Every year the General Assembly passes numerous bills that direct state agencies to convene workgroups and conduct studies on a wide variety of topics and submit reports on their findings. Below are past legislative workgroups and studies that the Office of Licensure and Certification has conducted or for which it has provided administrative support. Questions about specific workgroups and studies should be directed to the staff members identified for that specific workgroup or study.
2022
Ch. 297 (2022 Acts of Assembly)
Chapter 297
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 32.1-137.05 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 32.1-137.05. Information regarding standard charges; advance estimate of patient payment amount for elective procedure, test, or service.
A. Every hospital shall make available to the public on its website a machine-readable file containing a list of all standard charges for all items and services provided by the hospital in accordance with 45 C.F.R. § 180.50, as amended. As used in this subsection, "hospital," "items and services," "machine-readable," and "standard charge" have the same meaning as set forth in 45 C.F.R. § 180.20.
B. Every hospital shall, upon request of a patient scheduled to receive an elective procedure, test, or service to be performed by the hospital, or upon request of such patient's legally authorized representative, made no less than three days in advance of the date on which such elective procedure, test, or service is scheduled to be performed, furnish the patient with an estimate of the payment amount for which the participant will be responsible for such elective procedure, test, or service. Every hospital shall provide written information about the patient's ability to request an estimate of the payment amount pursuant to this section. Such written information shall be posted conspicuously in public areas of the hospital, including admissions or registration areas, and included on any website maintained by the hospital.
2. That the provisions of the first enactment of this act shall become effective on July 1, 2023.
3. That the Secretary of Health and Human Resources shall develop recommendations for implementation of this act, including any regulatory changes that may be necessary for implementation of this act, and shall report his 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.
This study is directed by Deputy Secretary James Williams, with support being provided by Rebekah E. Allen (Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Licensure and Certification).
Representatives from the following stakeholders are anticipated to participate in the study:
- Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources
- Office of Delegate Dan I. Helmer
- Virginia Department of Health
- Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association
- Virginia Health Information
- Virginia Ambulatory Surgery Association
- AARP Virginia
- Virginia Poverty Law Center
- Health Care Cost Institute
- Patient Rights Advocates
- Allbetter Health
- FireLight Health
- Power to the Patients
- September 7, 2022, 2:30PM - In-Person Meeting
September 30, 2022, 10:00AM - Virtual Meeting
Chapter 297 (2022 Acts of Assembly) requires a report about recommendations developed by the Secretary of Health and Human Resources be submitted to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions. The final draft of the report has been transmitted to the General Assembly and to the Governor, and is available here.
Ch. 559 (2022 Acts of Assembly)
Chapter 559
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. That the Secretary of Health and Human Resources (the Secretary) shall study the current oversight and regulation of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other congregate living settings to improve efficiency and effectiveness of regulation and oversight, provide better transparency for members of the public navigating the process of receiving services from such facilities, and better protect the health and safety of the public. The Secretary shall report his findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Finance and Appropriations and the House Committees on Appropriations and Health, Welfare and Institutions by October 1, 2022.
This study was directed by Secretary John Littel and Deputy Secretary Leah Mills, with support provided by Rebekah E. Allen (Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Licensure and Certification).
Representatives from the following stakeholders were invited to participate in the study:
- Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources
- Virginia Department of Health
- Virginia Department of Social Services
- Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
- Virginia Health Care Association | Virginia Center for Assisted Living
- LeadingAge Virginia
- Virginia Assisted Living Association
- AARP Virginia
- Virginia Poverty Law Center
- Alzheimer's Association - National Capital Chapter
- disAbility Law Center of Virginia
- Psychiatric Society of Virginia
- Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services
- Virginia Department of Health Professions
- Virginia Department of Veterans Services
- Virginia Office of the Attorney General
August 25, 2022, 10:00AM - In-Person Meeting
- Agenda
- Presentation by the Virginia Department of Health
- Presentation by the Virginia Department of Social Services
September 15, 2022, 10:00AM - In-Person Meeting
Chapter 559 (2022 Acts of Assembly) requires a report about the findings and recommendations be submitted to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Finance and Appropriations and the House Committees on Health, Welfare and Institutions. The final draft of the report has been transmitted to the General Assembly and to the Governor, and is available here.
2020
Ch. 849 (2020 Acts of Assembly)
Chapter 849
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. That the Secretary of Health and Human Resources shall convene a work group to gather information and make recommendations on how the Commonwealth could develop or procure a statewide centralized primary source verification system that can be relied upon by the Commonwealth and its health carriers, health care providers, hospitals, and health systems for health care provider credentialing. Such stakeholders shall include the Virginia Association of Health Plans, the Medical Society of Virginia, the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, and any other relevant stakeholders. The work group shall report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 15, 2020.
This workgroup was staffed by Rebekah E. Allen (Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Licensure and Certification) and Erik Bodin (Division Director, Certificate of Public Need/Managed Care Health Insurance Plans/Cooperative Agreement, Office of Licensure and Certification).
