Independent Pharmacy Access and Resilience Pilot Program; report; sunset. Establishes the Independent Pharmacy Access and Resilience Pilot Program in the Department of Health to strengthen and stabilize access to pharmacy services in medically underserved communities and communities at heightened risk of pharmacy closure. The Program is established as a pilot program with an expiration date of July 1, 2030, and participation is limited to 12 independent pharmacies meeting certain criteria outlined in the bill. The bill directs the Department to submit to the Governor and General Assembly an interim report with evaluations of participating pharmacies no later than November 1, 2028, and a final comprehensive evaluation no later than November 1, 2029, in order for the General Assembly to determine whether to continue, modify, expand, or terminate the Program.
Department of Medical Assistance Services; 1915(c) Home and Community Based Waivers; program rule amendments; direct support professionals. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to seek the necessary approvals to amend the program rules for the Community Living and Family and Individual Supports Waivers to provide for compensation of a direct support professional for a waiver recipient in an acute care hospital under certain circumstances.
Department of Health; Department of Social Services; publicly accessible nursing home information portal; publicly accessible assisted living facility information portal; reporting of incidents involving emergency medical services. Directs the Department of Health to establish a nursing home information portal and the Department of Social Services to establish an assisted living facility information portal to consolidate publicly available information on nursing homes and assisted living facilities, respectively. The bill requires operators of nursing homes and assisted living facilities to submit a quarterly report to the Department of Health or the Department of Social Services, respectively, with information on incidents involving emergency medical services.
Department of Medical Assistance Services; Department of Social Services; Medicaid eligibility determination appeal time limit; mailed communications time period. Directs (i) the Department of Medical Assistance Services to amend its regulations to extend the time limit for appeals of eligibility determinations and (ii) the Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Department of Social Services to amend their regulations to create a mailing time period for communications related to Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).
Department of Medical Assistance Services; Medicaid benefit for nutrition services programs; sunset. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services (the Department) to, conditional on the receipt of all necessary approvals and the securing of federal financial participation, implement a provision for payment of medical assistance for nutrition services programs which may include case management, nutrition counseling and instruction, home-delivered meals and pantry stocking, nutrition prescriptions, and grocery provisions. The bill directs the Department to prioritize the purchase and distribution of locally grown food wherever feasible. The implementation of nutrition services programs pursuant to the bill is conditional on the Department obtaining all necessary approvals and federal financial participation. The bill sunsets on July 1, 2027, if such approval and federal financial participation is not obtained.
Department of Medical Assistance Services; sickle cell disease; feasibility of Medicaid benefit and Medicaid Health Homes; report. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to determine the feasibility of participating in an optional Medicaid benefit for sickle cell disease and establishing Medicaid Health Homes to coordinate care and provide treatment for individuals with sickle cell disease. The bill requires the Department to report its findings in its annual review of sickle cell disease treatment and submit such review to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the Joint Commission on Health Care by November 15, 2026.
Department of Medical Assistance Services; Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan; literacy pilot program. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to seek the necessary permissions from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to authorize and fund a pilot program promoting early literacy and parental bonding as part of routine pediatric primary care visits in select underserved localities through a partnership with Reach Out and Read.
Constitutional amendment (voter referendum); fundamental right to reproductive freedom. Provides for a referendum at the November 3, 2026, election to approve or reject an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia relating to the right to make one's own decisions related to reproductive health care, including access to abortion. The amendment protects patients and their doctors and nurses from being punished for making such decisions. The amendment allows the state to place restrictions on access to abortion during the third trimester of pregnancy except when the patient's life or physical or mental health is at risk or the pregnancy cannot survive. This bill is identical to HB 781.
Department of Medical Assistance Services; consultation with federally recognized tribes. Establishes a Tribal Medicaid Advisory Group to work collaboratively on (i) plan amendments, waiver requests, and policies affecting tribal health programs at least 60 days prior to submitting them for public notice and comment and (ii) a tribal health program billing manual. The advisory group is required to meet in person on at least a quarterly basis. The bill also requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services to (a) recognize the eligibility of any tribal health program to participate as a provider in the state plan, (b) consult with any tribal health program participating in the state plan at least 60 days prior to taking any adverse action, including suspension of payments or investigation regarding the participation of any tribal health program in the state plan, and (c) engage in ongoing consultation with federally recognized tribes and tribal health programs to address the needs of the state and tribal governments. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Updating Virginia Law to Reflect Federal Recognition of Virginia Tribes.
Regional Care Compacts Pilot Program established; workforce development; certified nurse aides; licensed practical nurses; report. Directs the Department of Health to establish the Regional Care Compacts Pilot Program to permit health care entities to enter into compacts, as defined by the bill, to incentivize health care workforce development. The bill permits such compacts to engage in workforce development activities, pool resources, enter into agreements with other entities to expand training and placement capacity, establish shared goals, and share workforce data in accordance with applicable privacy laws. The bill directs the Department to provide technical assistance and permits the Department to administer the Program in coordination with the Department of Health Professions, the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority, and other relevant entities. The bill requires compacts to report to the Department on their activities and requires the Department to submit a consolidated report to the Governor and General Assembly each year by December 1.
