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Bill

SB 1439

Acute psychiatric bed registry; patient privacy and data security, etc.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tara Durant

Virginia establishes statewide acute psychiatric bed registry enabling real-time bed tracking across hospitals while implementing privacy and security protections for sensitive mental health data.

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0156)
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Bill Summary · SB 1439

Legislative bill overview

SB 1439 establishes a statewide acute psychiatric bed registry in Virginia that tracks the availability of inpatient psychiatric beds across hospitals and mental health facilities in real-time. The bill includes specific requirements for patient privacy protections and data security standards to safeguard sensitive mental health information collected through this registry system.

Why is this important

Psychiatric bed shortages create critical bottlenecks in emergency mental health care, forcing patients into emergency departments and increasing wait times during crises. A centralized registry allows hospitals and emergency responders to quickly locate available beds, potentially reducing response times and improving patient outcomes during psychiatric emergencies.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy concerns: Centralizing psychiatric patient data across institutions creates a larger target for breaches and raises questions about how strictly data access will be controlled and monitored
  • Implementation costs: Hospitals must invest in new systems to report real-time bed availability and comply with security standards, potentially creating financial burden especially for smaller facilities
  • Data accuracy and liability: If the registry provides outdated or inaccurate bed availability information, questions arise about who bears responsibility when patients cannot access listed beds or experience delayed care

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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