In keeping with its statutory mandate, the Joint Commission received reports from state agencies and other health-related groups; completed studies; considered comments from public and private organizations, advocates, industry representatives, citizens and other interested parties; and made policy recommendations to advance the quality of health and health care services in the Commonwealth.

Joint Commission on Health Care

The full Commission met five times in 2018. These meetings were held in Senate Room A of the Pocahontas Building on June 15th, August 22nd, September 18th, October 15th, and November 7th. The Commission also met on February 19th in Subcommittee Room 1 to discuss changing the study approval process. This meeting resulted in the creation of the JCHC Executive Subcommittee which decides, with input from all members, the JCHC work-plan for the year. The executive subcommittee meeting was held on April 17th in Subcommittee Room 3 of the Pocahontas Building. Meeting materials (including agendas, presentations, handouts and minutes) are posted on the JCHC website at http://jchc.virginia.gov.

Six staff reports were presented during the 2018 Joint Commission meetings:

• Quality of Health Care Services in Virginia Jails and Prisons, and Impact of Requiring Community Services Boards (CSBs) to Provide Mental Health Services in Jails (continued from 2017)

• Pharmacy Drug Disposal Program

• Requiring the Installation of Onsite Temporary Emergency Electrical Power Sources for Assisted Living Facilities

• Addiction Relapse Prevention Programs in the Commonwealth

• Prevalence and Risks of ADHD Medications in Virginia (continued from 2017)

• Medical Aid-in-Dying in Virginia (continued from 2017)

• Options for Increasing the Use of Telemental Health in the Commonwealth - Final Report
° A written report was provided to members instead of a meeting presentation

In addition to the staff reports, invited guests delivered the following presentations at the meetings (go to http://jchc.virginia.gov/meetings.asp to view them):

• Virginia’s Plan for Well-Being – 2018 Update presented by M. Norman Oliver, M.D., MA, State Health Commissioner of Virginia

• Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) Implementation Update on 2018 General Assembly Directives, presented by S. Hughes Melton, M.D. MBA, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

• Department of Medical Assistance Services’ (DMAS) Update for the Joint Commission on Health Care: 2018 presented by Jennifer Lee, M.D., Director of DMAS

• The State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grant Awarded to Virginia and Emergency Department Pilots, presented by Mellie Randall, Substance Use Disorder Policy Director at the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

• Governor Northam’s Health and Human Resources Strategic Priorities presented by Daniel Carey, M.D., Secretary of Health and Human Resources

• Medical Addiction and Recovery Treatment Services (ARTS) - Outcomes from the First Year presented by Katherine Neuhausen, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, and Tammy Whitlock, Deputy of Complex Care, Department of Medical Assistance Services

• Department of Social Services (DSS) Update for the Joint Commission on Health Care presented by Duke Storen, Commissioner of Virginia Department of Social Services

• Results of DBHDS Work Group on Improving the Quality of Direct Support Professional Workforce for the Developmental Disability Waiver Population presented by Holly Mortlock, MSE, Policy Director, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

• Trauma-Informed Mental Health and Child Development Services presented by L. Robert Bolling, Chief Executive Officer of ChildSavers

• Developmental Disabilities Waivers Update for the Joint Commission on Health Care presented by Dawn Traver, M.Ed., Director of Waver Operations, Division of Developmental Services, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

• 2018 Annual Report and Strategic Plan Update presented by Michael Lundberg, Executive Director, Virginia Health Information, Inc. (VHI)