
Virginia must come up with nearly $1 million to care for patients at a state-run geriatric psychiatric center this month after losing its certification from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.
The federal agency pulled the Medicaid funding after Eastern State Hospital's Hancock Geriatric Treatment Center failed to get re-certified by Tuesday. The agency de-certified the center in September after several state inspections found safety and staffing problems at the Williamsburg facility, which opened in 2008.
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services spokeswoman Meghan McGuire says the center is correcting the problems and should be ready to reapply for certification within 30 to 40 days.
The state will pick up the tab until the center is re-certified.
David Hawkings, political columnist at Hawkings Here for Roll Call, talks about the latest behind a Virginia lawmaker's push to get a high-skill immigration bill in the House.

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