other founding partners in the program include the University of Virginia Karen S. Rheuban Center for Telehealth (UVA Center for Telehealth), the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center, and the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (VAFCC). ViTel Net, a Virginia-grown telehealth platform, will provide the technology backbone for the telehealth service.
“Virginia’s network of free and charitable clinics provides an important safety net of holistic health care services to many underserved populations across the Commonwealth who lack health insurance or who are underinsured,” said Rufus Phillips, CEO of VAFCC. “As a VTMHI partner, we are pleased to serve as the critical link between patients and providers in this important work to combat the rising need in behavioral health, helping our free and charitable clinics deliver the kind of mental health services that can change people’s lives.”
VTMHI leads with a goal of connecting patients with needed mental health supports in coordination with the free and charitable clinic that serves as the individual’s medical home. VTN and VAFCC are collaborating on clinic resources and educational opportunities to help support an integrated approach to medical and mental health care.
VTMHI recently completed the first round of recruitment of volunteer pre-licensed mental health providers to participate in the first phase of the pilot. Pre-licensed volunteers have completed their graduate-level coursework and are in the process of completing clinical licensure. They will be matched with participating free and charitable clinics to provide services to new and existing patients while earning supervised clinical contact hours and free training – a structure that aims to enhance workforce development across Virginia.
A statewide survey of health providers conducted by VTN in 2021 showed the widespread need for more mental health services and the lack of services in many parts of the state. Additional findings indicated a growing receptivity to the use of telemedicine among mental health providers. According to survey findings, free and charitable clinics in Virginia also report having a significant need for high-quality referral options for behavioral and mental health services.
In 2023, VTMHI will open applications for volunteer pre-licensed providers to participate in the next phase of the program.
For more information about eligibility requirements and how Virginia residents can access mental health services through VTMHI, visit https://virginiatelementalhealth.org/accesscare/.
For more information about VTMHI, visit https://virginiatelementalhealth.org/.
* * *
About the Virginia Telehealth Network
The Virginia Telehealth Network (VTN) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting telehealth efforts in the Commonwealth. Started in 2006 by a group of health providers with an interest in promoting telehealth, VTN seeks to provide education, resources, and best practices to users of telehealth while advocating for safe and effective delivery of telehealth services. In addition, VTN develops and maintains strong partnerships that allow for the exploration and promotion of innovative programs that promote access to high-quality health care via telehealth.
About the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services
The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) seeks to promote dignity, choice, recovery, and the highest possible level of participation in work, relationships, and all aspects of community life for individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities, or substance-use disorders. DBHDS operates 12 state facilities and partners with 40 locally run community services boards and hundreds of private providers statewide. For more information, please visit https://dbhds.virginia.gov/.
About the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Richmond, the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics is an effective advocate for the issues and concerns of free and charitable clinics, their volunteer workforce, and the vulnerable patients served by free and charitable clinics through the Commonwealth. VAFCC’s programs support free and charitable clinics across Virginia and advance the cause of underserved Virginians. To learn more about the VAFCC, our clinics, and who they serve, visit www.VAFreeClinics.org or www.FreeClinicsCare.org.