Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine backed off a measure that would have allowed generic behavioral drugs to be prescribed under Medicaid, following criticisms that the move undermined the state’s mental health reforms.
The amendment, which the governor proposed as part of his changes to the state’s $77 billion budget, was flagged early by opponents in the legislature as a point of contention as they approached Wednesday’s reconvened session. The measure would have saved $1.5 million in Medicaid costs over the biennium, according to Kaine, though critics said substituting less-expensive, generic drugs for brand-name ones that have proven to work could hurt treatment efforts.
That would oppose what the legislature has sought to accomplish in reforms following last year’s Virginia Tech massacre. The April 16, 2007, shooting, in which a mentally ill student killed 32 students and faculty, prompted an overhaul of the state’s mental health policies and funding in the hopes of preventing similar tragedies.
Gordon Hickey, the governor’s spokesman, said the amendment was pulled after criticism from Sen. Edward Houck, D-Spotsylvania, a leading Senate Democrat.
“Basically, out of respect for Edd Houck, the governor asked that it be withdrawn,” he said.
Also Wednesday, the legislature passed $2.6 billion worth of bonds for capital projects in higher education, state parks and mental health facilities. Of that, a record $1.5 billion will pay for construction projects at Virginia‘s colleges and universities.
“Today we’ve authorized the largest investment in construction at our colleges and universities in Virginia’s history,” said House Democratic caucus Chairman Brian Moran, D-Alexandria. “This will help jump-start our construction industry while building capacity for our future. We have thousands of new graduates that want to go to Virginia’s public colleges, and today’s effort will help make sure we have room for them.”
The approval was equally hailed by the House’s Republican leadership. Speaker William Howell, R-Stafford, called it a result of a “bipartisan and bicameral approach” among legislators and the governor.
