(a) The Director with the approval of the Commissioner shall establish Crisis Intervention and Prevention Services. This is a community-based program shall provide counseling, consultation, evaluation, treatment and referral, education, and training services, delivered by a crisis intervention team. The program must be designed for persons with behavioral challenges, mental health disorders or substance use disorders who experience a behavioral crisis that threatens their ability to live a full, productive life due to hospitalizations, law enforcement involvement, or placement in restrictive settings. The Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health shall support persons in the development of behavioral assessments, individualized behavior treatment plans, and intensive intervention with a focus on family coaching.
(b) The program shall provide the following services:(1) Emergency room services. Crisis intervention and psychiatric emergency services based in a hospital emergency room;(2) Outreach services. Outreach services and crisis intervention beyond the hospital setting;(3) A crisis hotline center to provide crisis intervention services and crisis care coordination to individuals accessing the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline from any district within the territory, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.(4) Telehealth Services. Delivery of health care services, through the use of interactive real-time visual and audio or other electronic media for the purpose of consultation and education concerning diagnosis, treatment, care management and self-management of patient’s physical and mental health and includes real-time interaction between the patient and the telehealth provider, synchronous encounters, asynchronous encounters, store, and forward transfers and telemonitoring;(5) Transportation of persons in crisis to and from the hospital or institution; and(6) Suicide Prevention and School Counseling Program: a program in cooperation and coordination with the Department of Education, Department of Human Services, and the Police shall develop a suicide prevention strategy and an evidence-based model suicide prevention program, counseling for bullying, cyberbullying, and peer pressure counseling to be presented in the elementary, junior, middle, and high schools in the Territory which must include the preparation of relevant educational materials that must be distributed in the schools.
(1) Emergency room services. Crisis intervention and psychiatric emergency services based in a hospital emergency room;
(2) Outreach services. Outreach services and crisis intervention beyond the hospital setting;
(3) A crisis hotline center to provide crisis intervention services and crisis care coordination to individuals accessing the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline from any district within the territory, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
(4) Telehealth Services. Delivery of health care services, through the use of interactive real-time visual and audio or other electronic media for the purpose of consultation and education concerning diagnosis, treatment, care management and self-management of patient’s physical and mental health and includes real-time interaction between the patient and the telehealth provider, synchronous encounters, asynchronous encounters, store, and forward transfers and telemonitoring;
(5) Transportation of persons in crisis to and from the hospital or institution; and
(6) Suicide Prevention and School Counseling Program: a program in cooperation and coordination with the Department of Education, Department of Human Services, and the Police shall develop a suicide prevention strategy and an evidence-based model suicide prevention program, counseling for bullying, cyberbullying, and peer pressure counseling to be presented in the elementary, junior, middle, and high schools in the Territory which must include the preparation of relevant educational materials that must be distributed in the schools.
(c) (1) The designated crisis hotline center must:(A) have an active agreement with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for participation within the Lifeline network;(B) meet National Suicide Prevention Lifeline requirements and best practices guidelines for operational, performance and clinical standards; and(C) must provide data, report, and participate in evaluations and related quality improvement activities as required by the 9-8-8 Administrator.(2) The designated hotline center may deploy crisis and outgoing services, including Crisis Intervention Team, and coordinate access to crisis receiving and stabilization services or other local resources as appropriate, consistent with any guidelines and best practices that may be established by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.(3) The designated hotline center shall meet the requirements set forth by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for serving at-risk and specialized populations as identified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, including, but not be limited to, LGBTQ, youth, minorities, rural individuals, veterans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and other high-risk populations well as those with co-occurring substance use; provide linguistically and culturally competent care; and include training requirements and policies for transferring a 9-8-8 contact to an appropriate specialized center or subnetwork within the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network.(4) The designated hotline center must provide follow-up services to individuals accessing the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline consistent with guidance and policies established by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.(5) To facilitate the ongoing care needs of persons contacting 9-8-8, Department’s Behavioral Health Division shall assure active collaborations and coordination of service linkages between the designated center, mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers, local community mental health centers, behavioral health clinics, Crisis Intervention Teams, and community-based, as well as hospital emergency departments and inpatient psychiatric settings, establishing formal agreements and appropriate information sharing procedures where appropriate.(6) The Department’s Behavioral Health Division shall assure active collaborations and coordination of service linkages between the designated center and crisis receiving and stabilization services for individuals accessing the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline through appropriate information sharing regarding availability of services.(7) The Department’s Behavioral Health Division, having primary oversight of suicide prevention and crisis service activities and essential coordination with the designated 9-8-8 hotline center, shall work with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line and other SAMHSA-approved networks for the purposes of ensuring consistency of public messaging about 9-8-8 services and provide an annual report of the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline’s usage and the services to the Legislature and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.(8) VITEMA shall collaborate with the Department of Health, the Virgin Islands Police Department, and Fire/EMS to establish policies and procedures related to the proper routing of calls.(9) The Department of Health shall promulgate regulations to allow appropriate information sharing and communication between and across crisis and emergency response systems for the purpose of real-time crisis care coordination including, but not limited to, deployment of crisis and outgoing services and linked, flexible services specific to crisis response.
