Virginia Bills

Requests the Department of Medical Assistance Services to (i) identify the current transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse problems in the Commonwealth; (ii) determine the extent to which these needs are being met; (iii) identify reoccurring problems associated with such state-funded transportation services, including providers arriving late or failing to show up for a scheduled trip, a lack of consistency in drivers for regularly scheduled trips, inefficient and time-consuming routes, and a general lack of communication between providers and the individuals receiving transportation services; (iv) analyze the cost of expanding state-funded transportation services to cover individuals who have a mental illness or substance abuse problems and are not receiving assistance under the state plan for medical assistance; (v) gather and consider input from all relevant stakeholders regarding such transportation needs and strategies for improving the Commonwealth's transportation services for individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse problems; and (vi) make recommendations regarding strategies, policies, or programs that the Commonwealth can utilize to better meet the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse problems, including establishing partnerships with ride-sharing companies.

Requires the budget for a common interest community to include a statement detailing the amount of any shortage or excess of total cash reserves, as indicated by the five-year cash reserves study, and the amount of such shortage or excess per capita for each member of the association. The bill also provides that the failure of any member of the governing body or officer of the association to comply with provisions relating to reserves for capital components shall constitute prima facie evidence of a breach of fiduciary duty on the part of the board member or officer.

Authorizes the issuance of new driver privilege cards by the Department of Motor Vehicles to an individual who has (i) reported income from Virginia sources on an individual tax return filed with the Commonwealth in the preceding 12 months and (ii) is not in violation of the insurance requirements of Article 8 (§ 46.2-705 et seq.) (Registration of Uninsured Motor Vehicles) of Chapter 6 of Title 46.2. The bill provides that driver privilege cards shall confer the same privileges and shall be subject to the same provisions as driver's licenses and permits; however, driver privilege cards shall not (a) confer voting privileges, (b) permit an individual to waive any part of the driver examination, or (c) have their issuance be contingent upon the applicant's ability to produce proof of legal presence in the United States. The bill provides for the term "driver's license" to consistently refer to all driver's licenses, permits, driver privilege cards, and special identification cards issued by the Commonwealth or the comparable law of another jurisdiction. The bill allows the issuance of a limited-duration driver's license and special identification card to an applicant presenting valid documentary evidence that a federal court or federal agency having jurisdiction over immigration has authorized the applicant to be in the United States for a period of at least 30 days from the date of application. The bill authorizes the Tax Commissioner to provide to the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles information sufficient to verify that an applicant for a driver privilege card or permit reported income from Virginia sources on an individual tax return filed with the Commonwealth in the preceding 12 months. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2019.

Provides that prior authorization requirements currently applicable to drug benefits are applicable to the process for a carrier's approval of surgical procedures. The measure requires contracts between an insurance carrier and a participating health care provider that require the carrier's prior authorization to include provisions that prohibit the carrier, after it has approved a prior authorization request submitted by a participating health care provider, from (i) withdrawing or retracting its approval of the request or (ii) declining or refusing to pay a claim submitted for the drug benefit or surgical procedure. The measure provides that if a health plan or provider contract states that prior authorization is not required for a specific drug benefit or surgical procedure, the carrier shall not refuse to pay a claim submitted for the drug benefit or surgical procedure. The measure addresses the standards applicable to electronic submissions of requests for prior authorization and specifies that requests may be submitted in paper if the provider meets certain criteria. Finally, the measure exempts a drug benefit from prior authorization requirements if prior authorization has been approved for the drug benefit in 90 percent or more of the requests for prior authorization submitted by the provider in the preceding 12 months or if the drug is a generic medication. These provisions apply to provider contracts entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2019.