Welcome to The Pulse, a weekly roundup of health-focused news. Each Thursday, we bring you updates on health policy, community surveys, new clinical studies, programs and services in Southwest and Southside Virginia.
Got a tip or story idea? Email me at emily@cardinalnews.org.
Residential crisis stabilization center opens in Bedford
A new privately owned residential crisis stabilization center opened in Bedford this month.
Tandem Behavioral Health, a mental health and addiction treatment practice group, opened the facility July 14. It opened an outpatient clinic in Roanoke in 2023, where it provides partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient patient programs.
The new residential crisis stabilization unit has 12 beds, including one ADA-compliant room. It provides immediate, short-term intensive care for people experiencing behavioral health crises, helping reduce unnecessary emergency department visits, according to a press release from the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce.
Health Department increases funding to HIV providers
The Virginia Department of Health will increase funding to some nonprofit organizations that provide HIV services to low-income residents.
The announcement follows significant reductions to the federally funded Ryan White Part B program late last year. The program helps cover core medical services for low-income Virginians living with HIV.
The General Assembly appropriated $6.6 million annually for two years in state funding to support the program.
The department said in a press release it based the new funding allocations on the number of clients served, geographic needs, provider input and the impact of services. The department said it will continue evaluating future funding decisions.
For grant year 2026, which runs from April 2026 through March 2027, the department will increase funding for:
- AIDS Response Effort
- Council of Community Services
- Daily Planet Health Services
- Eastern Shore Health District
- Fredericksburg Area Health and Support Services (FAHASS)
- Health Brigade
- INOVA Juniper
- Mary Washington Healthcare
- Minority Health Consortium
- Nationz Foundation
- Northern Virginia Regional Commission (which subcontracts with NOVA Salud and Virginia Health Options)
- Serenity
- Three Rivers Health District
- University of Virginia
Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority announces new leadership appointments
The Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority announced two leadership appointments Wednesday as Executive Director Tony McDowell prepares to retire.
Cecil “Charlie” Lintecum, the authority’s director of operations, will become the new executive director. J. Adam Rosatelli, currently director of finance, will serve as deputy executive director. Both appointments take effect Nov. 1, according to a press release from the abatement authority.
The General Assembly created the authority in 2021 to oversee Virginia’s share of opioid settlement funds. Governed by an 11-member board, the independent body distributes funding to local governments, state agencies and community organizations working to prevent opioid misuse, expand treatment and support recovery.
“Tony McDowell’s leadership helped establish the Authority as a trusted steward of opioid settlement funds and a partner to communities across the Commonwealth,” state Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Washington County and chairman of the OAA’s board of directors, said in a press release.
“Charlie Lintecum and Adam Rosatelli have each played important roles in building the Authority’s operations, fiscal infrastructure and grant programs. Their appointments provide continuity, stability and experienced leadership as the OAA continues its work to help save lives and restore families affected by the opioid epidemic in Virginia.”
Before joining the authority in 2022, Lintecum was the budget operations manager for the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, where he oversaw the state’s medical and administrative Medicaid budgets.
Rosatelli has 20 years of experience in local and state government, according to the release. Before joining the authority in 2022, he worked as a legislative fiscal analyst for the Virginia Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. He also previously worked as the senior budget and management analyst for Henrico County.
