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Building and Transforming Coverage, Services and Supports for a Healthier Virginia Approval Period: August 1, 2026 through December 31, 2031 Page 19 of 51

consultants in EDs to help with discharge and referral to treatment providers); 5. Implementation of strategies to develop and enhance interoperability and data sharing between physical, SUD, and mental health providers, with the goal of enhancing care coordination so that disparate providers may better share clinical information to improve health outcomes for beneficiaries with SMI or SED. iii. Increasing Access to Continuum of Care Including Crisis Stabilization Services. 1. Establishment of a process to annually assess the availability of mental health services throughout the state, particularly crisis stabilization services, and updates on steps taken to increase availability (the state must provide a yearly update on the availability of mental health services via the Annual Monitoring Report); 2. Commitment to implementation of the SMI financing plan described in STC 25. The state must maintain a level of state and local funding for outpatient community-based mental health services for Medicaid beneficiaries for the duration of the SMI program under the demonstration that is no less than the amount of funding provided at the beginning of the SMI program under the demonstration. The annual MOE will be reported and monitored as part of the Annual Monitoring Report described in STC 35; 3. Implementation of strategies to improve the state’s capacity to track the availability of inpatient and crisis stabilization beds to help connect individuals in need with that level of care as soon as possible; 4. Implementation of a requirement that providers, plans, and utilization review entities use an evidence-based, publicly available patient assessment tool, preferably endorsed by a mental health provider association [e.g., Level of Care Utilization System (LOCUS) or the Child and Adolescent Service Intensity Instrument (CASII)] to determine appropriate level of care and length of stay. vi. Earlier Identification and Engagement in Treatment and Increased Integration. 1. Implementation of strategies for identifying and engaging individuals, particularly adolescents and young adults, with SMI in treatment sooner, including through supported employment and supported education programs; 2. Increasing integration of behavioral health care in non-specialty care settings, including schools and primary care practices, to improve identification of SMI/SED conditions sooner and improve awareness of and linkages to specialty treatment providers;