Virginia Action

Tag Telehealth

Healthcare Bills Update 1/31

HEALTHCARE

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: HB1724 – Medicinal Price Setting

STATUS: This bill is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 1/31, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

This bill would create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. Under this proposed legislation, the Board will be given authority to limit drug payment amounts and reimbursements to an upper payment limit amount for state sponsored and state regulated health plans, directly opposed to free market principles.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB1724!

SUPPORT – CALL TO ACTION

SUPPORT: HB1904 – Nursery Service Provider Expansion

STATUS: This bill is on the House Second Reading Calendar TODAY, 1/31. It is expected to be on the House Third Reading Calendar on Monday, 2/3, and receive a floor vote.

Expands healthcare access by allowing qualified nurse midwives and pediatric nurse practitioners to provide newborn nursery coverage when physicians are unavailable, with appropriate training requirements. Enables telehealth consultation options while maintaining quality standards and safety protocols. This reduces regulatory barriers and increases healthcare provider options, particularly benefiting rural areas with physician shortages.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE YES on HB1904!

BILL UPDATES – SUPPORT

SUPPORT: HB2119 – Medical Desert Healthcare Access and Expedited Review

STATUS: This bill passed the House Health and Human Services Committee yesterday, 1/30. It will now be sent to the House floor.

This bill creates a process for expedited certificate of public need review in medical desert areas, defined as locations with no healthcare facility within 15-30 miles, less than one primary care physician per 3,500 residents, high poverty rates, or federal Health Professional Shortage Area designation. The Commissioner must issue determinations within 120 days of application submission, streamlining approval processes to expand healthcare access in underserved communities.

SUPPORT: SB1203 – Medical Desert Healthcare Access and Expedited Review

STATUS: This bill passed the Senate Education and Health Committee yesterday, 1/30. It will now be sent to the Senate floor.

This bill creates a process for expedited certificate of public need review in medical desert areas, defined as locations with no healthcare facility within 15-30 miles, less than one primary care physician per 3,500 residents, high poverty rates, or federal Health Professional Shortage Area designation. The Commissioner must issue determinations within 120 days of application submission, streamlining approval processes to expand healthcare access in underserved communities.

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Healthcare Bills Update 1/29

HEALTHCARE

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: HB1552 – Certificate of Public Need Exemption for Critical Hospitals

STATUS: This bill was on the House Second Reading Calendar yesterday, 1/28. It is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 1/29, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

This bill would further entrench Virginia in the problems caused by the Certificate of Public Need program. It would allow certain hospitals, defined as critical access hospitals, to receive an exemption from COPN. This interference in the market place would cause inequity and continue to allow hospitals to choose winners and losers in the market of medical services. 

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB1552!

SUPPORT – CALL TO ACTION

SUPPORT: SB1037 – School-based Telehealth and Mental Health Services

STATUS: This bill was on the House Second Reading Calendar yesterday, 1/28. It is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 1/29, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

Empowers local school boards to increase healthcare access by allowing students to receive telehealth and mental health services during school hours, respecting parental rights through consent requirements. The bill preserves local control by letting school boards develop their own policies while ensuring student privacy and preventing disciplinary action for receiving healthcare services. This approach expands healthcare options without mandating participation, aligning with principles of individual choice and limited government intervention.

Please contact these Senators immediately and ask them to VOTE YES on SB1037

Senate Finance and Appropriations CommitteeDistrictPhoneEmail
Chair: Senator L. Louise Lucas (D)18(804) 698-7518senatorlucas@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Jennifer B. Boysko (D)38(804) 698-7538senatorboysko@senate.virginia.gov
Senator R. Creigh Deeds (D)11(804) 698-7511senatordeeds@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Adam P. Ebbin (D)39(804) 698-7539senatorebbin@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Barbara A. Favola (D)40(804) 698-7540senatorfavola@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Ghazala F. Hashmi (D)15(804) 698-7515senatorhashmi@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Mamie E. Locke (D)23(804) 698-7523senatorlocke@senate.virginia.gov
Senator David W. Marsden (D)35(804) 698-7535senatormarsden@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Ryan T. McDougle (R)26(804) 698-7526senatormcdougle@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Jeremy S. McPike (D)29(804) 698-7529senatormcpike@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Mark D. Obenshain (R)2(804) 698-7502senatorobenshain@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Todd E. Pillion (R)6(804) 698-7506senatorpillion@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Bryce E. Reeves (R)28(804) 698-7528senatorreeves@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Richard H. Stuart (R)25(804) 698-7525senatorstuart@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Scott A. Surovell (D)34(804) 698-7534senatorsurovell@senate.virginia.gov

BILL UPDATES –OPPOSE

OPPOSE: SB1177 – Certificate of Public Need Exemption for Critical Hospitals

STATUS: This bill was passed on the Senate floor yesterday, 1/28. It will now be sent to the House to be assigned to a House Committee.

This bill would further entrench Virginia in the problems caused by the Certificate of Public Need program. It would allow certain hospitals, defined as critical access hospitals, to receive an exemption from COPN. This interference in the market place would cause inequity and continue to allow hospitals to choose winners and losers in the market of medical services. 

BILL UPDATES – SUPPORT

SUPPORT: HB2119 – Medical Desert Healthcare Access and Expedited Review

STATUS: This bill passed the House Health Subcommittee yesterday, 1/28. It will now be sent to the full House Health and Human Services Committee.

This bill creates a process for expedited certificate of public need review in medical desert areas, defined as locations with no healthcare facility within 15-30 miles, less than one primary care physician per 3,500 residents, high poverty rates, or federal Health Professional Shortage Area designation. The Commissioner must issue determinations within 120 days of application submission, streamlining approval processes to expand healthcare access in underserved communities.

SUPPORT: SB1064 – Medical Care Facilities Certificate of Public Need Process Reform

STATUS: This bill passed on the Senate floor yesterday, 1/28. It will now be sent to the House to be assigned to a House Committee.

This bill streamlines the certificate of public need (COPN) process for medical facilities by establishing an expedited 90-day review for certain psychiatric services, creating clear criteria for project reviews, and ensuring efficient processing of applications. The reforms maintain oversight of healthcare facility expansion while reducing regulatory burden through more efficient approval processes, supporting increased access to behavioral health services.

SUPPORT: SB1203 – Medical Desert Healthcare Access and Expedited Review

STATUS: This bill passed the Senate Health Subcommittee yesterday, 1/28. It will now be sent to the full Senate Education and Health Committee.

This bill creates a process for expedited certificate of public need review in medical desert areas, defined as locations with no healthcare facility within 15-30 miles, less than one primary care physician per 3,500 residents, high poverty rates, or federal Health Professional Shortage Area designation. The Commissioner must issue determinations within 120 days of application submission, streamlining approval processes to expand healthcare access in underserved communities.

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”