(1) The designated crisis hotline center must:(A) have an active agreement with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for participation within the Lifeline network;(B) meet National Suicide Prevention Lifeline requirements and best practices guidelines for operational, performance and clinical standards; and(C) must provide data, report, and participate in evaluations and related quality improvement activities as required by the 9-8-8 Administrator.
(A) have an active agreement with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for participation within the Lifeline network;
(B) meet National Suicide Prevention Lifeline requirements and best practices guidelines for operational, performance and clinical standards; and
(C) must provide data, report, and participate in evaluations and related quality improvement activities as required by the 9-8-8 Administrator.
(2) The designated hotline center may deploy crisis and outgoing services, including Crisis Intervention Team, and coordinate access to crisis receiving and stabilization services or other local resources as appropriate, consistent with any guidelines and best practices that may be established by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
(3) The designated hotline center shall meet the requirements set forth by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for serving at-risk and specialized populations as identified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, including, but not be limited to, LGBTQ, youth, minorities, rural individuals, veterans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and other high-risk populations well as those with co-occurring substance use; provide linguistically and culturally competent care; and include training requirements and policies for transferring a 9-8-8 contact to an appropriate specialized center or subnetwork within the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network.
(4) The designated hotline center must provide follow-up services to individuals accessing the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline consistent with guidance and policies established by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
(5) To facilitate the ongoing care needs of persons contacting 9-8-8, Department’s Behavioral Health Division shall assure active collaborations and coordination of service linkages between the designated center, mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers, local community mental health centers, behavioral health clinics, Crisis Intervention Teams, and community-based, as well as hospital emergency departments and inpatient psychiatric settings, establishing formal agreements and appropriate information sharing procedures where appropriate.
(6) The Department’s Behavioral Health Division shall assure active collaborations and coordination of service linkages between the designated center and crisis receiving and stabilization services for individuals accessing the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline through appropriate information sharing regarding availability of services.
(7) The Department’s Behavioral Health Division, having primary oversight of suicide prevention and crisis service activities and essential coordination with the designated 9-8-8 hotline center, shall work with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line and other SAMHSA-approved networks for the purposes of ensuring consistency of public messaging about 9-8-8 services and provide an annual report of the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline’s usage and the services to the Legislature and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
(8) VITEMA shall collaborate with the Department of Health, the Virgin Islands Police Department, and Fire/EMS to establish policies and procedures related to the proper routing of calls.
(9) The Department of Health shall promulgate regulations to allow appropriate information sharing and communication between and across crisis and emergency response systems for the purpose of real-time crisis care coordination including, but not limited to, deployment of crisis and outgoing services and linked, flexible services specific to crisis response.
