Del. Sally Hudson

Certain student-athletes; compensation forname, image, or likeness. The bill prohibits any (i) high school student-athlete who participates in interscholastic athletic competitionfrom entering into any contract to receive compensation in exchangefor the use of such student's name, image, or likeness and (ii) student-athleteenrolled at an institution of higher education in the Commonwealthwho participates in intercollegiate athletic competition from enteringinto any contract to receive compensation in exchange for the useof such student's name, image, or likeness, the duration of whichextends beyond the student's enrollment at such institution.

Housing Authorities Law; notice of intent todispose of housing projects. Removes the requirement that anyhousing authority required to submit an application to the U.S. Departmentof Housing and Urban Development to demolish, liquidate, or otherwisedispose of such housing project also serve a notice to any agencythat would be responsible for administering tenant-based rental assistanceto persons who would otherwise be displaced from the housing project.The bill shortens from 12 to six the number of months prior to suchapplication submission date required before the housing authorityserves notice of intent to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and each tenant residing in the housing project.The bill prohibits the housing authority from requiring a tenantcurrently residing in such housing project to surrender possessionof his unit until at least 12 months after serving the notice requiredby the bill unless permitted under the lease agreement or other applicablelaw.

Hospitals; price transparency. Requires every hospital to make information about standard charges for items and services provided by the hospital available on the hospital's website by July 1, 2023. The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to develop recommendations for implementation of the bill and to report those recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2022.

Hospitals; debt collection; determination of patient eligibility for financial assistance. Requires every hospital to (i) make reasonable efforts to screen every uninsured patient to determine whether the individual is eligible for Medicaid or financial assistance under the hospital’s financial assistance policy, (ii) may a payment plan available to every uninsured patient who is determined to be eligible for financial assistance under the hospital’s financial assistance policy if requested by the patient, (iii) develop a process for renegotiation of a payment plan, and (iv) report information about charity care, discounted care, or other financial assistance provided by the hospital under its financial assistance policy and the amount of the hospital’s uncollected bad debt. The bill prohibits hospitals from engaging in extraordinary collection actions to collect patient accounts receivable unless the hospital has undertaken all reasonable efforts to determine whether a patient with delinquent debt is eligible for Medicaid or other financial assistance under the hospital’s financial assistance policy. The bill also requires every hospital that is subject to the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make information about the hospital’s charity care policy available to individuals with low English proficiency in accordance with federal requirements.

Claims; Paul Jonas Crum, Jr.; compensationfor wrongful incarceration. Provides relief in the amountof $249,044.00 to Paul Jonas Crum, Jr., who was wrongly convictedof obstruction of justice charges.

Automatic renewal or continuous service offerto consumer; cancellation and online opt-out. Requires that the supplier of automatic renewals or continuous service offers thatinclude a free trial notify the consumer of the automatic renewalseven days prior to expiration of the free trial and obtain the consumer'saffirmative consent to the automatic renewal beyond the trial period.The bill also requires that suppliers of automatic renewals or continuousservice offers through an online website must make available a conspicuousonline option to cancel a recurring purchase of a good or servicewithin the website by which such purchase was made.

Guardianship and conservatorship; duties ofthe guardian ad litem; report contents. Adds to the duty of aguardian ad litem appointed to represent the interests of a respondentin a guardianship or conservatorship case the requirement to recommendthat counsel be appointed to represent such respondent upon the respondent'srequest. Under current law, the guardian ad litem is required torecommend counsel be appointed only when he believes appointmentis necessary. The bill further directs the guardian ad litem to includein his report to the court an explanation by the guardian ad litemas to any (i) decision not to recommend the appointment of counselfor the respondent, (ii) determination that a less restrictive alternative to guardianship or conservatorship is not available, and (iii) determinationthat appointment of a limited guardian or conservator is not appropriate.

Insurance; examinations; health care providerpanels. Requires the State Corporation Commission to conductan examination of the business and affairs of an insurer upon (i)request by a statewide association representing health care professionalsaffirming no less than 10 complaints alleging insurer misconductin a six-month period from providers participating in such insurer's network or (ii) verifiable information that such insurer has violatedany law, regulation, or prior order of the Commission. The bill requiresthe Commission to publish a reasonably detailed summary of each violationand any corrective action plan on the Commission website within 60days of the completion of an examination. The bill requires a healthinsurer that uses a provider panel to establish procedures for (a)notifying a provider at least 90 days prior to the implementationof a policy that restricts enrollee access to the provider's services,(b) providing reasonable notice to primary care providers in the insurer's provider panel prior to the implementation of a policy thatrestricts enrollee access to the specialty referral services provider,and (c) notifying the purchaser of the health benefit plan of anychange in policy that restricts enrollee access to a contracted provider.Finally the bill requires a health insurer to provide with a renewalcoverage proposal written notice of intent to increase by more than15 percent the annual premium charged for coverage.

Celebrating the life of the Honorable FloraLonette Davis Crittenden.

Commending Bob Brown.