COVID-19 Outbreaks and Testing in State Facilities, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
Summary
This March 4, 2025 letter from Nelson Smith, Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), to the Secretary of Finance and the chairs of the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee and the House Appropriations Committee encloses a quarterly report on COVID-19 outbreaks and testing in state facilities, as Item 317.D requires. The report states that COVID-19 testing has been conducted at all DBHDS facilities based on plans coordinated with VDH since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. It states that in facilities that have experienced outbreaks, testing has occurred as frequently as twice per week for all individuals receiving services and all staff who may come into contact with a potentially COVID-19 positive individual.
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“COVID-19 Outbreaks and Testing in State Facilities, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.”
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COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
NELSON SMITH DEPARTMENT OF Telephone (804) 786-3921
COMMISSIONER Fax (804) 371-6638
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES www.dbhds.virginia.gov
Post Office Box 1797
Richmond, Virginia 23218-1797
March 4, 2025
To: The Honorable Stephen E. Cummings, Secretary of Finance
The Honorable Louise L. Lucas, Chair, Senate Finance & Appropriations
Committee
The Honorable Luke E. Torian, Chair, House Appropriations Committee
From: Nelson Smith, Commissioner, Department of Behavioral Health and
Developmental Services
RE: Item 317.D., 2022 Acts of Appropriation
Item 317.D. of the 2022 Acts of Appropriation requires the Department of Behavioral
Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to report quarterly on COVID-19
outbreaks and testing in state facilities. Specifically, the language reads:
D. In order to avoid and manage COVID-19 outbreaks at state facilities, the
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall coordinate
its testing and surveillance activities with the Virginia Department of Health
(VDH) and local health districts for the purpose of accessing federal ELC
Enhancing Detection Expansion grant funding provided to VDH through the
Centers for Disease Control. The Department of Behavioral Health and
Developmental Services shall report quarterly to the Secretary of Finance and the
Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations
Committees the expense of these funds, including the number of tests
administered.
Please find enclosed the report in accordance with Item 317.D. DBHDS staff are
available should you wish to discuss this request.
cc: The Honorable Janet V. Kelly, Secretary of Health and Human Resources
Quarterly Report on COVID-19
Outbreaks and Testing in State Facilities
January 15, 2024
DBHDS Vision: A Life of Possibilities for All Virginians
1220 BANK STREET • P.O. BOX 1797 • RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-1797 PHONE: (804) 786-3921 • FAX: (804) 371-
6638 • WEB SITE: WWW.DBHDS.VIRGINIA.GOV
Preface
Item 317.D. of the 2023 Acts of Appropriation requires the Department of Behavioral Health
and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to report quarterly on COVID-19 outbreaks and testing
in state facilities. Specifically, the language reads:
D. In order to avoid and manage COVID-19 outbreaks at state facilities, the Department
of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall coordinate its testing and
surveillance activities with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and local health
districts for the purpose of accessing federal ELC Enhancing Detection Expansion grant
funding provided to VDH through the Centers for Disease Control. The Department of
Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall report quarterly to the Secretary of
Finance and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and
Appropriations Committees the expense of these funds, including the number of tests
administered.
2
Item 317. D Quarterly Report on COVID 19 Outbreaks and Testing in
State Facilities
Table of Contents
Background………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
Current Status of Testing Expenditures……………………………………………………….…. 4
Current Status of 317.D Appropriations…………………………………………………………. 5
3
Background
COVID-19 testing has been conducted at all DBHDS facilities based on plans coordinated with
VDH since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Testing protocols have varied depending on the
rate of infections within each facility in collaboration with the local health departments serving
the area where the facility is located. In facilities that have experienced outbreaks, this testing
has occurred as frequently as twice per week for all individuals receiving services and all staff
who may come into contact with a potentially COVID-19 positive individual. Testing protocols
utilized at this time are consistent with revisions recommended by VDH and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
Current Status of Testing and Expenditures
During the first year of the COVID-19 Pandemic, in 2020, local health departments
recommended halting admissions to state facilities experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks based on
the size of the outbreak, ability to implement infection control procedures and isolation
protocols, as well as critical staffing levels. Depending on the population of individuals served
at each facility, new admissions were not accepted for up to 28 days based on local and state
VDH recommendations and safe facility operations. Facilities restarted admissions once the
agreed-upon quarantine and isolation periods ended. During these periods of quarantine, testing
was conducted more frequently and had, at times, been required of all patients and direct care
staff. There were only brief COVID-19 outbreak-related closures at two DBHDS facilities during
the second quarter of FY 2023. Additionally, there were no closures of state facility beds due to
COVID-19 outbreaks during the third quarter of FY 2023. During FY 2024, state facilities
remained open to admissions during intermittent COVID-19 outbreaks mainly due to improved
staffing levels, less severe patient outcomes as a result of COVID-19 positivity, consistent
implementation of COVID-19 protocols and infection control measures.
At the beginning of the third quarter in FY 2022, increased testing was required for unvaccinated
staff. Protocols were revised in that same quarter reducing the testing requirement. This led to
decreasing numbers of tests utilized for each month between the third and fourth quarters. State
facilities continue to implement testing strategies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and
implement appropriate quarantine and isolation protocols commiserate with results and
operational needs.
There were minimal increases in the number of positive patient and staff COVID tests during
portions of FY 2022 Q4 and FY 2023 Q1, likely due to the BA.5 variant. The demand for tests
increased in FY 2023 Q4 and has continued in the first two quarters of FY 2024. Additional
funds were utilized in the third quarter of FY 2023 and in the second quarter FY 2024, but those
appear to be retroactive funds for tests ordered during the previous quarters received and/or were
paid for in previous FY quarters. Grant fund expenditures for state facilities also include
personnel, training, personal protective equipment (PPE), infection prevention supplies,
vaccines, and laboratory testing supplies.
4
The number of tests administered by DBHDS facilities and the expenditures by the state facilities
from the funds provided through 326E (FY 2022) and from the federal grant funds (FY 2023-Q2
FY 2024) are as follows:
Fiscal Quarter Tests Administered 326E or Grant Funds Utilized
Year
2022 1 8,131 $35,770.50
2022 2 14,823 $80,785.38
2022 3 18,961 $167,719.50
2022 4 1,142 $155, 526.12
2023 1 1,622 $118,671.85
2023 2 1,269 $147,352.53
2023 3 967 $199,894.56
2023 4 4,665 $97,285.55
2024 1 12,105 $69,728.29
2024 2 11,236 $145,587.82
Current Status of 317.D Appropriations
The federal ELC Enhancing Detection Expansion grant was awarded in August 2021 to the
Virginia Department of Health (VDH). To receive these federal funds from VDH, DBHDS needs
to be a sub-recipient. DBHDS worked with VDH to establish a memorandum of agreement
(MOA) to create the required relationship and the structure to meet federal sub-recipient
guidelines required by the grant. This MOA was initially signed in October 2021 and last
renewed in July 2023. These funds will continue to be distributed monthly to DBHDS as the
grant is received as reimbursement.
5
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