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Grading the States 2009 Report Card: West Virginia

In 2006, West Virginia’s mental health care system received a D grade. Three years later, the grade has fallen to an F. An already inadequate system is deteriorating. One reason is the horrendous redesign of its Medicaid program. Full narrative (PDF).

Grades by Category Detailed Score Card (PDF)

Health Promotion and Measurement: D 25% of Total Grade
Basic measures, such as the number of programs delivering evidence-based practices, emergency room wait-times, and the quantity of psychiatric beds by setting.
Financing & Core Treatment/Recovery Services: F 45% of Total Grade
A variety of financing measures, such as whether Medicaid reimburses providers for all, or part of evidence-based practices; and more.
Consumer & Family Empowerment: F 15% of Total Grade
Includes measures such as consumer and family access to essential information from the state, promotion of consumer-run programs, and family and peer education and support.
Community Integration and Social Inclusion: F 15% of Total Grade
Includes activities that require collaboration among state mental health agencies and other state agencies and systems.

Innovations

West Virginia Mental Health Consumers Association programs
One mental health court

Urgent Needs

Redesign Medicaid plan—the right way
Evidence-based practices
Supportive housing and workforce development
Crisis intervention, jail diversion, and reentry programs

Additional Information and Resources

Full Narrative (PDF) | Detailed Score Card (PDF) | Full Report | Order Hard Copy

NAMI West Virginia: Connect with the NAMI nearest you.

Grading the States Online Discussion: Share your comments, reactions, personal stories, and ideas around NAMI's report on the state of America's health care system for serious mental illness.

Grading the States 2006 Report Card: West Virginia

"Services are difficult to locate, and persons employed do not seem to always know what is available or even how to readily access those services. People are continually being told that funding has been cut."

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