SB1439: Acute psychiatric bed registry; patient privacy and data security, etc.

Legislative Summary

Acute psychiatric bed registry; Bed Registry Advisory Council established; patient privacy and data security; Virginia Freedom of Information Act exemption. Requires the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to include provisions for the protection of patient privacy and data security pursuant to state and federal law and regulations in contracts with private entities for the administration of the acute psychiatric bed registry. The bill requires the Commissioner to create the Bed Registry Advisory Council to advise the Commissioner and any such private entity on the administration of such registry and to review and approve requests for access to data from the registry. The bill also creates a Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) exemption for information submitted to such registry. This bill is identical to HB 1937.