Representatives from the following stakeholders were invited to serve as members of the workgroup:
- BlocHealth
- Medical Society of Virginia
- Virginia Association of Health Plans
- Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners
- Virginia Department of Health
- Virginia Department of Health Professions
- Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association
July 6, 2020, 9:00AM - Virtual Meeting
August 4, 2020, 9:00AM - Virtual Meeting
NOTICE: In light of Executive Order 69 that declares a state of emergency due to Hurricane Isaias, tropical storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service, and the potential for damaging winds, torrential rain, and flash flooding in connection with this storm, this meeting was changed to a 100% virtual meeting through WebEx for the safety of workgroup members and staff.
August 17, 2020, 9:00AM - Virtual Meeting
- Agenda
- Presentation
- Meeting recording
September 9, 2020, 9:00AM - Virtual Meeting
- Agenda
- Presentation
- Meeting recording
December 30, 2020, 9:00AM - Virtual Meeting
- Agenda
- Presentation
- Meeting recording - to be posted
Chapter 849 (2020 Acts of Assembly) requires a written report about the work group's recommendations be submitted to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions. The final draft of the report has been transmitted to the General Assembly and is available here.
Ch. 932 (2020 Acts of Assembly)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. That the Department of Health shall convene a work group to review and make recommendations on increasing the availability of the clinical workforce for nursing homes in the Commonwealth. The work group shall include representatives from the Virginia Health Care Association, the Virginia Center for Assisted Living, Dignity for the Aged, the Virginia Nurses Association, LeadingAge Virginia, and other stakeholders as appropriate. The Department shall collaborate with the Department of Health Professions, the Governor's Chief Workforce Development Advisor, and other state agencies as appropriate. The Department shall report all recommendations to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions on or before November 15, 2020.
This workgroup was staffed by Rebekah E. Allen (Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Licensure and Certification) and Dr. A. Carole Pratt (Senior Advisor and Confidential Assistant for Policy, Office of Governmental and Regulatory Affairs).
Representatives from the following stakeholders were invited to serve as members of the workgroup:
- Dignity for the Aged
- Governor's Chief Diversity Officer
- Governor's Chief Workforce Advisor
- LeadingAge Virginia
- Senator Jen A. Kiggans
- Virginia Community College System
- Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services
- Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired
- Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Virginia Department of Health
- Office of Governmental and Regulatory Affairs
- Office of Health Equity
- Office of Licensure and Certification
- Virginia Department of Health Professions
- Board of Long-Term Care Administrators
- Board of Nursing
- Healthcare Workforce Data Center
- Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
- Virginia Department of Veteran Services
- Virginia Health Care Association | Virginia Center for Assisted Living
- Virginia Nurses Association
July 6, 2020, 1:00PM - Virtual Meeting
July 20, 2020, 1:00PM - Hybrid In-Person/Virtual Meeting
August 4, 2020, 1:00PM - Virtual Meeting
NOTICE: In light of Executive Order 69 that declares a state of emergency due to Hurricane Isaias, tropical storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service, and the potential for damaging winds, torrential rain, and flash flooding in connection with this storm, this meeting was changed to a 100% virtual meeting through WebEx for the safety of workgroup members and staff.
August 17, 2020, 1:00PM - Virtual Meeting
August 31, 2020, 1:00PM - Virtual Meeting
September 25, 2020, 1:00PM - Virtual Meeting
September 30, 2020, 1:00PM - Virtual Meeting
November 9, 2020, 1:00PM - Virtual Meeting
Chapter 932 (2020 Acts of Assembly) requires a written report about the work group's recommendations be submitted to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions. The final draft of the report has been transmitted to the General Assembly and is available here.
Ch. 1271 (2020 Acts of Assembly)
Chapter 559
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
* * *
2. That the Department of Health develop recommendations to reduce the duration of the average review cycle for applications for certificates of public need to not more than 120 days from the date of receipt of a letter of intent. In doing so, the Department shall consider changes to the current process that may result in a reduction in the duration of the review period, including elimination or revision of the review of applications for completeness, reduction of the current 70-day period for review of an application by the Department, and a requirement that a public hearing be held earlier in the process. The Department shall report its recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2020.
On August 5, 2020, an email was sent to over 100 Certificate of Public Need (COPN) stakeholders, including medical care facilities, consultants, associations, and attorneys most active in participating in the COPN process. Seven responses were received from two physician providers, two hospital systems, one provider association, one consultant and one attorney.
This study was staffed by Erik O. Bodin (Director, Division of the Certificate of Public Need, Office of Licensure and Certification); Valerie Cheatham, JD (Project Analyst, Division of the Certificate of Public Need, Office of Licensure and Certification); Piero Mannino, JD, MPIA (Program Supervisor, Division of the Certificate of Public Need, Office of Licensure and Certification); Nicholas Megibow (Project Analyst, Division of the Certificate of Public Need, Office of Licensure and Certification); and Corie E. Rife, JD (Project Analyst, Division of the Certificate of Public Need, Office of Licensure and Certification).
Chapter 1271 (2020 Acts of Assembly) requires a report about the findings and recommendations be submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly. The final draft of the report has been transmitted to the General Assembly and to the Governor, and is available here.