BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER

PROCESS TO OPEN A CENTER

The steps to become a licensed behavioral health center are as follows:

1. Apply and receive a Certificate of Need (CON) or exemption for any new proposed health care service in West Virginia through the West Virginia Health Care Authority. For more information, visit the West Virginia Health Care Authority web site at www.hcawv.org.
2. For any new construction or renovation to be utilized as a licensed health care facility, you must contact the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC) Life Safety Program. All building sites and architectural plans for both new construction and renovations must be approved by OHFLAC prior to construction. In addition, occupancy of a new health care facility or renovations to an existing health care facility must be inspected and approved prior to occupancy being granted. You may contact the OHFLAC Life Safety Program at 304-558-0050.
   
   
   1. All new construction is required to have a site inspection by the OHFLAC Life Safety Program to ensure the location has the proper utilities and meets safety requirements. A Site Inspection Request form is available on the Behavioral Health Center Forms & Tools page.
   2. Architectural plans for both new construction and renovations to existing sites must be submitted to the OHFLAC Life Safety Program with a Contract Documents Review Request. Plans will be reviewed for compliance with the West Virginia Behavioral Health Rule to include 2012 Edition NFPA 101 and applicable Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines for Design and Construction .
   3. Once a letter of approval is given to the architect, construction can begin.
   4. Periodic inspections may be conducted by the OHFLAC Life Safety Program throughout the construction phase.
   5. Before occupancy can be granted, a pre-opening inspection must be conducted. A Pre-Opening Inspection Request form must be submitted to the OHFLAC Life Safety Program 2-3 weeks prior to the date you would like to occupy your building.
   6. All Life Safety Forms and Service Fees may be viewed and downloaded from the OHFLAC Life Safety Program page.
   7. Questions or concerns regarding the construction or renovation process may be made by contacting the Life Safety Program at 304-558-0050.
3. Once you are certain of the date of completion for your construction project and have policies and procedures developed, if applicable, you then should submit a Behavioral Health Services Application for Licensure. If you have any questions, please contact the Behavioral Health Program at 304-558-0050. You may include the State Fire Marshal’s recommendation with your application.
4. For OHFLAC to issue a license as a behavioral health center, your center must be in substantial compliance with the Behavioral Health Centers Licensure state rule, W. Va. Code R. §64-11, et al. If not included with your application for licensure OHFLAC will notify the State Fire Marshal's office and must receive a recommendation of either a "regular" or "provisional”, before processing your application.
5. Once a recommendation from the State Fire Marshal is received you will be contacted by OHFLAC to schedule your initial licensure survey. This will be the only time OHFLAC will contact you prior to an inspection/survey.
6. During your initial licensure survey, OHFLAC will review your written program description, policies and procedures, job descriptions and services provided. Your policies and procedures must be based on services provided. A listing of expectations can be viewed here.
7. After your initial licensure survey, if you have been determined to be in substantial compliance with the Behavioral Health Centers Licensure state rule, W. Va. Code R. §64-11, et al., a 6-month initial license will be issued. Prior to expiration of this license, OHFLAC will conduct a full on-site licensure review, including, but not limited to, interviews, observations, and review of consumer records and services.