(d) (1) The Department of Health may impose an initial territory-wide 9-8-8 fee of one dollar monthly on each prepaid telephone service, landline telephone, cellular or mobile telephone, or other voice over internet protocol services. The Department of Health may increase the fee as necessary, in an amount not to exceed ten percent of the prior year’s fee, to fund this program.(2) The revenue generated by a 9-8-8 fee must be sequestered in a fund as specified in section 1020a to be obligated or expended only in support of 9-8-8 services, or enhancements of such services.(3) Consistent with 47 U.S.C. § 251a, the revenue generated by a 9-8-8 fee must be used only to offset costs that are or will be reasonably attributed to:(A) ensuring the efficient and effective routing and handling of calls, chats and texts made to the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline to the designated hotline center, including staffing and technological infrastructure enhancements necessary to achieve operational, performance and clinical standards and best practices set forth by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; and(B) personnel and the provision of acute mental health, crisis outreach and stabilization services by directly responding to the 9-8-8 national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.(4) The revenue generated by 9-8-8 fees may be used only for expenses that are not:(A) reimbursable through Medicaid, Medicare, federal or state-regulated health insurance plans, and disability insurers;(B) a covered service by the individual’s health coverage; or(C) covered because the service recipient’s name and health coverage information cannot be obtained or billed.(5) The 9-8-8 fee revenue must be used to supplement, not supplant, any federal, territory or local funding for suicide prevention or behavioral health crisis services.(6) The 9-8-8 fee amount must be adjusted as needed to provide for continuous operation, volume increases and maintenance.(7) The Commissioner of the Department of Health shall prepare an annual report on the revenue generated by the 9-8-8 fee to the Legislature of the Virgin Islands and the Federal Communications Commission.
(1) The Department of Health may impose an initial territory-wide 9-8-8 fee of one dollar monthly on each prepaid telephone service, landline telephone, cellular or mobile telephone, or other voice over internet protocol services. The Department of Health may increase the fee as necessary, in an amount not to exceed ten percent of the prior year’s fee, to fund this program.
(2) The revenue generated by a 9-8-8 fee must be sequestered in a fund as specified in section 1020a to be obligated or expended only in support of 9-8-8 services, or enhancements of such services.
(3) Consistent with 47 U.S.C. § 251a, the revenue generated by a 9-8-8 fee must be used only to offset costs that are or will be reasonably attributed to:(A) ensuring the efficient and effective routing and handling of calls, chats and texts made to the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline to the designated hotline center, including staffing and technological infrastructure enhancements necessary to achieve operational, performance and clinical standards and best practices set forth by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; and(B) personnel and the provision of acute mental health, crisis outreach and stabilization services by directly responding to the 9-8-8 national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.
(A) ensuring the efficient and effective routing and handling of calls, chats and texts made to the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline to the designated hotline center, including staffing and technological infrastructure enhancements necessary to achieve operational, performance and clinical standards and best practices set forth by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; and
(B) personnel and the provision of acute mental health, crisis outreach and stabilization services by directly responding to the 9-8-8 national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.
(4) The revenue generated by 9-8-8 fees may be used only for expenses that are not:(A) reimbursable through Medicaid, Medicare, federal or state-regulated health insurance plans, and disability insurers;(B) a covered service by the individual’s health coverage; or(C) covered because the service recipient’s name and health coverage information cannot be obtained or billed.
(A) reimbursable through Medicaid, Medicare, federal or state-regulated health insurance plans, and disability insurers;
(B) a covered service by the individual’s health coverage; or
(C) covered because the service recipient’s name and health coverage information cannot be obtained or billed.
(5) The 9-8-8 fee revenue must be used to supplement, not supplant, any federal, territory or local funding for suicide prevention or behavioral health crisis services.
(6) The 9-8-8 fee amount must be adjusted as needed to provide for continuous operation, volume increases and maintenance.
(7) The Commissioner of the Department of Health shall prepare an annual report on the revenue generated by the 9-8-8 fee to the Legislature of the Virgin Islands and the Federal Communications Commission.
(e) The Department’s Behavioral Health Division shall provide primary oversight and direction on the territory’s implementation and operation of the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. The Governor shall create an advisory body or require an existing advisory body to provide guidance to the Division of Behavioral Health, to gather feedback, and make recommendations regarding the planning and implementation of the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline. The advisory body must include representatives of the designated 9-8-8 crisis center, 9-1-1 call centers, the Department’s Behavioral Health Division, territorial substance abuse providers, law enforcement, hospital emergency departments, Department of Health enforcement officers with peace officer status, individuals with lived experience with suicide prevention or behavioral health crisis services usage, family members and caregivers, and behavioral health crisis services providers.
(f) The Department of Health shall establish timeframes to accomplish the provisions of this section that are consistent with the timeframes required by the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 and the Federal Communication Commission’s rules adopted on July 16, 2020.