West Virginia lawmakers have introduced a bill that aims to protect residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities from abuse and neglect in behavioral health facilities in the state, according to a Feb. 22 report from the Parkersburg News and Sentinel.
House Bill 3247 was recommended for passage by the West Virginia House Health and Human Resources Committee Feb. 21, the report said. The bill would require residential behavioral health facilities to be inspected annually by the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification.
The bill would also require patients whose guardian is the state to be visited by caseworkers once a month, along with requiring the Office of Inspector General to send any findings during their investigation of potential abuse and neglect to county prosecutors.
The introduction of HB 3247 follows raised concerns from the organization Disability Rights West Virginia alleging abuse and neglect of patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Disability Rights serves as the federal protection and advocacy system that monitors state agencies serving people with disabilities.