Healthcare

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 456: Health, State Board of, regulations; standards for levels of neonatal care.

State Board of Health regulations; standards for levels of neonatal care. Directs the State Board of Health to establish standards for designation of care in neonatal services consistent with, but not necessarily identical to, standards published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The bill directs the Board of Health to promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of the bill by July 1, 2027, and prohibits enforcement of such regulations until July 1, 2029. This bill is identical to SB 291.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes AAP-based neonatal care standards, strengthening regulatory quality and patient safety in healthcare services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 490: Health insurance; coverage for early refills of prescription eye drops.

Health insurance; coverage for early refills of prescription eye drops. Prohibits a health carrier from denying coverage to a covered person of an early refill of prescription eye drops if (i) the prescription eye drops are a covered benefit, (ii) the amount of time that has elapsed from the previous dispensing of such prescription would result in at least 85 percent of such prescription eye drops being used if taken consistently with the prescriber's directions, and (iii) the prescriber has indicated that additional quantities are medically necessary and the refill requested does not exceed such additional quantity. The provisions of the bill are applicable to contracts, policies, or plans delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on and after January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits health carriers from denying early refill coverage for prescription eye drops under specific conditions, expanding patient access to necessary medication and strengthening insurance coverage for a covered benefit.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 998: Menstrual products ingredient labeling; restriction of substances, delayed effective date.

Menstrual supplies ingredient labeling; restriction of substances; civil penalty. Requires that each package or box containing menstrual supplies, as defined in the bill, contain a label of all ingredients that are included within such products when sold within the Commonwealth. Such label shall be displayed by the manufacturer in a manner that is visible and easy to understand for the consumer. The bill requires any manufacturer to make changes to the label reflecting any changes of ingredients within 18 months of any such changes. The bill also requires the manufacturer to post the required label information on its website. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestricts harmful substances (talc, lead, mercury) in menstrual products, enhancing consumer safety and public health protection within healthcare context.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 580: Individuals receiving services in a hospital, training center, etc.; right to send and receive mail.

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; individuals receiving services; right to send and receive mail. Allows state facilities operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to process sealed letter mail for electronic delivery. This bill is identical to HB 1304.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands patient communication rights in behavioral health facilities by allowing electronic/paper mail access, protecting patient autonomy within healthcare services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 618: Health insurance; reporting requirements.

Health insurance; reporting requirements. Amends various reporting requirements related to health insurance, including by requiring the State Corporation Commission to maintain and publicly post an inventory of mandated benefits and providers, requiring health carriers to report annually on provider terminations and reinstatements, and consolidating reports related to balance billing and arbitration. The bill repeals reporting requirements related to the Comparable Health Care Service Incentive Program and Virginia Health Savings Account Plan.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires public posting of mandated benefits and provider lists, mandates annual provider termination reports to improve transparency and patient access in health insurance.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 1301: School boards; student diabetes care & management in schools, division wide plan required.

Public elementary and secondary schools; student diabetes medical care and management. Establishes several provisions relating to student diabetes medical care and management in public elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth, including requiring divisionwide plans for the care of students who are diagnosed with diabetes in each school division, effective beginning with the 2028–2029 school year. This bill incorporates HB 624 and is identical to SB 122.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes diabetes care protocols in schools, directly supporting student health and safety to enable educational access and participation in K-12 settings.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables diabetes management in schools, improving student access to medical care during school hours.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 291: Health, State Board of, regulations; standards for levels of neonatal care.

State Board of Health regulations; standards for levels of neonatal care. Directs the State Board of Health to establish standards for designation of care in neonatal services consistent with, but not necessarily identical to, standards published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The bill directs the Board of Health to promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of the bill by July 1, 2027, and prohibits enforcement of such regulations until July 1, 2029. This bill is identical to HB 456.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects State Board to establish neonatal care standards per AAP guidelines, improving care quality and patient safety standards for newborns.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 745: Health insurance; definitions, prohibited restrictions on in-network referrals.

Health insurance; prohibited restrictions on in-network referrals. Prohibits a health insurance carrier from prohibiting an in-network provider, as defined in the bill, from referring any enrollee or specimen to any in-network clinical laboratory or in-network pathology service provider under the terms of such insurance unless such referral would constitute a violation of certain laws. This bill is identical to HB 424.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from restricting in-network referrals, improving patient access to clinical labs/pathology services without barriers.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 641: Office-based buprenorphine treatment; Board of Medicine to amend regulations.

Board of Medicine; office-based buprenorphine treatment; counseling. Directs the Board of Medicine to amend its regulations regarding office-based buprenorphine treatment to require providers to offer counseling or referral to counseling to each patient as clinically necessary and mutually agreed-upon. The bill specifies that a patient's refusal of counseling does not preclude the patient from receiving office-based buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care and is identical to HB 712.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires counseling referrals for buprenorphine treatment, expanding access to comprehensive opioid use disorder care without restricting treatment eligibility.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 452: Practice of radiologic technology; licensure exceptions, sunset.

Practice of radiologic technology; licensure exceptions. Permits a person employed or engaged by a hospital, health system, or urgent care center that is affiliated with a hospital or health care system to practice within the scope of his employment as a radiologic technologist, radiologic assistant, or radiologic technologist, limited without obtaining a license. Under current law, such exception only applies to radiologic technologists who are employees of a hospital. The bill exempts the initial promulgation of regulations pursuant to the bill by the Board of Medicine from the requirements of the Administrative Process Act. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2029.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands scope for radiologic staff in hospitals/urgent care without licenses, improving access to diagnostic services per bill's licensure exception expansion.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare