Sen. Amanda Chase

Commending John F. Reinhart.

Celebrating the life of the Honorable GeraldL. Baliles.

Celebrating the life of the Honorable Eva MaeFleming Scott.

Commending Diane C. Ickes.

Commending the Virginia Maritime Association.

Commending the Virginia Wing, Civil Air Patrol.

Public institutions of higher education; foundations; annual reporting requirements. Requires each public institutionof higher education to release an annual report regarding foundationsassociated with the institution setting forth foundation expenses.The annual report shall include the total annual expenditures byeach foundation; the percentage of expenditures used for scholarshipsor financial aid by each foundation; the percentage of expendituresused for instructional programs by each foundation; the percentageof expenditures used for research by each foundation; the percentageof expenditures used for intercollegiate athletics by each foundation;and the percentage of expenditures used for buildings and maintenanceby each foundation.

Balance billing; emergency services. Provides that when a covered person receives covered emergency services from an out-of-network health care provider, the covered person is not required to pay the out-of-network provider any amount other than the applicable cost-sharing requirement. The measure deletes a provision that allows an out-of-network provider to charge an individual for the balance of the provider's billed amount after applying the amount the health carrier is required to pay for such services. The measure also establishes a fourth standard for calculating the health carrier's required payment to the out-of-network provider of the emergency services, which standard is (i) the regional average for commercial payments for such service if the provider is a health care professional or (ii) the fair market value for such services if the provider is a facility. This fourth standard is the amount the health carrier is obligated to pay to the out-of-network provider if the amount is greater than any of the other three standards, which are (a) the amount negotiated with in-network providers for the emergency service or, if more than one amount is negotiated, the median of these amounts; (b) the amount for the emergency service calculated using the same method the health carrier generally uses to determine payments for out-of-network services, such as the usual, customary, and reasonable amount; or (c) the amount that would be paid under Medicare for the emergency service. The measure requires the health carrier to pay the required amount, less applicable cost-sharing requirements, directly to the out-of-network health care provider of the emergency services. If such provider determines that the amount to be paid by the health carrier does not comply with the applicable requirements, the measure requires the provider and the health carrier to make a good faith effort to reach a resolution on the appropriate amount of the reimbursement and, if a resolution is not reached, authorizes either party to request the State Corporation Commission to review the disputed reimbursement amount and determine if the amount complies with applicable requirements. The measure also provides that final diagnosis rendered to a covered person who receives emergency services for a medical condition shall not be considered in the health carrier's determination of whether the medical condition was an emergency medical condition. The measure establishes the procedure by which the regional average for commercial payments for emergency services will be calculated by the nonprofit data services organization that compiles the Virginia All-Payer Claims Database. The measure also requires health carriers to makes reports to the Bureau of Insurance and directs the Bureau to provide reports to certain committees of the General Assembly.

Appropriation of funds for Governor's personalsecurity staff. Provides that no funds shall be appropriatedfor the employment of any member of the Governor's personal securitystaff if the Governor takes any action to deny law-abiding citizensof the Commonwealth their right to carry, possess, or transport afirearm.

Method of nominating party candidates; incumbentselection. Removes the power of incumbent officeholders in somecases to insist on a primary as the method of nominating politicalparty candidates and removes the power of General Assembly incumbentsseeking reelection to determine the method of nomination. These provisionsof law were held to be unconstitutional by the United States Courtof Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in 6th Cong. Dist. RepublicanComm. v. Alcorn, 913 F.3d 393 (January 9, 2019). The bill doesnot affect the current power of duly constituted authorities of thepolitical party to determine the method of nominating party candidates.