WVa lawmakers pass mental health funding boost
 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The Legislature has voted to pay behavioral health centers more for providing state-funded care, but the Manchin administration opposes the measure.

The House unanimously passed the bill Wednesday to the governor. The Senate approved it last week.

The bill would increase reimbursement rates for nearly three-dozen different behavioral health services. It would also create new legislative oversight of such care.

But administration officials say the bill leaves out such providers as private practice psychologists and psychiatrists. They believe the rate increases could worsen care, by encouraging outdated and ineffective practices.

Critical reports last summer of state-provided mental health care has prompted increasing legislative scrutiny of services.